Meet Our Staff
CAROLYN BAER
State Director
Carolyn has been part of School Ministries Ohio since its founding, serving in nearly every role—teacher, director, board member, van driver, and trustee. She now serves as Northeast Ohio regional consultant, developing programs in the Cleveland area, and has also contributed to SMI’s national standards and convention planning committees. A lifelong educator, she studied at Akron University and Ashland University and has been active in curriculum development.
Baer and her husband, Elmer, work with their sons and families on the Baer Family Dairy Farm. They are active in Wayne County government and worship at Wooster Nazarene Church.
Rooted in John 17:3, Carolyn is passionate about reaching public school students with the good news of Jesus Christ.
RACHEL WILEY
Administrative Assistant
Rachel Wiley joined School Ministries Ohio in early 2026. Since the first time she heard about release time in 2024 from Jenni Laursen has had a heart for SMO. Rachel excels at networking and bringing people together for mutually beneficial relationships. She finds herself led to evangelize, sharing the gospel of Jesus’ love with Ohio’s youth. From a young age, she has been trained in youth ministry and the importance of reaching this critical age for those coming to a saving faith in Christ. She has worked in local church ministry for 3 decades and also volunteers in her daughter's school. Currently, she serves as the Administrative Assistant for School Ministries Ohio, to bridge the gap between local sites and the state.
Rachel also serves as the Administrative Director for SMART in Northeast Ohio.
Rachel resides in Stow, Ohio. She has a wonderful husband and three daughters, one of whom just graduated from high school this year.
STEVE SHARP
Program Coordinator
Steve & Patty Sharp came to School Ministries Ohio in 2022. They understand the importance of sharing the gospel and the love of Jesus. They have worked in local church ministry for over 5 decades. They have volunteered in the local SMO programs as board members, teachers, and volunteers. Currently, they serve as regional consultants for Ohio. They have been privileged to help start several new RT programs in Southern Ohio. Meeting people with a strong desire to reach students and then seeing those programs grow into a vital part of their local community is
very rewarding.
Steve & Patty know that every new program begins with an active prayer team. Steve currently serves as the SMO Program Coordinator and desires to connect with, pray with, and help strengthen SMO RT programs throughout Ohio.
Patty and Steve reside in Circleville, Ohio. They have two sons, four grandchildren, and one great-grandson.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” -Mark 10:45
Meet Our Board
DAVE WOLFE
Chairman
Serving as Chairman of the Board since 2007, Dave has a Master's in Youth and Family Pastoring. He has a passion for Released Time Programs because of “God the impact it has on children. Dave believes that RT Programs help children in dire need of learning the truth about Jesus Christ.
BRENDA DELONG
Member
A member of the Crestview Bible Board since 1990, when classes were held in the school, Brenda played a key role over 20 years ago in relocating and building a Bible House off school property, where students still attend released time classes today.
Proverbs 3:5-6 became a favorite verse to guide the Crestivew board and personally.
PAM JOHNSTON
Member
Pam and her husband, Bill, founded RESET, a Columbus area Released Time program in 2016, before his death at the end of that same year.
They believed their legacy was to share the Word of God with as many of the future leaders of this country as possible! Called to the inner city of Columbus, RESET seeks to teach the Bible's truth to the next generation.
CHIP DEVER
Treasurer
Chip earned a degree in Biology Education from Mount Vernon Nazarene College (now University). He taught for three years while working at Buehler’s grocery store before beginning a 24-year career at Honda of America Manufacturing. In 2006, he became the church’s Office Administrator. In his free time, he enjoys reading, puzzles, playing piano, and watching
Reds baseball.
JEFF MCCLAIN
Member
Recently retired after 40 years in government, including service as Auditor, State Representative, and Tax Commissioner. Jeff and his wife, Barb, have faithfully served at Trinity Evangelical Church in Upper Sandusky.
A Steven Curtis Chapman lyric especially moves Jeff: "It happened one night. With a tiny baby’s birth. God heard creation crying. And He sent heaven to earth."
JIM STAUFFER
Member
Jim serves as Lead Pastor at Trinity Evangelical in Upper Sandusky. He holds a B.S. in Education from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Seminary.
Jim and his wife, Karen, have been active in Released Time (RT) Bible Education — as a volunteer chaperone (Karen) and as a teacher (Jim) of one of the first high schools for credit
RT classes.
