The Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators has chosen Leah Marsh, assistant principal at Niles Middle School, as the recipient of the Ohio Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year Award for her exceptional leadership and dedication to student success.

This year’s selection process recognized outstanding assistant principals from across Ohio who exemplify excellence in school leadership. A selection committee made up of members of the OASSA Board of Directors carefully reviewed the candidates, and from that group, Marsh was chosen to represent Ohio as the Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year.

Since joining Niles Middle School as assistant principal in 2021, Marsh has been instrumental in driving academic growth, strengthening school climate and expanding opportunities for students in grades 6 to 8. Under her leadership, improvements have been made in attendance, behavior and achievement data.

Through initiatives such as the Cleveland Browns “Stay in the Game” campaign, the Check and Connect mentoring program, and expanded PBIS practices, Niles Middle School has reduced suspensions by 32% and increased student attendance and engagement.

In her professional essay, Marsh emphasized her philosophy of embedding the needs of every student into organizational decision making. By leveraging data to identify root causes and implement targeted supports, she has ensured that academic programming, enrichment opportunities and student-supports are preserved — even during times of limited resources. Her leadership reflects a commitment to the whole child, with a focus on social-emotional learning, character development and community partnerships that provide both resources and real-world learning experiences.

In the words of a colleague, “Leah Marsh has a gift for combining innovation with compassion. She listens to students, staff and families, and then transforms those insights into meaningful action. Her leadership is making a measurable difference in the lives of Niles Middle School students every day.”