So You Want to Be a School Treasurer 2023-2024

Katie Johnson is the Executive Director of the Ohio Association of School Business Officials. Katie is the seventh Executive Director and the first woman to lead the organization since its inception in 1936.

Katie was the Deputy Executive Director for OASBO prior to being named Executive Director. In that role, she served as legislative lead and in-house legal counsel for the association, keeping staff and members abreast of legal and regulatory compliance issues in school business. In addition, she has served as the chief learning officer, developing curriculum to support OASBO’s strategic plan and the Ohio school business profession.

Katie also serves on boards and committees focused on public finance, including serving as a member on the Finance and Appropriations Committee for Columbus City School District, as Treasurer of the Confluence Community Authority, and as past President of the Ohio Chapter of Women in Public Finance.

Katie holds a bachelor's degree in Business Finance from the University of Colorado, a master’s degree in Education from The Ohio State University, and a law degree from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

Cass Freeland is the director of marketing and communications with OASBO. She started her career in the Ohio legislature and spent five years as a lobbyist focused in part on school finance. After a break to stay home with young children, she spent five years in a parent and family engagement role in a school setting. Prior to joining OASBO, she spent seven years in the nonprofit space. 

Chris has over 38 years of proven successful governmental finance and management experience and is a licensed school treasurer, business manager, and holds an Ohio Health, Life and Variable Annuity license. He began his career at the Ohio Auditor of State's Office as an examiner and field audit supervisor leaving that position to become Treasurer/CFO and Executive Director of Business Affairs of public school system in 1984. He has served district from $30 million to $200 million in budget and has managed both CFO and Director of Business Affairs simultaneously in Dublin and Springfield CSD. Chris has received many awards during his career including Ohio School Treasurer of the Year, Ohio School Business Manager of the Year and the Virginia Ramsay Award for Distinguished Service to the profession. He brings considerable expertise to school clients in five year forecast assistance in areas of modeling, projecting and presentation; levy analysis; school comparison studies; efficiency reviews; budget preparation and monthly financial report preparation; superintendent and treasurer executive recruiting; mentoring for school business officials, and strategic planning.

Chris earned a MBA majoring in finance and administration, along with a BS in accounting from Miami University of Ohio, and an AS in business administration from Edison State College. He also holds a designation of Registered School Business Administrator and holds the Ohio Financial Accountability Certificate issued by the auditor of state's office. 

Becky started her career as the assistant treasurer for her Alma Mater, Martins Ferry City Schools. After 12 years, she accepted the treasurer/CFO position for the Wellsville Local School District. Her love of the Central Ohio area found her accepting the assistant treasurer position at the fastest growing school district in the state of Ohio - Olentangy Local Schools. After a year and a half she was promoted to the Treasurer/CFO role. The district grew over twice its size to over 16,000 students under her financial leadership. After nine years with Olentangy Schools, she was recruited by the New Albany-Plain Local Schools and has been with this district for ten+ years. Becky has had the fortune of leading districts considered both wealthy and poor which gives her a unique perspective on the various challenges diverse districts face.

During these career transitions, Becky also helped lead OASBO. She held the offices of Board Southeast Region Director, Vice-President, President Elect, President and Immediate Past President. Through the years she has served on numerous committees and continues to serve on the Legislative Committee as well as many focus committees. Becky is also asked to speak on a variety of topics not only for OASBO seminars but other state organizations as well. 

Penny Rucker is a Treasurer/CFO who works with school districts to help them achieve financial success.

Penny believes that her work is more than working with numbers, she knows it has been vital to understand the systems that produce the cashflows and she has been focused on leadership.  Penny is experienced in leadership and communications with financial systems.  She is interested in making an impact to improve financial stability in schools along with financial transparency.  She speaks, mentors, trains, and motivates younger professionals to explore working in schools and helping others succeed.

Penny has worked for many different types of districts – large, small, urban, rural, rich and poor.  She was a consultant when she was raising her family which allowed her to explore diverse school cultures.  During the great recession of 2009, and for the next five years, she worked in Columbus City Schools, the largest urban school district in Ohio.  She retired from Beavercreek City Schools in 2022 and is currently working at Huber Heights City Schools as the Treasurer/CFO.  She is one of the retirees helping bridge the shortage of treasurers in the marketplace today. 

Penny attended The Ohio State University and Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio to earn her Bachelor of Science in Accounting.  She also attended Ashland University in Columbus, Ohio to achieve her Master’s in Education School Treasury. 

In addition to being the owner of Finding Leaders, Paul Pendleton is a former Co-Director of Leadership Services at the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County. Previously, he has been the superintendent of the Danville Local Schools, Mt. Gilead Exempted Village Schools and Nordonia Hills City Schools. He was also part owner of the Santa Rita Collaborative which assist school districts with community engagement activities.

He has served the education community as a social studies teacher, football coach, athletic director, guidance counselor, assistant middle school principal, high school principal, superintendent and consultant. Mr. Pendleton has also served as an adjunct faculty member for Kent State University, University of Akron, Ashland University and Mt. St. Joseph College. 

Ryan Pendleton is the Executive Director of the Shared Services Alliance where he coordinates financial and operations support for northeast Ohio school districts through the Educational Service Centers of Northeast Ohio, Medina, and Lorain Counties.

Ryan is very active in state and federal issues concerning education and the potential impact on the students of Ohio. He is a member of the Fair School Funding Work Group, co-chairing both the Base Cost and Analysis and Support Groups.  As an inaugural member of the Work Group, Ryan made significant contributions to creating and advocating for Ohio’s new state funding formula.  His efforts contributed to the Fair School Funding Formula being included in the 2022-2023 Biennium Budget.

Ryan is a Leadership Akron Class 32 graduate and dedicated to serving the community, in particular the students across Ohio. Prior to working at North Coast Shared Service Alliance, Ryan was the CFO/Treasurer of Akron Public and Barberton City Schools and worked previously as a financial advisor.  

Ryan earned a BA in Business Administration from Malone College and an MBA from Cleveland State University.