Our Camp
Directors
Mary L. Wotowiec (Lori)
Director & Founder of STAR Summer Camp School since 2008. Special Education Supervisor/Coordinator of Special Education: Parma City Schools, Orange City Schools, Cleveland Metro Schools 2004-2018.
Special Education Teacher Cleveland Metro Schools, Parma City Schools 1983-2004.
Recipient of Milestones Professional Excellence Award for the creation of ASGC Summer Camp 2013.
Lori earned a BSED from Ohio University in the field of Special Education and Master’s Degree from Cleveland State University in Curriculum and Instruction and Administration.
Her work with access and equity in education began as a special education teacher working with students with multiple disabilities through founding service club in Parma City Schools. One of the many goals of this organization was to provide education to all students that individuals with disabilities are individuals first and the disability was only a small part of that individual. This passion lead to the creation and implementation STAR Camp with her husband Jim. STAR camp provides summer camp education, social skills instruction, adapted physical education and collaborative learning for over 270 individuals with disabilities and typical peers.
Lori served on the Board of Directors for the Autism Society of Greater Cleveland for four years
As Director of STAR Summer Camp preschool and School Age camp her responsibilities include:
This included creation of lessons to reinforce IEP goals and objectives, social skills lessons, daily schedules, hiring of staff (certified special education teachers, para pros, interns), conducting training for typical peers, registration of campers/peers, billing, securing facilities, securing insurance, budgeting, creation of Camp Handbook for Staff, Staff orientation meeting, and working with parents, campers and teachers to ensure an educational summer experience. She is also responsible for the creation of the preschool camp which began in 2014.
James S. Wotowiec (Jim)
Jim Wotowiec earned his teaching credentials at Hiram College in elementary and special education. He attained his Principal’s/Supervision License from Baldwin Wallace College. He is a retired North Royalton High School Special Education Teacher and Special Education Department Chair.
He currently works as a transition coordinator for Wellington City Schools and Brooklyn City School District. He is also employed by the City of Independence Recreation Department where he directs, plans and provides programming for Individuals with Disabilities through the
I-Can Program. He served on the Autism Society of Greater Cleveland Board of Directors for 10 years. He was chairman of the board for three years and vice president for two years. He and was instrumental in fund raising and programing for both ASGC and STAR Summer Camp.
Jim and his wife Lori created, implemented and directed STAR Summer Camp. This included creation of lessons to reinforce IEP goals and objectives, social skills lessons, daily schedules, hiring of staff (certified special education teachers, para pros, interns), conducting training for typical peers, registration of campers/peers, billing, securing facilities, securing insurance, budgeting, creation of Camp Handbook for Staff, Staff orientation meeting, and working with parents, campers and teachers to ensure an educational summer experience. Jim also created and week three of STAR Summer Camp which serves individuals 16+ with a focus on transition skills, vocational skills and daily living skills. Jim also ran monthly social skills lessons for individuals with disabilities during the ASGC monthly meetings for 13 years.