Mr. Markling and his wife, Katie, reside on Belle Avenue with their three sons. Mr. Markling is a member of various Parent Teacher Associations and the Kiwanis Club of Lakewood.
Prior to being elected to the Lakewood City School District Board of Education, Mr. Markling served on numerous district-wide school climate and building committees. As a member of the Lakewood School Board, Mr. Markling is very active in the Ohio School Boards Association having served as the Lakewood School Board’s OSBA Assembly Delegate, OSBA Student Achievement Liaison, and OSBA Legislative Liaison. Mr. Markling has also been elected by his board member colleagues on the Northeast Region Ohio School Boards Association to serve as a member of the Northeast Region Executive Committee. Out of more than 3,400 board members in Ohio, Mr. Markling is one of 93 to be awarded the 2010 Ohio School Boards Association Award of Achievement.
Mr. Markling holds four college degrees from The Ohio State University (B.A., political science, summa cum laude with Honors in Liberal Arts, 1994; B.A., economics, summa cum laude with Distinction in Economics, 1994; J.D., Public Service Fellow, 1997; M.A., educational administration, John A. Ramseyer Fellow, 1998) and is currently working toward completing his doctoral degree in educational administration from The Ohio State University. While at The Ohio State University, Mr. Markling received multiple honors in recognition of his academic and leadership excellence including such accolades as Phi Beta Kappa and The Ohio State University Outstanding Senior Award.
Mr. Markling is a founder of the law firm of McGown & Markling Co., L.P.A. and practices school law throughout the State of Ohio. Mr. Markling is the recipient the Ohio Educational Service Center Association’s Outstanding Leadership Award in recognition of his legal leadership to Ohio school districts. Mr. Markling is Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ for ethical standards and legal ability, and has been selected by his legal peers as one of The Best Lawyers in America® in the specialty of Education Law.
Throughout his legal career, Mr. Markling has served as an assistant professor for the Bowling Green State University College of Education and Human Development, Division of Educational Administration & Leadership Studies; an adjunct faculty member for Ashland University; and an adjunct faculty member and senior lecturer with the University of Akron School of Law and College of Education. Mr. Markling provides lectures, in-services, and workshops on a diverse array of education law topics throughout Ohio. Recently, Mr. Markling provided a board development presentation to attendees of the 54th Annual Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference entitled, “When you are in the minority.”
Mr. Markling currently serves as Vice President of the Lakewood School Board, as well as both the Chairperson of the Human Resources and Community Services Committee and Co-Chairperson of the Board of Education Finance Committee. Mr. Markling previously served as the Chairperson for both the Board of Education Buildings, Sites and Major Purchases Committee and Board of Education Finance Committee. Mr. Markling is serving his first term as a member of the Lakewood School Board.
Term expires: Dec. 2011