Our Leadership
Director
Diana Osborn is the founder and director of Leaves of Learning. Diana loves working with children of all ages and has a passion and commitment to individualized education. She feels that while an education certainly provides the skills and opportunities for a child's future, it’s also an important part of the journey, and as such, should be enjoyed.
Diana believes that education should meet children where they are and take them where they want to go—through caring guidance, enthusiasm and support. Her favorite moments at LOL are when students discover their talents and passions for learning.
Over the years, Diana has taught after-school and summer hands-on science classes in area schools through a program sponsored by the National Science Foundation. She also taught science at LOL for five years.
Before becoming involved in education, Diana was a chemist for DuBois Chemical and a pharmaceutical representative for Whitehall Robbins. She holds a BS in Chemistry. Diana homeschooled her three children, who all attended LOL, and are now in or graduated from college.
Assistant Director
Christie Sawyer has been LOL Assistant Director since 2003. Her positive attitude, commitment, and caring nature make her stand out as an effective teacher and administrator. Christie taught in Cabrini Green housing projects in Chicago for five years before moving to Cincinnati. She has a Masters Degree from Xavier University in Educational Administration and a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from Ohio University. Christie believes that witnessing the excitement and joy that a child expresses when he or she learns something new is one of the greatest benefits of being in education.
Front Desk
Padgy Schrank has been our front desk person since 2008. She looks forward to coming to work each day and loves the interaction with the kids and parents. She has her own fan club! Her kindness and patience are assets to our program. Her son, Alex, attends LOL. Padgy was a flight attendant for ten years and a stay-at-home mom.
Billing
Danielle Eynon-Black’s work experience makes her seem like the conventional business major, but she is a business major who wouldn’t put conventional anywhere near her. She’s worked for large companies mostly: Coca-Cola, Fifth Third Bank and University of Cincinnati. While she learned a lot from these jobs, she prefers to work for smaller companies. Danielle likes the challenge and varied tasks that come with work in growing businesses.
Danielle has two sons, ages 7 and 8, who attend Leaves of Learning, and who she started homeschooling in 2010. She also has a 13-year-old stepdaughter who attends public school. According to Danielle, “Leaves of Learning offers my kids a chance for social interaction and to develop teacher relationships while learning.”
Danielle lives in Norwood, just down Montgomery Road, in a large home filled with kids and animals (3 cats and 2 dogs). They really like their home and neighborhood but hope to retire to New Mexico.
Operations Manager
Chris Santoro’s two sons attended LOL from LOL’s first year through high school, when they attended Madeira to play baseball. Though both boys are now in college, Chris is still committed to Leaves. What Chris likes most is seeing students spread their wings as they discover their strengths and talents. She likes that LOL is a place of kindness and respect.
Chris graduated with a BA in Communications from OSU, worked 4 years at an ad agency, then spent 15 years as a freelance copywriter and marketing strategist for small and large businesses. She was Assistant Director at LOL for several years before she left to write a book about World War One. Chris then returned to LOL as a teacher for several classes and most recently, as Operations Manager. Chris likes history, gardening, biking, is teaching herself to draw, and is hoping to publish her book. Chris lives with her husband, Bob, in Madeira.
Board of Directors
Leaves of Learning is coordinated by a voluntary Board of Directors.
