![]() Ohio’s Original Interscholastic Creative Writing Program for Middle Schools |
Including Carroll, Columbiana, Harrison, Jefferson, Mahoning, Stark, and Trumbull Counties Regional Director: Registration is open on a first-come, first-served basis. Register for one District event only. Eastern District 1 Friday, January 9, 2026 *Inclement Weather Date 01/10/26 University of Mount Union 1972 Clark Ave. Alliance, OH 44601 Coordinator: Julie Lyberger Or Eastern District 2 Date TBA South Range Middle School 11300 Columbiana-Canfield Rd. Canfield, OH 44406 Coordinator: Deborah Staffeld
Qualifiers from both events will advance to: Saturday, February 21, 2026 Lake Elementary School 225 Lincoln Ave. NW Hartville, OH 44632 Coordinators: Julie Lyberger & Cheryl Yates-Bledsoe | Who's GoingEastern District 1: University of Mount Union Jackson Middle School Northwest Middle School Fairless Middle School Strasburg Local Schools St. Michael School, Canton Massillon City Middle School North Canton Middle School Northwest Middle School Manchester Middle School 11 spots remaining Eastern District 2: South Range Middle School South Range Middle School 19 spots remaining | Julie Lyberger Julie has been involved with POP for 27 years, starting as a coach and host of a district tournament while teaching at Lake Middle School. For the last 16 years she has served in multiple leadership roles: district host school, district and regional tab room coordinator, state building monitor coordinator and President of the Board of Trustees. Julie is a retired administrator from Lake Local Schools in Hartville after 36 years in education. She has a BA in Education from the U. of Akron, as well as masters degrees in K-12 Educational Leadership and Educational Administration/ Superintendent licensure from Kent State. Julie enjoys the thrill of reading the creative stories the students produce, training and mentoring tab room coordinators, and working with coaches and writers to help them get the most out of their Power of the Pen experience. Julie lives in Kent with her husband, Mark, and their Shar Pei, Rusty. She enjoys traveling to Columbus, OH and Huntersville, NC to visit her children. |
Power of the Pen |