Canton City Schools is proud to celebrate the many students and families who make our district such a special place to learn and grow. The Larabou family is one of the many wonderful families whose experiences, cultures, and commitment to education enrich our school community.

The Larabou family includes five students learning and growing across Canton City Schools and our community. Aishatou Larabou is a 10th-grade student at McKinley Senior High School and a member of the ALL-In Leadership Group, a program that connects students from across Stark County who are part of school social justice teams. Her brother Abdoulaye is an 8th-grade student at STEAMM Academy at Hartford, while Maryam attends Patrick Elementary as a 6th grader. Roumaissa is a 2nd-grade student at Baraka Islamic School, and the youngest, Mouhammad, attends preschool at the Early Learning Center at Schreiber.

Their parents, Fatoumata Soumaila and Aboubakar Larabou, have created a home that values education, culture, and connection. Mr. Larabou works in manufacturing at East Manufacturing, and the family maintains strong ties to relatives in the Republic of Niger, where he is originally from.

Aishatou’s educational journey began at the Early Learning Center at Schreiber and Harter before spending time living in Niger and Togo. During that time, she learned to speak French, which is widely spoken in Togo. At home, the Larabou children speak Zarma and English, and Aishatou has also studied Spanish in middle and high school.

With roots that span continents and languages, the Larabou family reflects the rich experiences and perspectives that help make the Canton City Schools community so strong.

Jeff Stocker, a proud 1987 graduate of McKinley Senior High School, exemplifies what it means to build leaders who serve their communities A lifelong Stark County resident, Jeff began his journey in Canton City Schools before attending Kent State University and launching his sales career, highlighted by his current 24-year tenure with the Cleveland Guardians. Today, he serves as Assistant Director of Ticket Sales, leading within the organization’s largest revenue-producing department and helping guide strategy, teamwork, and long-term planning.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Jeff has dedicated more than a decade to coaching and mentoring young people through North Canton Little League and YMCA basketball, reinforcing his belief that leadership is about helping others succeed. He currently serves on North Canton City Council after being elected in November 2025, bringing the same commitment to collaboration and fiscal responsibility that has defined his career.

Jeff credits his foundation to his time at Canton City Schools, where he developed the confidence, communication skills, and work ethic that continue to shape his leadership style today. “I honestly don't think I'd be the person I am today if I hadn't grown up in Canton and gone to Canton City Schools," he said. "I attended three different elementary schools before going to Crenshaw and eventually McKinley so I had a tremendous opportunity to get to know people from different parts of town. At McKinley, I was a member of the Speech and Debate Team and was fortunate to qualify for two national tournaments. I was also a Co-Editor of The Saxton. There's no doubt that my personal and educational experiences really help me today to connect with people in a genuine way."

Whether in professional sports, on the ballfield, or in public service, Jeff’s story reflects the Bulldog tradition of building champions, strengthening communities, and proving that success is truly a tradition at Canton City Schools.

Lighthouse Ministries has been walking alongside the children and families of Southeast Canton for nearly three decades, creating safe, holistic spaces where young people are known, supported, and encouraged to discover their God-given gifts. Grounded in relationships and quality programming, the Lighthouse helps students grow in confidence, creativity, and purpose during the school year and beyond.

In partnership with Canton City Schools, Lighthouse supports students throughout the academic year through after-school programming and on-site partnerships, as well as our newly launched after-school location at Patrick Elementary. During the school year, students can also participate in our Youth Ministry and Cultivate arts programming, where they build meaningful relationships, explore their strengths, and develop social, emotional, and leadership skills in a caring and consistent environment. During the summer, Lighthouse offers a seven-week day camp and a field trip program, giving parents multiple ways to provide fun-filled educational and enrichment opportunities for their children. 

The Lighthouse is thrilled to partner with Canton City Schools to support students year-round and strengthen pathways to bright futures for students in our community.

We are beyond grateful to all the families and community members who joined us for our Annual Black History Month Celebration. Your presence truly made the evening unforgettable.

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing performers and outstanding student emcees who filled the stage with energy, talent, and excellence. We were especially honored to recognize our award recipients, Dr. Charles Hughes and JB Hilliard, Esq.

Special thanks to the Canton City School District Board of Education, Superintendent Jeff Talbert, Program Chair Deidre Stokes-Davis, and Co-Chair Terrance Jones for your commitment and support in making this celebration such a success.

It was a magical evening celebrating history, excellence, and the power of community.

While going through his late mother, Norma Reese's belongings, a Michigan man, Greg Winters, found treasured keepsakes from his mother's elementary school days at Clarendon Elementary: class photos, bulletins and composition notebooks.

Rather than discard them, Mr. Winters chose to return the memorabilia to Canton City Schools so we could preserve the pieces as part of our history. He drove from Michigan to Ohio to personally deliver the collection, then returned home the same day.  

His thoughtful gesture is a reminder that the impact of a school lasts far beyond graduation, and that preserving those memories honors the generations who came before.  

Thank you, Mr. Winters, for going the extra mile (literally) to share a piece of your beloved mother's story with us. May she rest in peace, and her legacy live on.

The Canton City Schools Special Education Department will host the Bulldog Games on Friday, May 8, 2026, from 9:30 AM–1:30 PM at Thurman Munson Stadium. More than 100 students with special needs will participate in a day of field events and celebration.

Community sponsorships help provide activity stations, medals, T-shirts, and lunch for students. Donations of any amount are appreciated.

To sponsor, contact Gina Stolicny at stolicny_g@ccsdistrict.org

. Gold and Silver sponsors should confirm by March 23, 2026, for T-shirt and publication inclusion.

Thank you for supporting our students!

As we begin looking at opportunities for our students during the summer months, we are working to compile a comprehensive list of summer programs and opportunities available to our students and families. We know that many of our valued community partners offer camps, enrichment activities, learning opportunities, and other programs that support student growth during the summer.

If your organization is offering summer programming for school-age children, we would love to include it in our district resource list. This list will be shared with families to help them easily find opportunities that keep students engaged, learning, and connected throughout the summer.

Please feel free to email information to Linnea Olbon at olbon_l@ccsdistrict.org.

Several of our school buildings have a food pantry designed to help students and families bridge the gap during a few days of food insecurity. The food pantries are graciously funded through Feed Kids First, and are available for CCSD families experiencing a need for temporary or emergency situations. Please note that these pantries are intended to provide short-term assistance and are not a continuous source of food.

Schools with Food Pantries: Cedar Elementary, Passages at Compton, Crenshaw Middle School, Early College at Lehman, Early Learning Center @ Schreiber, Fairmount Learning Center and Youtz Intermediate

If a school does not have a pantry and your family needs short-term assistance, you are welcome to visit the Timken Career Campus and speak with Linnea Olbon, or email her at olbon_l@ccsdistrict.org. All information is kept confidential.

Click here to learn more about our Family, Community, and Partner Engagement Department and Team.