Board of Education Biographies

Board President Kara Coates

Ms. Coates began her formal service to the Gahanna-Jefferson Board of Education in January 2022. She earned her Bachelor of Science in communications from Ohio University and she also graduated with her master's degree in healthcare administration at Franklin University in the spring of 2023. Ms. Coates has volunteered in the district as a room mom and on the PTO. She recently served on the district’s Master Facilities Planning Committee from 2019-2021. Ms. Coates has been a proud associate of OhioHealth for 16 years, currently serving as Advisor of Provider and Associate Well-Being. With 26 years of experience, her background includes internal communications, video production, event design, production and logistics, cause and experiential marketing, team building, critical incident response, mental health support programming and people and organizational management. Ms. Coates is Co-Chair for the OhioHealth Disabilities Awareness Wellness Network Business Resource Group, and Co-Chair of the OhioHealth Arts Collaborative. Ms. Coates moved to Gahanna with her husband Kevin in 2006 and has two Gahanna Lincoln High School graduates. Her present term concludes on December 31, 2025.

Phone: 614-269-4208 | Email: CoatesK@gjps.org

Board Vice President Sue Horn

Watch Video: Board Member Sue Horn

Ms. Horn began her formal service to the Gahanna-Jefferson Board of Education in January 2022. She has been an active volunteer in the district for many years as a room parent, PTO officer, Fitness Fundraiser Coordinator at GMSE, Vocal Music Boosters and GJEF Gala volunteer. She was also a troop leader for Girl Scouts for 14 years and was active in recruiting other girls and adults to participate in Girl Scouts. Ms. Horn earned a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting and business administration from Thiel College. Professionally, she started her career in public accounting with Ernst & Whinney and spent over 25 years in various finance and marketing roles with Fortune 500 companies. Sue and her husband, Verlin, are parents of three Gahanna graduates and have lived in Gahanna since 1989. Sue is passionate about giving back to the community and believes in the power of quality public education to drive success in individuals and communities. Her present term concludes on December 31, 2025.

Phone 614-269-4620 | Email: HornS@gjps.org

Megan Dimmerling

Mrs. Dimmerling began her formal service to the Gahanna-Jefferson Board of Education in February 2024. Mrs. Dimmerling has dedicated her career to education with a variety of professional licensures including: Principal for elementary and middle school, K-12 Mild-Moderate Intervention Specialist, K-12 Library Media Specialist, K-12 Reading Endorsement, 4-9 Language Arts and Social Studies and she is a Certified Associate Level for Orton-Gillingham. She also has a wide variety of professional development experience in the education field. Mrs. Dimmerling is currently an intervention specialist at Dublin Scioto High School, where she has been for the past three years. Before that, she served as a library media specialist for 10 years at Thomas Elementary School in Dublin City Schools. Mrs. Dimmerling has lived in Gahanna for nearly nine years and has three children who attend Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools. She has volunteered in her children’s schools and is an active member of the Mifflin Presbyterian Church. She has served as a leader for multiple Girl Scout troops and has assisted with GRIN’s food drives. Her present term concludes December 31, 2025.

| Email: DimmerlingM@gjps.org

Dion Manley

Watch Video: Board Member Dion Manley

Mr. Manley began his formal service to the Gahanna-Jefferson Board of Education in January 2022. He earned a full athletic scholarship to California State University Northridge and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in humanities from New College of California. Mr. Manley attended trade school, earning three certificates from the Gemological Institute of America. He apprenticed for two years and started and owned a small jewelry business for 17 years in San Francisco, CA. Mr. Manley currently works as a healthcare worker in the optometry field. He has over ten years of experience in public service with the Franklin County Board of Elections as a Voting Location Manager and most recently in the Absentee & Provisional Departments. He also has six years of nonprofit experience as acting Executive Director, volunteer coordinator, outreach specialist and board officer. Mr. Manley is a resident of Gahanna and a proud parent of a Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools alum. His present term concludes on December 31, 2025.

Phone: 614-269-1945 | Email: ManleyD@gjps.org

Daphne Moehring

Watch Video: Board Member Daphne Moehring

Ms. Moehring began her formal service to the Gahanna-Jefferson Board of Education in January 2016. She has been an active volunteer in the district for many years, serving as classroom volunteer, PTO president, GJEF grants committee and gala committee member. Ms. Moehring earned a Bachelor of Arts in business administration, with a minor in finance, from Capital University. Professionally, she spent 21 years in commercial banking before becoming licensed in insurance. Moehring and her husband, Boyd (a 1980 Gahanna grad) are parents of two Gahanna graduates, having lived here since 1989. Ms. Moehring was reelected in November 2023 to serve a third term which will end on December 31, 2027.

Phone: 614-479-1301 | Email: MoehringD@gjps.org