A Message from Your New Principal

Dear Glenville Families,

My name is Ben Imlay, and I’m honored to introduce myself as the new principal of Breakthrough Glenville. Returning home to Ohio to lead in a community like Glenville is both a privilege and a responsibility I hold with deep respect. This is a neighborhood full of brilliance, history, and strength – and our students are at the center of it all. I believe our school should be a beacon for the entire village: a place where neighbors gather, education affirms identity, families feel seen and heard, and opportunity is real.

Over the past decade, I’ve served as a teacher, instructional coach, and most recently, as an assistant principal in North Tulsa. I began my work in education as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the Springfield Promise Neighborhood, where I saw firsthand the power of school-family-community partnerships to transform lives. That experience grounded my belief that schools must be anchors in the neighborhoods they serve.

Breakthrough Glenville exists because this neighborhood, and families like you, demanded more: a place where young people are challenged, affirmed, and prepared to lead. We are building our school in the spirit of these neighborhoods and its history – from the ground up, as a village, one rooted in connection, community, and collective strength.

One of the first ways I’m hoping to connect with you is through our Pull Up with the Principal summer series. I’ll be visiting spots throughout the neighborhood – from the fire station to the barbershop to the New Eastside Market – so families can meet me, ask questions, and share their hopes for the year ahead. It’s just the beginning of how we’ll meet families where they are and ensure Glenville voices shape Glenville schools.

I can’t wait to meet you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with your experiences, your questions, or your vision for what we can build together.

In community,

Mr. Imlay