Western Buckeye Educational Service Center

What Western Buckeye Educational Service Center does

Western Buckeye Educational Service Center (WBESC) is a public, non-profit Educational Service Center headquartered at 835 N. Williams St., Paulding, Ohio, operating under the Ohio Educational Service Center Association (OESCA) framework to serve school districts across Paulding and Van Wert Counties. Its core function is shared-services aggregation: WBESC employs approximately 115 specialized educational professionals—including school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists, intervention specialists, special education directors, transition coordinators, and gifted coordinators—and assigns them to partner districts that could not cost-effectively employ such personnel individually. Beyond shared staffing, the organization operates preschool programs (Thomas Edison and Wayne Trace Preschool sites), the Paulding County Opportunity Center (an alternative K-12 learning environment), licensure and professional development services (including graduate-credit offerings via Northwest Nazarene University), BCI/FBI fingerprinting, a Parent Mentor Program, the Franklin B. Walter Scholarship, and Business Advisory Councils for both counties.

WBESC's revenue model combines cost-reimbursement pass-through billing (actual personnel, materials, and related costs) with a 3-6% administrative fee on specialized services, plus unit-priced transactions for ancillary offerings such as BCI/FBI fingerprinting ($35-$70) and paraprofessional testing ($100 per test). Free services to member districts—including superintendent/administrator meetings, LPDC support, and statewide award coordination—reinforce partnership stickiness rather than generate direct revenue. The organization holds 10 consecutive years of High Performing ESC designation from the Ohio State Education Agency, a credential that reinforces its regional regulatory standing.

Distribution is structured around formal shared-service agreements with approximately nine named partner districts and schools (Antwerp, Paulding Exempted Village, Wayne Trace, Crestview, Lincolnview, Van Wert City, Vantage Career Center, Divine Mercy, St. Mary of the Assumption). Marketing and outreach channels include the wbesc.org website, an active Facebook presence, quarterly roundtable meetings with district leadership, Business Advisory Councils, and the annual TEACH for the Future Conference hosted at Vantage Career Center serving 15+ northwest Ohio districts. Technology is explicitly not the focus of the organization; WBESC functions as a human-capital and professional-services intermediary rather than a software or platform business. Leadership consists of Superintendent Missy McClurg, Treasurer Tricia Taylor, and a small senior administrative team supported by program-level directors across preschool, special education, gifted services, and transition planning.

Name

Western Buckeye Educational Service Center

Legal name

Western Buckeye Educational Service Center

Website

https://wbesc.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

WBESC is a public, non-profit Ohio Educational Service Center that provides shared specialized educational staff, preschool and alternative education programs, professional development, and related support services to school districts across Paulding and Van Wert Counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Help Supply Services (7363)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education Staffing & Contracted Providers (Paras, Therapists, Specialists) (EDAJAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH), Family Advocacy, Parent Training & Support Services (EDAJAKAK), Specialized Learning Support (Dyslexia/LD Coaching, Assistive Strategies) (EDAJALAJ), District Student Services Administration (Special Ed, Counseling, Health) (EDADABAJ)

Keywords

• Educational service center
• Shared educational services
• Special education staffing
• School district support
• Professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Paulding

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Shared Services Staffing: WBESC provides specialized educational staff (school psychologists, case managers, special education directors, teachers, paraprofessionals, therapists, etc.) to partner school districts through shared service arrangements. Districts benefit from access to specialized professionals that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive for individual districts to employ directly.
2. Fee-Based Services: BCI/FBI fingerprinting services charged at $35 per check. Paraprofessional testing at $100 per test. Cost reimbursement services including actual personnel costs, materials, and related costs plus 3-6% administrative fee depending on service type.
3. Free Member Services: Free services for member districts including superintendent/administrator meetings, licensure/LPDC support, Franklin B. Walter Award coordination, and representation/coordination with community agencies. This helps maintain district partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Western Buckeye Educational Service Center (WBESC) provides shared educational services to school districts in Paulding and Van Wert Counties, Ohio. The organization supplies specialized educational staff (school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists, special education directors, intervention specialists, paraprofessionals, and transition coordinators) on a cost-reimbursement basis to districts that could not afford these roles individually. It also operates preschool programs (Thomas Edison Preschool, Wayne Trace Preschool), the Paulding County Opportunity Center alternative school, and offers BCI/FBI fingerprinting, educator licensure support, gifted programming, professional development, and the Franklin B. Walter Scholarship program.

Product overview

Western Buckeye Educational Service Center provides a comprehensive suite of educational support services to school districts in Paulding and Van Wert Counties, Ohio. The organization operates as a shared services hub offering preschool programs (Thomas Edison Preschool, Wayne Trace Preschool, and Paulding County Opportunity Center for K-12 alternative education), special education staffing and therapy services (school psychology, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy), professional development and teaching & learning support, gifted education programming, licensure and credentialing assistance, BCI/FBI fingerprinting for background checks, and community engagement initiatives including the TEACH for the Future Conference, Parent Mentor Program, and Franklin B. Walter Scholarship awards. The portfolio functions as an integrated service ecosystem where districts access specialized professionals and programs through shared-resource agreements rather than a single software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Psychology and Therapy Services School psychology, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy services provided to students across Paulding and Van Wert Counties through licensed professionals and assistants under shared-service agreements with partner districts.
• Special Education Services Comprehensive special education staffing and support including Intervention Specialists, Paraprofessionals, School Psychologists, Case Managers, Special Education Directors, and Transition Coordinators serving partner districts across Paulding and Van Wert Counties.
• Special Education and Transition Planning SPED Quarterly Roundtable Meetings, training in special education topics, transition planning support, and assistance with Intervention Assistance Teams, Evaluation Team Reports, IEPs, and Pre-ETS services for partner districts.
• Preschool Services Early childhood education programs including Thomas Edison Preschool in Van Wert and Wayne Trace Preschool with locations in Grover Hill and Payne, serving children ages 3-5 with developmental and learning support.
• Paulding County Opportunity Center (PCOC) Alternative learning environment for K-12 students from Antwerp, Paulding Exempted Village, and Wayne Trace schools, offering personalized instruction with smaller class sizes for both special education and general education students.
• BCI/FBI Fingerprinting Services Background check services through Ohio's Webcheck system provided by the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCII) for licensure, employment, and volunteer purposes. Available at Paulding and Van Wert offices by appointment or walk-in.
• Licensure Services Support for educator licensure including new licensure applications, license renewals, IPDP writing assistance, license transfers, and advancement from Resident Educator to Professional License.
• Teaching and Learning / Professional Development Personalized professional learning and training, instructional coaching, and access to evidence-based practices through workshops, on-site support, and curriculum resources, with CEU and graduate credit options through Northwest Nazarene University partnership.
• Gifted Program Gifted education services supporting district gifted programming, enrichment opportunities for diverse gifted learners, and family support through Gifted Coordinators and Specialists.
• TEACH for the Future Conference Annual regional education conference featuring educator-led sessions on technology and AI integration, administrator-focused AI policy sessions, CEU credits, and graduate credit options, serving multiple northwest Ohio school districts.
• Parent Mentor Program Support program connecting parents of children with disabilities to resources, guidance, and special education navigation assistance through trained parent mentors.
• Franklin B. Walter Scholarship Program Scholarship awards for outstanding high school seniors from Paulding and Van Wert Counties, with $500 awards for county winners and $100 for district representatives, coordinated through the Ohio Educational Service Center Association.
• Business Advisory Councils Coordination of Business Advisory Councils in Paulding and Van Wert Counties connecting local businesses, schools, and community organizations to support career pathways and workforce development.
• Summer Programs Coordination Summer camp program coordination including Camp Invention, along with connections to external summer programs for STEM, academic enrichment, and gifted student development.

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Vantage Career CenterminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 August 2026Host venue for TEACH for the Future Conference serving 15+ regional school districts in northwest Ohio.
• Rachael MannminorOthers · 4 August 2026Author, speaker, and host of NCLA and OTCs podcasts serving as keynote speaker at TEACH for the Future Conference.
• Eric CurtsminorOthers · 4 August 2026EdTech Specialist and ControlAltAchieve.com author serving as breakout session presenter at TEACH for the Future Conference.
• Scott RossminorOthers · 4 August 2026AI Consultant from Summit ESC serving as breakout session presenter at TEACH for the Future Conference.
• Antwerp Local SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school district receiving shared services including specialized staff, professional development, and collaborative educational programs. WBESC provides school psychologist services, case management, and other educational support.
• Paulding Exempted Village SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner district receiving shared services and alternative education programs (PCOC) from WBESC.
• Wayne Trace Local SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner district receiving shared services including special education, preschool programs, and professional development.
• Crestview Local SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner district in Van Wert County receiving school psychology and other shared services from WBESC.
• Lincolnview Local SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner district receiving shared services including special education directors and school psychology services.
• Van Wert City SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner district receiving shared services including Thomas Edison Preschool and professional development.
• Vantage Career CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer technical education partner included in regional educational service network.
• Northwest Nazarene University (NNU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership allowing educators to earn graduate-level professional development credits through WBESC training programs.
• Ohio Educational Service Center Association (OESCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide association of Ohio ESCs; WBESC participates in Franklin B. Walter All-Scholastic Award program coordinated through OESCA.
• Paulding County Business Advisory CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncil of local businesses, educational institutions, and organizations working together to support educational and economic development in Paulding County.
• Van Wert County Business Advisory CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncil of local businesses, educational institutions, and organizations working together to support educational and economic development in Van Wert County.
• ServeOhiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhio service organization; WBESC participates in ServeOhio initiatives for community engagement.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center: Regional ESC serving districts in northwest Ohio through shared services, special education staffing, and PD. Geographic neighbor to WBESC operating under the same OESCA framework; a direct functional twin for shared-services comparison.
• Mid-Eastern Ohio Educational Service Center: ESC serving multi-county districts in eastern Ohio with shared special education, therapy, and PD offerings. Directly comparable operating model and service portfolio to WBESC.
• Erie 1 BOCES: New York Board of Cooperative Educational Services organization providing shared instructional and support services to member districts. Functionally analogous to Ohio's ESC system and operates shared special-education, PD, and alternative education models.
• Great Oaks Career Campuses: Southwestern Ohio ESC and career-technical education provider partnering with multiple districts. While larger and more career-tech focused, it shares the OESCA ESC operating model and provides a useful scale-up comp for WBESC's Vantage partnership.
• Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center: Ohio ESC providing shared special education, gifted, preschool, and PD services to partner districts in central Ohio. Same OESCA-mandated operating model as WBESC, scaled to a more populous region; useful comp for capability and service-mix benchmarking.
• Tri-County Educational Service Center: Compact Ohio ESC in north-central Ohio operating the same shared-staffing, special-education, preschool, and PD model as WBESC. Comparable scope and rural district base.
• Summit Educational Service Center: Another Ohio Educational Service Center serving districts in northeast Ohio with shared specialized staff, PD, and special education services. Directly referenced as a presenter at WBESC's TEACH conference and a fellow OESCA member; offers the closest 1:1 operating-model comparability.
• Southeastern Ohio Educational Service Center: Rural Ohio ESC serving a similar small-district base with shared specialized staff and PD services. Closely mirrors WBESC's rural-region, multi-district shared-services positioning.

Regional players

• Northwest Regional ESD: Oregon Education Service District delivering specialized staffing, special education, and PD to rural districts in northwest Oregon. Analogous structure and rural-district base, though serving a different state/geography than WBESC.
• Education Service Center Region 11: Texas regional ESC providing shared services to member school districts. Same shared-services-and-staffing educational service-center model as WBESC, applied in a different state regulatory framework.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100063859681152
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/western-buckeye-educational

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Western Buckeye Educational Service Center