A Different Path to Student Success

How New Leaf Organization is using flexible education to expand graduation pathways for students across Ohio

Education has long been considered the foundation for opportunity and future success—but when students disengage from school, it raises an urgent question: what must change to bring them back? 

Mary Snell, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of New Leaf Organization, has dedicated her career to confronting that very question. Through New Leaf Organization’s work empowering Buckeye Community Schools across Ohio, Mary and her team have built a model that removes barriers and restores opportunity for students who might otherwise fall through the cracks. By combining flexibility, accountability, and a deep belief in each student’s potential, New Leaf demonstrates how mission-driven leadership can reshape educational pathways and expand opportunity for students. 

At the center of this work is a leadership philosophy grounded in belief—belief in students, belief in second chances, and belief that education can evolve when schools are willing to change. 

Today, Buckeye Community Schools serve students across several Ohio communities, including Fremont, Lima, London, Mansfield, Marion, Springfield, and Tiffin. 

Witnessing the Power of True Belief 

The beginning of Mary’s two-decade leadership journey happened when her entry into education at the London Academy ‘really turned out to be a jumpstart into leadership.’ In her own words, she was given so much responsibility that she quickly saw how much thoughtful organization and steady direction could shape a student’s experience. “I witnessed the power of being truly seen and how belief, empathy, and encouragement can change a young person’s trajectory.” 

The relationships Mary built with students during that time affirmed that she was exactly where she was meant to be. Learning the skill to see the story behind each student has guided every decision she has made since, Mary explains. She adds, “It has influenced how we develop our teams, design our programs, and build schools where every student can succeed on their own terms.” 

The Spark That Ignited Mary’s Spirit 

With over 20 years of experience in launching and managing seven successful dropout prevention and credit recovery community schools in Ohio, the initial spark that ignited Mary’s passion for helping at-risk students earn their high school diplomas was the question of “Why would anyone drop out of their school?” 

In answer, Mary explains that what she has learned over the years is that students often carry challenges you’ll never fully grasp unless you take the time to sit with them and listen. On the surface, their struggles may look like apathy or disengagement, but meaningful conversation reveals much deeper stories. Many students have experiences with instability or systems that simply didn’t make space for who they are. 

Hearing firsthand why traditional education failed to meet some students’ needs completely changed Mary’s perspective and ignited a deep commitment to creating learning environments that remove obstacles rather than create them. She set out to build spaces rooted in empathy, flexibility, and opportunity—places where students’ lived experiences are acknowledged and their potential is cultivated. 

A Perspective Deeply Grounded in People 

Coming into education from a nontraditional path gave Mary a perspective deeply grounded in people, not just systems. If you don’t intentionally build an environment where students and staff feel valued and understood, no curriculum will truly work, she insists. 

Her real-world experiences taught her to see individuals holistically. Students arrive at school as sons and daughters, employees, parents, caregivers, and young people carrying stories that shape how they show up each day. 

Academics matter deeply, but they cannot be separated from social-emotional well-being. She adds, “That’s why our model integrates mental health support, housing, and resource assistance.” 

At the core, Mary and her team’s approach is about meeting students where they are and building upward from there. When students feel supported and respected, they begin to rethink what’s possible for themselves, Mary reflects. 

Rewriting the Future  

Over the years, Buckeye Community Schools, empowered by New Leaf Organization, has helped more than 5,500 students earn their high school diplomas.  

Yet one of the first students Mary worked with remains etched in her memory even decades later. Reflecting on that experience, she recalls, “The student was a young woman returning to school after becoming a mother. She wasn’t just trying to earn a diploma; she was trying to rewrite the future for herself and her child at the same time. Her desire for greatness inspired me to continue this path and help other students realize their potential.” 

The evolution of supportive, individualized learning plans today has its roots in the innovative strategies Mary introduced while designing the original computer system to track student progress. As she explains, “The system grew out of a gap I kept running into. At the time, most tools available assumed students moved through school in predictable ways, but that assumption did not reflect the reality of the students or the structure of our curriculum…” 

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