Who Is Stephanie Groce?

Stephanie Groce was appointed to the Columbus Board of Education in March 2006. Ms. Groce is the co-chair of the Public Engagement Committee, and is a member of the Audit and Accountability Committee. She has also served on the Academic Achievement Committee and Business Committee, and was influential in the development of the Board’s Policy Governance Model and Academic Ends Policies.

During her tenure on the Board, Stephanie has consistently championed the need to link spending to student achievement and the need to provide educational options that students and parents desire. Stephanie strongly believes that Columbus Schools must effectively serve all students in the district, living up to the Board’s promise that “All Means All.”

Stephanie is currently Vice President of Consumer and Professional Research at Saperstein Associates, Inc., a Columbus-based public opinion and market research firm. During her 15-year career at Saperstein Associates, she has focused on education-related research and has surveyed thousands of elementary and high school teachers throughout the country on nearly every subject. She specializes in textbook efficacy research -- research that focuses on ensuring that classroom materials are effective for all students, regardless of gender, race, and socioeconomic status.

Ms. Groce is a Trustee of The Market Research Exchange of Central Ohio and a member of WELD, Women for Economic Leadership and Development. She also has served on the Advisory Council at North Broadway Children’s Center, a nationally accredited child care center in Clintonville.

Ms. Groce has a Bachelor’s degree in English Education from The Ohio State University. She also holds a Master’s degree in Quantitative Research, Evaluation, and Measurement in Education from OSU. She is a life-time member of The Ohio State University Alumni Association.

Ms. Groce is a life-long resident of Columbus, growing up on the west side. Currently, Stephanie lives on the northwest side of Columbus.

She is married to Steve Niehoff, a graduate of Columbus Schools. Steve is a Product Development Director for Nationwide Financial Services. He is a volunteer for I Know I Can, assisting families in Columbus Schools with completing financial aid forms.

Stephanie and Steve have a daughter, Lanie, who is in first grade at Winterset Elementary. They are active members in the Winterset PTA and volunteer at the school.