Title: Business Teacher
Company: Olmsted Falls High School
Location: Grafton, Ohio, United States
Dena Kotz-Fresch, a business teacher at Olmsted Falls High School, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in academia.
Though she has harbored a lifelong passion for teaching, Mrs. Kotz-Fresch was initially drawn to a career in finance and pursued an education at Ohio Business College, from which she earned an Associate of Applied Science in accounting. She continued her academic efforts with a bachelor’s degree in finance with a minor in accounting, summa cum laude, at Ashland University in 1994. During this time, she began her career with Society Investments, now known as Key Investments, where she advanced to the position of vice president between 1992 and 1999. Ms. Kotz-Fresch’s rapid success in finance was additionally informed by her youth, having garnered valuable knowledge and skills in business administration from her self-employed father and grandfather.
Mrs. Kotz-Fresch further served as a certified finance manager and an assistant vice president with Merrill Lynch from 1999 to 2009. Likewise, she established her private consulting firm, Kotz Consulting, in 2002, through which she shares her wealth of expertise to this day. Moreover, she concluded her studies at Ashland University in 2007, graduating with a Master of Business Administration in international business and global management, with honors. After working for more than 20 years in finance, Mrs. Kotz-Fresch reevaluated her career path and engaged in a less stressful environment that would afford her more time with her high school daughters at that time.
Though she envisioned teaching at the college level, Mrs. Kotz-Fresch ultimately decided to transition to high school education as she wanted to make a meaningful impact on students who may be uncertain about their future. To expand upon her skill set, she obtained her certification in education from a Bachelor’s Plus Program at Ashland University in 2010. Between 2010 and 2016, she was active as a business teacher and an assistant athletic director at Elyria High School. Furthermore, Mrs. Kotz-Fresch acquired her license to become a school treasurer from the state of Ohio via Ashland University in 2015.
Since 2016, Mrs. Kotz-Fresch has excelled as a business teacher with Olmsted Falls City Schools, through which she offers her students valuable lessons regarding personal finances, marketing, and the principles of business and management. The business principles honors class is esteemed for creating hands-on competitions where students are motivated to develop unique business plans and pitch innovative ideas, which she believes helps her students retain information better than traditional test-based learning. As a result of her lauded approach, she has built strong relationships with her students, many of whom remain in touch with her following graduation. Mrs. Kotz-Fresch also teaches college credit plus classes for high school students via Lorain County Community College for college credit students.
Beyond her primary responsibilities, Mrs. Kotz-Fresch has participated in numerous endeavors outside her immediate circles. Since 2018, she has found success as an executive consultant with Rodan & Fields. She also contributed to the legal formation of her daughter’s non-profit Morgantown Volleyball Club and holds the coordinator position within Olmsted Falls City Schools for the High School’s Professional Development Committee. Mrs. Kotz-Fresch was previously appointed as an Erie County representative for the Northern Ohio Girls Soccer League from 2000 to 2003, a board member for the Local Church Board of Christian Education from 2003 to 2004, a missionary in Mexico for the United Church of Christ in 2004, and the treasurer for the Lakefield Manor Condominium Association from 2002 to 2022, among other posts.
In light of her notable undertakings, Mrs. Kotz-Fresch has accrued several accolades throughout her career. As a testament to her academic achievements, she was presented with the Outstanding Graduate Award from Ashland University in 1994. She was subsequently recognized with the Outstanding Teacher Award from Olmsted Falls City Schools in recent years. However, Mrs. Kotz-Fresch is very proud to have guided her students to three consecutive wins in the Veale Innovation Challenge held by the Veale Foundation, leading to a grant of $10,000 which revitalized her classroom and amassed widespread media attention in 2023. To date, Mrs. Fresch has won over $125,000 in prize money and scholarships for her business students.
Mrs. Kotz-Fresch has attributed her success to her impressive education, her family background, and her various life experiences, from which she draws inspiration to create practical and effective projects for the children with whom she works. She is a firm believer in setting a positive example for her community, as compassion and her love for life have formed the foundation for her personal and professional accomplishments. Looking toward the future, Mrs. Kotz-Fresch hopes to continue developing programs and providing scholarships while devoting her spare time to volunteering, aiding local businesses, mentoring new teachers, and savoring the rewards of her hard work upon her well-deserved retirement alongside her granddaughter.
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