Rena Suber presently serves as the Head Principal and Chief School Administrator of Emmanuel Christian Academy (Emmanuel) in Akron, Ohio. She has held this position for seventeen years. Mrs. Suber served at Emmanuel as a founding teacher for six years, prior to becoming Principal.

She has accepted the call and challenge of educating students who historically have been defined as at risk; refusing to make excuses for them.  She is committed to providing educational and other opportunities for her students to set them on the path of success In keeping with her commitment to serve children who historical has been defined as at risk, she established Career Assessments for middle school students, and developed several programs Entrepreneurship/Financial Literacy program, Summer Enrichment STEAM Academy, and an Early Childhood Education Center serving babies six weeks to Prekindergarten. As a leader, one of Mrs. Suber’s strengths is engaging a team of people to work together for a common cause, regardless of their differences.  She has developed methods to provide specific strategies for adults and children of poverty to acquire skills to navigate and operate within the mainstream cultures.

Mrs. Suber’s expertise in developing others stems not only from her own childhood experiences as an “at risk” youth but from church leadership development and professional training.  Mrs. Suber has presented workshops that focus on working with at risk students for local private Christian Schools, as well as organizations such as the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), New York Association of Christian Schools Urban School Conference (NYACS), Cleveland Municipal Schools and Streetsboro City School. As an Administrator, Mrs. Suber participates with the Greater Cleveland Christian Administrator Association where she is both a founding and current Board member. She has developed key relationships with organizations and churches within the community to advance the needs of children.   She was instrumental in the development of the strategic plan for Emmanuel and led a Capital Campaign to secure and renovate their new school building to accommodate the growth of the school. 

Mrs. Suber is a graduate of Kent State University, with a Bachelor in Education and a Masters in Educational Administration.  In addition, she is a certified instructor of “Understanding a Framework of Poverty” and has received certifications in Working with African-American Clients and Families, and Multicultural Effectiveness in schools. She is a member of Leadership Akron class 32, “the best class ever and National Council of Negro Women Inc.”  Mrs. Suber honors include receipt of the Harold K Stubbs award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Education, the NAACP 34-AB Coretta Scott King award for Educating and Supporting Youth, and the Dr. Marin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award for leadership and commitment to the cause of Justice and the National Council of Negro Women Inc. Cuyahoga County Trailblazers Community Service Award and Inducted into the Akron Urban League’s Academy of Leaders for her contribution and support in education of students in STEM. Mrs. Suber is described as a servant leader and leads with wisdom and with courage.

She encourages those with whom she comes in contact to lead a life that is glorifying to God. She not only encourages that life style, but demonstrates it in her own life, both privately and publicly.  She has been married for over thirty eight years.  She the mother of four adult children and grandmother of eight beautiful brilliant grandchildren.