August 19, 2026
We’re thrilled to share some exciting news: Tiffany Piko has been accepted into Ohio Excels’ Education & Workforce Policy Fellowship, a statewide honor that speaks to the depth of her commitment to Southeast Ohio’s schools and communities.
A Career Built on Listening First
Tiffany Piko now serves as the Region 2 (SE) Lead at Future Plans, a role she stepped into after making a name for herself as the organization’s Community Outreach Partner across Perry, Muskingum, Coshocton, and Holmes counties — building capacity in rural schools, helping students access Future Plans’ GRIT summer programs, and partnering with schools like New Lexington High School, where Future Plans data helped secure a $16.4 million grant for a new workforce development center. A graduate of Parsons School of Design with a bachelor’s in sustainable design, Tiffany brings a unique blend of listening, relationship-building, and a drive for equity to her work. Outside the office, she lives on a homestead in Perry County, where she and her partner grow much of their own food, foster animals, and practice timber framing.
About the Fellowship
Tiffany’s selection comes as part of Ohio Excels’ Education & Workforce Policy Fellowship, a competitive statewide program designed to equip business, nonprofit, and community leaders with the knowledge and connections needed to advance education and workforce outcomes across Ohio.
Through a series of learning sessions, site visits, conversations with policymakers, and a capstone project, fellows deepen their understanding of the state’s education and workforce systems while building partnerships that support meaningful change at the local and state levels.
At a time when Ohio faces challenges such as limited access to early learning, rising chronic absenteeism, and evolving workforce needs, the fellowship helps prepare leaders to drive solutions. As a fellow, Tiffany will engage directly with legislators and state agency leaders, collaborate with peers from across sectors, and develop a capstone project focused on creating real policy impact.
Congratulations, Tiffany!
Congratulations to Tiffany Piko on this well-deserved recognition! We’re so proud to see her take on this new statewide opportunity, and we know she’ll bring the same passion and dedication to it that she brings everything she does. Thank you for everything you do for our schools, our students, and our communities, Tiffany — here’s the next chapter. We’re cheering you on every step of the way!
