About Us
Opportunity in Motion
The Big Bus was born in 2022 when our founder, Tracy Davidson, ran a re-election campaign for school board in Westerville, OH. Spending time out in the Westerville community, Tracy spoke with New American families at Abbey Lane apartments. Many of these families had arrived in the United States within the last three to five years, some from refugee camps.
Many of the Abbey Lane parents expressed hope that their children could receive academic support. For immigrant students who are also trying to learn English, navigating public education and succeeding in school involves serious challenges and complexities. Things we often take for granted—knowing the language that school subjects are taught in, for example—aren't always a given for these students.
One of the mothers, in broken English, asked if there was a way that she and other mothers in their community could receive help with their English language and reading skills. That way, they could help their children succeed in school while also helping each other integrate into their new community. She repeated the idea in Somali, and all of the mothers around her nodded their heads in agreement.
The idea for The Big Bus began to take shape that day, with dreams of bringing multigenerational impact and educational equity to under-resourced areas. The first literal Big Bus—our school bus beautifully redesigned into a mobile classroom—quickly became road ready, with its first stop set to Abbey Lane. The Big Bus team, meanwhile, made a commitment to continue deeply listening to community needs, with the understanding that supporting individuals and groups in need benefits our entire community ecosystem. ​
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We started with after-school K-5 tutoring at Abbey Lane Apartments, we expanded to include English Language Learning (ELL) programming for parents and kindergarten readiness for preschool children. With our programming more firmly established, we have grown to Newcastle Townhomes. With the introduction of The Big Bus II, we hope to continue to grow our outreach.
Our Programs
The Big Bus I
Big Bus I focuses on after-school homework help for K-5th grade students in two community neighborhoods. We are at Newcastle Townhomes every Tuesday and Abbey Lane Apartments every Wednesday, providing students with a supportive, consistent learning environment each week.
The Big Bus II
Big Bus II serves middle and high school students across Westerville City Schools through a weekly rotation. In December of 2024 we launched programs at both Abbey Lane Apartments and Newcastle Townhomes, and have added Charring Cross since.
Our Approach
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Accessible
Being able to (literally) meet students and families where they are is central to our approach. Regardless of how great a community opportunity or resource may be, it won't have an impact if it can't reach its intended target.
Multigenerational
Multigenerational impact was a key component of our original founding vision and continues to be a source of inspiration. Working cohesively with pre-K children, students, and parents gives us the opportunity to powerfully impact individuals and communities, both for now and for the future.
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Listening-led
Our commitment to being listening-led helps us ensure that our approach genuinely addresses the challenges that we say we're working on. Our organization was created as a response to active, compassionate listening, and we're committed to maintaining that mindset as our reach grows.
Meet The Team
Kelly Gurich
Executive Director
Kelly grew up in Northwest Ohio where she earned her BFA in Two Dimensional Studies from Bowling Green State University. She continued her education at Ashland University, earning her teaching certificate in K-12 Art Education. Kelly has lived in Westerville with her husband Nick and two boys, Judo and Niko, since 2016.
From her past experiences, she has been an art teacher with The Greater Columbus Arts Council and a substitute teacher in the Westerville City Schools District. She also managed an art studio for four years, where she built relationships with corporate clients creating unique teambuilding experiences. She enjoys being involved in the Westerville community and serves as a Committee Chair on the PTA.
In the summer months, she enjoys floating on the family boat at Delaware Lake with her boys. When she finds the time, she enjoys painting, swimming, grabbing a bite to eat in Uptown, or hosting friends on her patio.
Tori Dorne
Social Media and Website Coordinator
Tori, a Columbus native, graduated from Westerville South High School in 2016 before earning her degree in Communications and Integrated Media from Ohio University. There, she developed a passion for storytelling and media production.
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Her career began at a wedding floral company in Columbus, where she led a team that hosted DIY classes for wedding parties. Today, alongside her work with The Big Bus, Tori serves as an Administrative Professional II at a gene therapy company.
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She and her husband, Caden, live in Gahanna with their two beloved cats.
Our Board
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Tracy Davidson
Board Chair
Tracy Davidson has been a dedicated member of the Westerville community for over thirty years, living with her husband, Mark. They have three grown children: twin daughters, Kate and Emma, and a son, Eli. Tracy recently began her role as the Operations Director at Blair IT.
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With 11 years on the Westerville Board of Education, Tracy has held roles as President and Vice President and served as a liaison for Community Engagement, Finance, Facilities and Operations, Curriculum and Academic Achievement, Policy, and Human Relations.
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​A committed advocate for students, Tracy has been a board member of the Westerville Education Challenge (WEC) for 12 years. WEC focuses on raising awareness and funds for Social-Emotional Learning initiatives that benefit students across all grade levels. Tracy remains actively involved in various school and community groups, and she recently joined the Rotary Club of Westerville. Most of her free time is devoted to working on The Big Bus and spending time with family and friends.
Nancy McFarland
Board Vice Chair
Nancy and her husband, Todd, have made Westerville their home for the last twenty seven years. They have enjoyed raising their two boys, Trent and Ethan, within the Westerville community and schools.
Nancy graduated from The Ohio State University with an elementary education degree. She worked for Columbus Public Schools teaching grades first through third for ten years. During that time, Nancy completed a master’s degree in school counseling.
Nancy volunteers her time to many organizations in Westerville and Columbus. Nancy has been a member of Westerville Education Challenge for over ten years and continues to be an active member by serving on the curriculum committee. She has truly enjoyed being a mentor to Westerville middle school girls over the last four years through the Model program. Nancy also donates her time to Friends of The Faith Pruden Foundation, the OSU Diabetes Clinic programs and to the Westerville South Academic and Theatre Boosters.
Sherri Blais
Board Treasurer
Sherri currently is an Accounting Associate with Westerville City Schools. Previously was finance manager for Nichols & Company, CPAs for many years.
She is originally from Canal Winchester, Ohio and graduated from Otterbein College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Sherri and her husband, Doug, have lived in Westerville for 22 years with their 3 daughters, Amanda, Katherine and Elizabeth, all graduates of Westerville South High School.
Sherri has been very involved in volunteering within Westerville City Schools, serving as President and Treasurer of various organizations. She is currently a board member of Westerville Education Challenge and Hope Squad advisor for Westerville South High School.
Tami Cole-Santa
Board Secretary
Tami grew up in Westerville and continues to be a proud member of this community for over 40 years. She currently resides here with her wife, Nicolette, and two children, Pyper and Dax.
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Tami graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University and then The Ohio State University with a focus in social work. She has held various social work positions throughout Columbus and Westerville for 22 years including The Buckeye Ranch, Nisonger Center, Huckleberry House, Concord Counseling and Westerville City Schools.
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Now in her 18th year with Westerville City Schools, Tami currently serves as the Executive Director of student Services. In this role, she helps lead and support K-12 school counselors, school social workers/clinicians, nursing services as well as facilitate programs and initiatives falling under the social emotional, educational equity and mental health/wellness umbrella.
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Tami has also recently completed work through Starr Commonwealth to be a trainer for trauma-informed, resilient school content. Tami has a passion for leading mental health awareness, decreasing stigma and helping people throughout the district and community understand the importance of a trauma-informed, resilience-focused approach to learning and life.
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Volunteering her time locally with Westerville Education Challenge (WEC) is another passion of Tami's. In her free time, she enjoys being outside, all things sports and being involved in her kids' activities.
Dennis Blair
Board Member
Dennis was raised in St. Clairsville, Ohio and graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. Dennis has been active and involved in the Westerville community for over a decade. With the Westerville Education Challenge, he helped to bring Hope Squad to Westerville City Schools. He was awarded the G.E.M District Award through Westerville Parent Council, the STEMStar award from COSI in 2019, and the Westerville Volunteer of the Year award in 2019.
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Dennis is a founding board member of Uptown Westerville, Inc and a past treasurer and board member of the Arts Council of Westerville. He is the board chair of the Uptown Review Board, a co-chair of Comprehensive Community Plan, and a current member of Westerville City Council.
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Dennis has held multiple roles in Westerville Sunrise Rotary and has also been involved with the MLK Legacy project, Westerville Chamber, and Westerville Historical Society.
Megan Reamsnyder
Board Member
Megan and her husband Jake are lifelong Westerville residents. They have two daughters, Olivia and Abigail, and Oreo the dog. ​Megan graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelors in Social Work. She is active and involved in her community, serving as a member of Westerville City Council.
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In addition to her work on City Council, Megan is a founding board member of Cultivating Success Fund, a donor advised fund founded by a group of Westerville North graduates. She is active in Uptown Westerville, Inc as a City Council Representative and serves as PTA Vice President at her daughter's school.
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Megan is also an active member of The Rotary Club of Westerville and a member of the Neighborhood Bridges steering committee. She served on the Charter Review Commission in 2020 for the City of Westerville and completed the Westerville Citizens Police Academy in 2019.
Scott Dorne
Board Member
Scott and his wife Ann have lived within the Westerville City School District for more than two decades. Their two daughters, Tori and Maren, are proud graduates of Westerville Schools.
​Scott is in his 35th year in public education, including more than 30 years in Westerville Schools. During his time with the district, Scott has served the community as a mathematics teacher, a track and field and cross country coach, the district’s AP & IB Coordinator and as the Athletic Director at Westerville South High School. the district. Scott is currently serving as the district’s Deputy Superintendent.
In addition to serving on the board of the Big Bus, Scott has been a member of the Rotary International as well as various other professional organizations. He is the past president of the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches and the Central District Track and Cross Country Coaches Association. He has served on various Ohio High School Athletic Association committees including the OHSAA Track and Field Advisory Committee, the OHSAA Friends of Cross Country Committee, the OHSAA/OATCCC Track and Field Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Chair and the OHSAA Wheelchair Events Committee. Scott has also represented Ohio at the National Federation of High Schools Student Leadership Summit as the advisor for the Ohio student representatives.