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MARILYN J. MCKEAN STEPHANIA PRYOR MICHELLE ELAYNE SMITH
Supervisory Secretary for the Civil Division, Deputy Chief Probation Officer, Housing Specialist,
U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Ohio Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Cleveland Housing Court
Marilyn McKean is the person who knows how to Stephania tells us she grew up in a middle class Michelle Elayne Smith didn’t have an answer when we
get things done. “She can filter through piles of red neighborhood, but in the 1980s, she saw friends asked her “What would you be doing it you weren’t
tape and manuals to find answers,” says her boss U.S. and neighbors with once-promising futures start working in public services?” She said, “I have always
Attorney Justin Herdman. to use drugs. “I could not understand why this was had a desire to help people in some fashion, so public
happening. I began as a nursing major and moved to service is in my DNA.”
That determination was tested in January of 2019 sociology in search of some answers.”
when federal appropriations were shut down for a Michelle is Cleveland through-and-through. She was
month. Marilyn rose to the occasion by handling all Stephania received her bachelors degree in Sociology/ born and raised in the Lee-Harvard neighborhood
matters, big and small, including mail sorting, covering Criminology from Capital University in Columbus. where she continues to live on the east side of the city.
for missing staff and filing several pleadings. Since 1989, she has taken on increasing leadership with
the Probation Department. She was the Cuyahoga Michelle has been working for Cleveland’s Housing
Marilyn has served with the Department of Justice County’s first drug court officer. Stephania is currently Court for 28 years. She specializes in Landlord/
since 1988. Her motto is “It’s okay to follow your serving as Deputy Chief Probation Officer. Tenant law along with property ownership in the
dreams expect nothing but appreciate everything.” City of Cleveland.
Marilyn now mentors newer employees to take pride Stephania raised three grown children, and Stephania’s
in all of their important accomplishments. mom is planning to attend today. She says she has Michelle is very active in her community as a member
two families. The second one is her church at Lee of the Lee-Harvard Association Board and President
Marilyn loves seeing the wonderment in her three Road Baptist Church on Cleveland’s East Side where of the E. 146/147th Street Block Club. Among her
grandchildren’s eyes when she takes them to the zoo. she has been a member for 50 years. other volunteer work, she is a member of Concerned
Partners in Education, raising money for college tuition
After a lifetime of learning, she’s helping others find for students who can’t afford to pay.
the path to their best possible life.

CYNTHIA L. STANTON JIM STARKS JEANNIE ZUPAN
Court Reporter, Deputy Chief Probation Officer, Garnishment Clerk and Legal Account Clerk III,
Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts
Cynthia Stanton takes her service to Cuyahoga County Jim Starks says his interest in public service began at Jeannie Zupan loves life in Northeast Ohio. She grew
Domestic Relations Court very personally. “The a young age as he watched his parents’ involvement up in Middleburg Heights and lived most of her adult
process of keeping as accurate a record as possible as in a school levy campaign. “I saw the positive impact life in Strongsville. “I had the best parents ever who are
to what transpires in our courtrooms is of the utmost it had on the community. That interest continues in now deceased.” She told us, “They provided a great
important to our judicial system in the United States.” my role as a probation officer and in the community.” life for us growing up. We always did a lot together
and went on vacations. They are truly missed.”
In 2010, Cynthia’s husband was killed in the line of Jim began in 1989 building his career in Cuyahoga
duty as a Cleveland Police officer. She continued to Common Pleas Court, starting as a pre-sentence She found her professional purpose at the Cuyahoga
raise their two children, Molly and Brady and gave investigation writer, to alcohol and drug supervisor, County Clerk of Courts office 25 years ago.
care to her stepson, Brady. Cindy has found love then into his current role as Deputy Chief Probation According to her boss Clerk of Courts Nailah Byrd,
and peace again and is engaged to be married to Officer. “She approaches each day with a positive attitude
Mr. Jeffrey Ford. and performs her work with the highest degree of
At his home in Fairview Park, Jim co-chaired a project professionalism.
Cynthia attended Brooklyn High School and Tri-C that built a new elementary school and recreation
in Parma. Her first professional job came when she center. Jim says one bucket-list item is to get to the Jeannie says her mission is “inspiring others, making
was hired as a court reporter in Cleveland Municipal observation deck on Terminal Tower. them laugh and enjoying life!” She loves Cleveland,
Court in January of 1988. She has been with the especially attending the Cleveland Air Show and
Domestic Relations Court since 1990. Both Jim and fellow 2019 Public Servants nominee watching the Tribe at Progressive Field.
Stephania Pryor started in Cuyahoga Common Pleas
Cynthia is now a trustee for the Ohio Chapter of Court Probation department on the same day, April
Concerns of Police Survivors. She finds continued 10th, 1989.
healing and hope in helping new survivors find their
new normal.

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