Beth Rielly: A Champion for Inclusive Education

Beth Rielly stands at the helm of OptimALL Services as Board President and co-founder, driving a nonprofit dedicated to transforming education in Catholic and faith-based schools across Ohio. Through targeted strategies, specialized instruction, and teacher training, the organization helps students with learning disabilities thrive. It's all about building school cultures that embrace every learner, ensuring compliance with state regulations while maximizing impact.

Rielly's journey toward co-founding OptimALL began in the classrooms of Xavier University, where she taught and oversaw student teacher placements. She witnessed firsthand the gaps in non-public schools. 

"I never got to go into a Catholic school because we couldn’t place student teachers there because they didn’t provide any services,” she says. 

That changed when St. Ignatius on Cincinnati's west side reached out for help evaluating their program. What started as a modest effort blossomed into something remarkable. 

"We really developed this special-ed program to meet the needs of any child that walked through their doors," Rielly says, crediting the principal's vision of never turning away a family.

The initiative grew organically, fueled by enthusiastic teachers, supportive principals, and grateful parents. Soon, they were serving 100 students in one school alone. But Rielly saw the bigger picture. 

"So many people were coming to this elementary school, bringing their kids, so you are distorting the population if this becomes an all-special needs school. And this program should be for every school. Why aren’t we doing this everywhere?” she says. 

This realization sparked the push for broader funding and access, making inclusive education an option for any non-public school in Ohio.

"If we’re doing this in public schools, why wouldn’t we serve every child? Every child that walks through the door of any non-public school. It’s against our mission not to serve them." 

Her philosophy is simple yet profound. 

"When we educate all our kids, all tides rise. It benefits every student,” she says.

OptimALL Services embodies this by partnering closely with schools to tailor support. 

"The beauty of OptimALL is we’re going to come in, and we’re going to partner with the school," Rielly says. "We don’t do this just on our own, but we partner with the school to provide the best services for what your parish and your community needs. This is lifelong learning. This isn’t just to get you through second grade."

Under Rielly's leadership, OptimALL has become a powerful advocate, boasting a strong track record that amplifies its voice in Ohio.

"We have a huge presence. We are succeeding. We are making this work," she says. "I could not be more proud of this organization. It is what I’ve always believed would happen, but it actually is happening, and it is spreading." 

For families exploring options, her message is welcoming. 

"OptimALL can be there for you. We are open, our doors are open. Whatever we can do to help. We are here,” she says.