Retired teacher and former PTA president Barbara Leszynski joined the Westlake Board of Education Wednesday night.

Leszynski will fill the open seat left by Andrea Rocco, who stepped down due to her new position as special counsel to Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald.

The board voted unanimously to appoint Leszynski after interviewing all 19 applicants this month.

Leszynski was a seventh-grade science teacher at the North Olmsted City Schools for 21 years, and served as president of the North Olmsted Education Association.

Her three children graduated from Westlake High School, and she has four grandchildren in the school system. Her daughter also works with the district as an elementary intervention specialist. 

She is a patient advocate at Fairview Hospital, treasurer of the Westlake Hockey Organization, former vice president of the Demons Club, volunteer tutor at Dover Elementary School and more.

Leszynski will serve out the remainder of Rocco’s term through Dec. 31, 2013.