A worn-down amphitheater at Leighton Elementary School in Aurora, Ohio has been rebuilt from the ground up, and the man behind the renovation has deep roots in the building he once walked through as a child. John Retton, now 27, attended Leighton from third through fifth grade, and his company, J.J.'s Beautification Service, led the physical restoration work. The project carries a deeply personal meaning for Retton, since the finished space was dedicated to his late mother, Sherri Retton, a longtime Aurora Schools educator who died unexpectedly at age 53 on July 14, 2023.
The newly renovated Leighton Amphitheater Outdoor Classroom was unveiled at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 30, 2026, attended by students, staff, community partners and members of the Retton family. As reported by WKYC, the Aurora Schools Foundation led the restoration effort and selected J.J.'s Beautification Service for the job after reviewing other bids. John Retton said the foundation approached him about naming the amphitheater for his mother, a decision that turned a routine landscaping contract into something far more personal.
The sign now mounted at the site reads: “The Leighton Amphitheater Outdoor Classroom in memory of Sherri Retton, a beloved Aurora schools educator whose care, creativity, and compassion enriched the lives of students and colleagues.” Sherri Retton's obituary, published through Ferfolia Funeral Homes, described her as “a passionate educator who is adored by staff and students alike at Aurora schools” and as the loving mother of four children — Emilie, John-John, Sam and Sophia. According to WKYC's reporting, Sherri Retton raised those four children in Aurora, worked as a substitute teacher before becoming a paraeducator in the district's special education program, and spent roughly five years working across the district from kindergarten through 12th grade. In her final year, she worked largely at Aurora High School with the Work Ready program and the Greenman Cafe.
A Family Business Rooted in the Same Streets
John Retton's family lives about two minutes from Leighton Elementary, and his company, which he owns, does about 90% of its work in Aurora, per WKYC's reporting. That hyper-local footprint meant the rebuild wasn't just another job site for Retton — it was blocks from home and inside the school where he once sat as a student. He said the renovated amphitheater gives students the freedom to be outside with friends during the school day, a benefit he hopes will resonate the way his own childhood years at Leighton did.
The restoration leaned heavily on donated money, materials and labor rather than tax dollars, the station's report notes. Dave DeMore helped supply materials through Dave DeMore Nursery Sales, while Jeremy Hill contributed materials through Heritage Supply. Community members also stepped in with additional donations after seeing Retton's progress updates on Facebook, and local organizations including the Aurora Elementary PTO, the Rotary Club of Aurora, VFW Aurora, V Financial Partners and the Aurora City School District all donated support toward the project, according to the same account.
Foundation's Decades of Support Behind the Scenes
The Aurora Schools Foundation describes itself as an independent nonprofit that funds teacher grants, student scholarships and other opportunities that fall outside the traditional school budget. Per the Aurora Schools Foundation, the organization has given more than $647,000 to support Aurora schools since it was founded in 1994, and its 2026 annual fundraiser alone brought in more than $17,250 through 115 auction packages. The foundation also lists J.J.'s Beautification as a Luminary Corporate Sponsor, reflecting the company's broader ties to the district beyond the amphitheater project itself.
That recognition extends beyond the foundation's own donor rolls. The Aurora Chamber of Commerce named J.J.'s Beautification Service its 2026 Business of the Year, an award that dates back to 1992 and has previously gone to recipients including SeaWorld, Aurora Farms, Heinen's and V Financial Partners, according to WKYC's reporting.
What the Space Means for Leighton's Classrooms
District leaders framed the amphitheater as more than a ceremonial gesture. Leighton Elementary's principal said the space will host class discussions, group projects and performances, while teachers plan to use it for subjects ranging from math and reading to science, orchestra and band, per the station's account. Students are expected to use the amphitheater to observe ecosystems, sketch from nature and write poetry, and families and community groups will also have access to the space.
Superintendent Dr. Paul Milcetich connected the project to the district's annual theme of impact, according to the same report. Lisa Leone, who has taught third grade at Leighton for 20 years and, like Sherri Retton, raised four children in Aurora, is among the educators expected to put the rebuilt space to use. Brad Duguay, who attended the September 30 ceremony, wrote on LinkedIn that “we cut the ribbon on the newly renovated Leighton Amphitheater Outdoor Classroom” before the group moved to unveil the official sign in Sherri Retton's honor. “This space will inspire students and educators for generations to come!” he wrote.
For John Retton, the finished amphitheater closes a loop that began decades earlier in the same hallways his mother once worked. The rebuilt classroom, grown from donated labor and community goodwill rather than district funding, now carries her name into the daily routines of the students who will learn, create and gather there.
