Outstanding Educators 2018

The Best of the Best THIS YEAR’S OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS ARE JUST A SAMPLING OF OUR REGION’S GREAT TEACHERS

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his year’s winners of our eighth annual K-12 Outstanding Educator Recognition Program are from public and private schools in both Ohio and Kentucky. Our committee picked teachers who went above and beyond expectations, and we’re honored to list these exemplary educators as well as tell some of their stories.

2018

AND THE WINNERS ARE

Kristin Andrews St. Gertrude School Cincinnati, Ohio SCIENCE Cheryl Brandenburg Bishop Fenwick High School Franklin, Ohio TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS Pat Brennan DePaul Cristo Rey High School Cincinnati, Ohio ENGLISH

Gina Brown Our Lady of Victory Cincinnati, Ohio FIRST GRADE Mike Code Highlands High School Fort Thomas, Ky. HEALTH Drew Courter Bishop Fenwick High School Franklin, Ohio THEOLOGY/RELIGION

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Carol Crowley Our Lady of Victory Cincinnati, Ohio LANGUAGE ARTS, RELIGION Michael Day Fairfield Creekside Middle School Fairfield, Ohio SOCIAL STUDIES Kristi DeCaprio St. Gertrude School Cincinnati, Ohio THIRD GRADE

Susan Dugas Middletown Christian Schools Franklin, Ohio ENGLISH Eric Froese St.Vivian School Cincinnati, Ohio SOCIAL STUDIES Lori Geeslin Our Lady of Victory Cincinnati, Ohio MATH, LANGUAGE ARTS

The School for Creative & Performing Arts 108 West Central Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45202 513.363.8000 • scpa.cps-k12.org

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or more than 40 years, the School for Creative and Performing Arts has been committed to providing a world-class artistic and educational experience for students. This dual mission paves the way for students to reach their fullest potential as lifelong learners and passionate artists. The School for Creative and Performing Arts’ ongoing commitment to wholly educating students provides an academic experience unlike any other in the area. A robust academic curriculum, professional faculty and state-of-the-art resources consistently place the School for Creative and Performing Arts in the top-tier of Cincinnati Public Schools and among the country’s best arts schools.

EDUCATION PROFILE

Christine Gladden Royalmont Academy Mason, Ohio SOCIAL STUDIES Beckie Hauer Fairfield Scouth Elementary Fairfield, Ohio KINDERGARTEN Dena Hill Fairfield Elementary School Fairfield, Ohio MATH Stephanie Junker St. James School Cincinnati, Ohio FIRST GRADE John Lane Covington Latin School Covington, Ky. HISTORY Rob Lauer Bishop Fenwick High School Franklin, Ohio WORLD HISTORY

Theresa Law Villa Madonaa Academy High School/Junior High Villa Hills, Ky. THIRD GRADE Shelly Lawson Villa Madonaa Academy High School/Junior High Villa Hills, Ky. MATH Jennifer Linn Fairfield Creekside Middle School Fairfield, Ohio ESL Kamaria Martin Winton Woods Intermediate Cincinnati, Ohio INTERVENTION SPECIALIST Dominic Masotti DePaul Cristo Rey High School Cincinnati, Ohio MATH Christina Merritt St. James School Cincinnati, Ohio SOCIAL STUDIES, RELIGION

Carol Mulcahey St. Ann Catholic School Hamilton, Ohio EIGHTH GRADE John Norman Archbishop McNicholas High School Cincinnati, Ohio THEOLOGY Jacob Ohnmeis Goshen Middle School Goshen, Ohio MATH Michelle Pitstick Royalmont Academy Mason, Ohio MATH Julia Sandmann DePaul Cristo Rey High School Cincinnati, Ohio RELIGION Jim Schriml St. Ann Catholic School Hamilton, Ohio PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Denise Smith Middletown Christian Schools Franklin, Ohio THIRD GRADE Loretta Spradling Middletown Christian Schools Franklin, Ohio ENGLISH Kelly Tedesco Bethany School Glendale, Ohio FIRST GRADE Stephanie Tewes Covington Latin School Covington, Ky. HISTORY Joey Versoza Purcell Marian High School Cincinnati, Ohio ART Mark Wolff Villa Madonaa Academy High School/Junior High Villa Hills, Ky. SCIENCE

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2018

WINNER PROFILES JACOB OHNMEIS

Math • Goshen Middle School Jacob Ohnmeis, who just completed his fifth year of teaching at Goshen Middle School, teaches eighth grade math and high school integrated math.

“In short, the students are why I love to teach. Whether I’m in the classroom providing real life applications to the math concepts that I teach, or helping kids navigate these challenging middle school years, I am fortunate enough to experience the passion and reward of teaching every day,” says Ohnmeis.

Ohnmeis also coaches high school football and middle school track.

“Whether he is in the classroom or on the field, Mr. Ohnmeis is an outstanding example of what a teacher and coach should be!” says Theresa Scherzinger, curriculum director at Goshen Middle School. Scherzinger nominated Ohnmeis as an Outstanding Educator based on his teaching experience, participation in development activities, interest in students outside the classroom and distinctive qualities as a member of the community.

- Madison Rodgers

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CHRISTINE GLADDEN

Social Studies • Royalmont Academy Christine Gladden, a junior high and high school social studies teacher at Royalmont Academy, cares for her students by going out of her way to add to their education.

She is an eighth-grade homeroom moderator and she leads the eighth-grade trip to Washington D.C. Under her leadership, Adam Wilson won second place in the Sgt. Moses Adams Memorial Middle School Americanism Brochure Context, sponsored by Cincinnati Chapter of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution.

Gladden was chosen to attend the 2018 Echoes and Reflections Advanced Learning Seminar at Yad Vashem 2018 in Jerusalem this past summer; she will attend the 10th international conference of Yad Vashem 2018.

Gladden loves school and her students. “I love putting them in situations where they have to collaborate, to learn and appreciate the input of others to become a dynamic group,” says Gladden.

“And because I love my students, I want the absolute best for them.”

– Erin Gardner

CAROL CROWLEY

Fifth Grade Language Arts, Religion, Science • Our Lady of Victory Carol Crowley takes a conscientious, colorful approach to teaching by incorporating a variety of teaching strategies and interactive activities to meet all the needs of her fifth-grade students.

“I witness a classroom of willing thinkers and doers,” Crowley says. “I am able to assist in the process with my knowledge and guidance, marvel at their ideas and capabilities and enjoy their successes and accomplishments.”

Crowley has been a teacher for 29 years, and her classroom is nothing short of exciting. “All of her students are engaged in creative lessons that take learning to the next level,” says Amy Borgman, principal of Our Lady of Victory.

“Carol models compassion,” Borgman says. “Our Lady of Victory is honored of Carol’s willingness to share her gift she has for education and our school community.”

– Karina Baffa

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