SW Insider

The South-Western City Schools Council of PTAs, along with the South-Western City School District, recently hosted their annual awards ceremonies together, for the first time in district history, earlier this week at the 2023 District Awards Gala. Annually, these events serve as a time to recognize the contributions of countless individuals who add so much to the lives of our students, their families, and the community each day.

South-Western Council of PTAs Helping Hands and Outstanding Educators Awards

Each year, the SWCS Council of PTAs recognizes staff in each of the district’s school buildings for having an impact on the students and families they serve across the District. To earn the distinguished honor of being a recipient of one of these awards, you must meet the following qualifications:

• The Helping Hands Award seeks to recognize a PTA unit member who has made a positive impact on the lives of children/youth and participated in activities involving children/youth, is dedicated to the mission of the PTA, and is a member an active participant in the building/unit level.  
• The Outstanding Educator Award seeks to celebrate a highly involved South-Western City School District certified staff member who is engaged in the educational process of the PTA, often serves as a liaison between the school and the parent unit, has made a positive impact on the lives of children/youth in their building, and is dedicated to the mission of the PTA.

To read the full descriptions of each of the recipients’ nominations, click here.

The 2023 South-Western Council of PTAs Helping Handings & Outstanding Educators are:

• SWCS Preschool:
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Tamera Bang
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Ashley Mace.
• Alton Hall Elementary School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is ToniAnn Cashetta
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Ashley Kolbeck.
• Bolton Crossing Elementary School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Joe Conley
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Beth Goode.
• Buckeye Woods Elementary School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Brian Comeans
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Abigail Russell.
• Darbydale Elementary School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Julie Beverly
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Rachel Emans
• Darby Woods Elementary School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Scot Kiser
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Deidre Sexton
• East Franklin Elementary School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Cassie Wiand
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is TJ Budy
• Finland Elementary School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Mandy Hitchcock
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Tiffany Tuttle
• Harmon Elementary School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Sarah Grim
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Krissy Bach
• Highland Park Elementary School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Dawon Robinson
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Beth Swanson
• JC Sommer Elementary School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Alyse Ellingson
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Bonnie Agriesti
• Monterey Elementary School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Beth Fullen
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Tina Radivojevic
• Prairie Lincoln Elementary School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Tamera Bang
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Amy Cole
• Prairie Norton Elementary School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Robin Gray
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Shannon Henderson
• Richard Avenue Elementary School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Kyra Paul
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Carrie Austin
• Stiles Elementary School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Jenny Lewis
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Melissa Cox
• And from West Franklin Elementary School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Michele Midgette
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Nicole Stewart
• From Franklin Woods Intermediate School
  • Hands Award Winner is Jason Wood & Di Dahman
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Larissa Vazquez
• From Galloway Ridge Intermediate School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Courtney Dobbs
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Dr. Angela Ervin
• From Hayes Intermediate School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Micki Young
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Thomas Kelly
• From Holt Crossing Intermediate School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Tiffany Black
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Meredith Thornton
• From Park Street Intermediate School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Amy Ball
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Lydia Dunn
• From Beulah Park Middle School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Bethany Hambleton
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Jackie McCammon
• From Finland Middle School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Carla Langford
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Michelle Parks
• From Jackson Middle School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Steve Allmon
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Laurie Buchieri
• From Norton Middle School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Justin Brown
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Chrishelle Gill
• From Pleasant View Middle School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Peggy Seaburn
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Kelsey Nolan
• From Central Crossing High School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Rachel Emans
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Danielle Flint
• From Franklin Heights High School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Dan Fahy
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Katie Binkley
• From Grove City High School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Mike Berry
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Linda Conti
• From the South-Western Career Academy
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Karen Thomas
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Jamie Dato
• From Westland High School
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Nancy Breniser
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Bret Busby
• Council of PTAs
  • Helping Hands Award Winner is Micki Young
  • Outstanding Educator Award Winner is Mr. Dan Boland
• 2023 Debbie Tidwell Everyday Advocate Award
  • Finland Elementary School, Principal, Brittney McDaniel

South-Western City School District Employee Awards

The South-Western City School District Employee Awards serves to honor staff members who have gone above and beyond in their service to their students, building/department, and community. The District recognizes employees through community input and submissions from administration.

Ambassador Awards 

Ambassador Awards are presented to employees who have served on a state or national professional committee; have given a presentation at a state or national conference; or had an article printed in a state or national publication.

Ambassador Awards to the following staff members:

• Darby Woods Elementary School – Literacy Coach – Courtney McCray. Central Crossing High School guidance counselor – Heather Fairs. Franklin Heights High School Career – Tech Educator – Rebecca Gladden.
• Westland High School Choir Director – Jeff Rone.
• Grove City High School Assistant Principal – Zach Wiard.
• Grove City High School Guidance Counselor  – Valerie Williams and Intervention Specialist – Jessica Wilson.
• Franklin Heights High School Intervention Specialist Amber Clark.
• District Service Center – Technology Liaison  – Jason Kissell.
• Beulah Park Middle School Math Teacher and Department Lead – Emily Bricker.
• Grove City High School Career-Tech Educator and Department Lead – Phil Freeman.
• Central Crossing High School Instrumental Music Teacher – Phil Showalter.

Certificate of Excellence Awards

Certificate of Excellence Awards are presented to employees who have demonstrated an innovative or unusual job approach that reflects positively on the district; or developed a course or plan of study beyond the required curriculum that meets a critical educational need.  This is a very difficult category to effectively explain in a few short sentences but these practices serve as examples of the exemplary work our staff members are performing on a daily basis to help students be prepared for their futures and move the district forward.

Certificate of Excellence Individual Awards to the following staff members:

• Hayes Intermediate School – Jen Ahlfors
• Hayes Intermediate School – Heather Jameson
• Buckeye Woods Elementary School – Simone Amsden
• Park Street Intermediate School – Deidra Muse
• Finland Elementary School – Bobette Yocum
• Pleasant View Middle School – Morgan Hurd
• Pleasant View Middle School – Dustin Hardgrove
• Pleasant View Middle School – Jennifer Zarlino
• Also from Finland Elementary School – Pam Kelly
• Finland Middle School – Carla Langford
• Central Crossing High School – Jessica McDevitt
• Central Crossing High School – Tiffany Fuller

Certificate of Excellence Teams Award winners

• Prairie Lincoln Elementary School Team of Leslie McBane, Jacqueline Wissman, and Julie McKee
• The Franklin Woods Intermediate School Team of Michael Whitfield, YMCA Liaison, Jo Walls: Attendance Intervention Liaison, Ayanna Scott: Second Step Coordinator, Tyson Smith: School Counselor, Gabriela Morales-Perez:  Communities in Schools, DeLSean Porter: Directions for Youth, Megan Reed: Social Worker and Steve Polovick: Buckeye Ranch.
• The Pleasant View Middle School Team of Kendra Plischke-Van Zile and Kelsey Nolan.
• The Highland Park Elementary School Team of Stefanie Garner, Natalie Sweeney, Krystin Burgess, Jennifer Hootman, Beth Swanson, Mary Houk.
• The Pleasant View Middle School Team of Zach LeMaster & Danny Krivicich.
• The Galloway Ridge Intermediate School Team of Literacy Coach, Andrea Woerlein and Math Coach, Rachael Shimoloens
• The Hayes Intermediate School Team of Ami Homman, Guidance Counselor, Melissa Ewing, Gifted Intervention Specialist, and Kristi Gagliardi, Fifth Grade ELA Teacher.
• The Pleasant View Middle School Team of Abby Greene (Seventh-grade math teacher) & Taylor Frasure (Intervention Specialist).
• The Finland Middle School Team of Sarah Thomas, Madison Leffler, Emmalee Harding, Amber Harding, Kaleigh Spung, Kayann Hoffman, Meredith Post, Stephanie Allmon, Rachel Borgerding, and Linsey Heckerd.
• The Hayes Intermediate and Grove City High School Team of Ami Homman Guidance Counselor, Valerie Williams GCHS Counselor, Kaitlin O’Hara GCHS Counselor
• Franklin Heights High School Team of Della Highman, Andrew Amstutz, Ben Barlow, Barrett Wilson, Sarah Wildenheim, Maria Hamilton, and Lewis Buzzard – Algebra & Applied Algebra Math teachers at Franklin Heights HS

Pillar of Excellence Award

The Pillar of Excellence is presented to staff members who have received a state or national award from another organization or have been recognized for outstanding educational achievement by a state or national agency.  

Pillar of Excellence Award Winners

• Franklin Heights High School
  • FHHS PBIS Team
• Grove City High School
  • Mr. Ryan Alexander

School Bell Awards

Throughout the year, the District works to canvass our community asking for solicitations of stories, experiences, and efforts of how our students and families have been impacted by our staff in some way through our School Bell Awards program. After screening submissions against our awards criteria of “Above and Beyond,” we are left with some amazing accounts of staff member dedication as evidenced by the words of the very people you serve.

School Bell Awards Winners:

• South-Western City School District Transportation Department
  • Bus Driver – Tammie Tatera
  • Bus Driver – Jason Wood
  • Bus Driver – John Calhoun
  • Bus Driver – Sara Baer
• Bolton Crossing Elementary School
  • Instructional Aide – Callie Cramer
• Project Search
  • Coordinator – Jennifer Javorsky
• Grove City High School
  • Business Department Instructor – Jody Kula
• Buckeye Woods Elementary School
  • First grade teacher – Sarah Rush
• J.C. Sommer Elementary School
  • Third grade teacher – Sarah Rokoff
  • Third grade teacher – Danna Lotz
• Highland Park Elementary School
  • Secretary – Jessica Rose
• Beulah Park Middle School
  • Principal – Dr. Chad Clark
• Park Street Intermediate School
  • Wellness Instructor – Julie Buechner
• South-Western Career Academy
  • Chef Chris Wright
• Jackson Middle School
  • Band Instructor Jonathan Rehmert
• Galloway Ridge Intermediate School
  • Lunch Assistant – Tracy Patton

Congratulations to all of the 2023 award recipients. We cannot thank our staff enough for their excellent commitment to the students and families we serve.