Celebrating excellence at the 2025 staff Convocation

 

On August 11, our district came together to kick off the school year with our annual Staff Convocation — a celebration of the people who make our schools such special places to learn and grow. This inspiring event not only set the tone for the year ahead, but also shined a spotlight on several staff members whose exceptional dedication, talent, and heart were recognized with special honors.

Shelly Bloom, a gifted intervention specialist at Tremont Elementary School, was selected as the District Teacher of the Year. Receiving building-level teacher of the year awards were: 

• Ashley Stechschulte, 2nd grade teacher, Barrington Elementary School
• Susan Brooks, lead teacher, Burbank Early Childhood School
• Bethany McFarland, 3rd grade, Greensview Elementary School
• Catherine Shapiro, school counselor, Hastings Middle School
• Christy Charlton, global language teacher, Jones Middle School
• Michelle McCoy, Online Academy teacher, UA Hub
• Warren Orloff, science, Upper Arlington High School
• Suellen Sharp, occupational therapist, Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School
• Dulcy Delcamp, music, Windermere Elementary School

Also receiving district-level awards were: 

• Classified Employees of the Year: Kim Culp, Transportation; Jeff Cooper, Operations; Amber Putnam, Nutritional Services; and Alison Maute, Secretarial/Bookkeeping Division 
• Support Staff Employee of the Year: David Voss, paraprofessional, Tremont Elementary School
• Dr. Homer Mincy Administrator of the Year: Jason Wulf, Greensview Elementary School principal

The Nancy Losekamp Career Development Leadership Award recognizes teachers for their work to engage students in service learning. The 2025 recipients are: the Windermere Elementary School second-grade team, Amy Leahy, Amy Meyer, Katie Shough and Kelly Wlodarski; Hastings Middle School sixth-grade team members Elizabeth Blank, Dana Flowers and Beth Joseph; and Upper Arlington High School language arts teacher Marlene Orloff.

In its fifth year, the Joanie Dugger Educators of the Year Fund through the Upper Arlington Education Foundation honors three educators - one from each level - who receive funding for projects of their choice. The fund was created in loving memory of Joanie Dugger, who was the longtime executive director of the Upper Arlington Education Foundation.  The 2025 Joanie Dugger Educators of the Year are: Shelly Bloom, Tremont Elementary School; Catherine Shapiro, Hastings Middle School; and Warren Orloff, Upper Arlington High School. 

The Upper Arlington Education Foundation also presented the inaugural Amity Difference Maker awards, which honor those who help create a school culture where everyone feels safe, valued and heard. Recipients exemplify compassion, innovation, and leadership in strengthening community connections, building inclusive spaces, and inspiring positive change. This year’s honorees are Upper Arlington High School senior Brooke T., recognized for her extraordinary advocacy and inclusion efforts on behalf of deaf and hard of hearing students, and Kati Nelson, the administrative secretary for central registration, whose welcoming spirit and dedication exemplify the district’s value of Start With Heart. Each recipient received a $1,000 grant from the Upper Arlington Education Foundation to further their impact.

Additionally, 20 staff members were recognized for 20 years of service to Upper Arlington Schools and nine staff members for 30 years of service.