Upper Arlington Schools kicked off the school year with a ceremony welcoming and celebrating staff members that kept students at the heart of it all. The Upper Arlington High School Marching Band performed selections from the fall season, and special guest vocalist Allie G., a senior at Upper Arlington High School, surprised staff with a performance of Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked.
More than 50 staff members were called on stage as they celebrated milestones in their careers with the Upper Arlington Schools through years of service awards and special recognitions.
Receiving district-level employee of the year awards were:
District Teacher of the Year: Katie O’Keefe, school counselor, Windermere Elementary School
Classified Employees of the Year: Lori Johnson, Transportation; Scot Hunter, Operations; Denise Mora, Nutritional Services; and Pam Thompson, Secretarial/Bookkeeping Division
Support Staff Employee of the Year: Jennifer Barron, educational aide, Tremont Elementary School
Dr. Homer Mincy Administrator of the Year: M. Denise Lutz, Chief Excellence and Engagement Officer
Receiving building-level teacher of the year awards were:
Nicolette Tangi, speech language pathologist, Barrington Elementary School
Lily Blackburn, preschool teacher, Burbank Early Childhood School
Jana Holland, art, Greensview Elementary School
Jenny Hamilton, speech language pathologist, Tremont Elementary School
Abby Blake, grade 1, Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School
Paul Crabtree, 6th grade social studies, Hastings Middle School
Lindsay Michalkiewicz, intervention specialist, Jones Middle School
Diane Kahle, computer science, Upper Arlington High School
In its third 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 retired as executive director of the Upper Arlington Education Foundation in 2018 after 17 years of dedication to “Enhancing What Matters Most.” The 2023 Joanie Dugger Educators of the Year recipients are: Nicolette Tangi, Barrington Elementary School; Paul Crabtree, Hastings Middle School; and Diane Kahle, Upper Arlington High School.
The Nancy Losekamp Career Development Leadership Award is also awarded to three teachers each year - one from each level - in recognition of their work to engage students in service learning. This year’s recipients are: Nicole Staker and Lydia Shivers, grade 4, Barrington Elementary School; Janice Daubenmier, grade 6, Hastings Middle School; and Dana Schoenleb, industrial technology, Upper Arlington High School.
Additionally, 31 staff members were recognized for 20 years of service to Upper Arlington Schools; one staff member, Upper Arlington High School teacher Michael Donelson, was honored for 30 years of service to the district; and Burbank Early Childhood School health aide Betty Giammar was honored for 40 years of service.