Southern Ohio ESC hosts annual four-county meeting; Hauke earns Friend of Education Award
Lead Summary
By
Diana Miller-
The Southern Ohio Educational Service Center hosted its 21st annual Four-County Board and Dinner Meeting March 20 at the Laurel Oaks Career Campus in Wilmington. Board of education members, administrators and honored guests from Adams, Clinton, Fayette and Highland counties were among those in attendance.
Guest speaker Mrs. Tess Elshoff, president of the State Board of Education, spoke and offered advice on being a successful board member. She encouraged districts to celebrate their successes and to spotlight every positive thing going on in their districts. Elshoff also encouraged educational leaders to use the media as their friend rather than their enemy and to challenge fellow board members to go to neighboring districts to see what good things they have going on.
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“Have high expectations and find what each child is challenged by,” Elshoff said. “We can’t fail our students by not providing support. Hold your school leaders accountable and ask questions. Hold yourself as a board member to high standards.”
Among those afforded special recognition during the night’s events were “Friend of Education Award” recipients. Each year, superintendents from each of the four counties are asked to nominate members of the community as Friends of Education — individuals or organizations that have contributed greatly to successes in the schools.
The Highland County Friend of Education Award was presented to Doug Hauke.
According to superintendent Ted Downing, Hauke has been a great volunteer and partner with Bright Local Schools for many years and also served as a past member of the board of education for 12 years.
In the fall, Hauke took on the enormous project to build a 40x80 batting practice facility for both the baseball and softball programs. Working closely with the architect on the design and planning of the building, Hauke secured all of the permits to gain approval by the state and was successful in soliciting donations from local businesses to provide the materials and supplies.
Hauke also coordinated volunteers for the construction of the building and was able to make the project a reality when the students never thought it would be possible. In addition, Doug built a press box at the baseball field and prepared the dugouts for both the baseball and softball fields.
According to Superintendent Downing, “There is a saying that the best gift is given when you expect nothing in return, and this could have been written about Mr. Doug Hauke.”
Hauke continues to give to Bright Local Schools without asking for anything in return but rather to help the students in the community to have a brighter future.
“Bright Local is grateful and fortunate to have Doug as a partner,” Downing said.
Additional “Friends in Education” awards were presented to Sheriff K.R. Rogers of Adams County, Margie Eads Walker of Clinton County and Tim and Alana Walters of Fayette County.
SOESC Superintendent Beth Justice also presented awards to member districts and area educators.
Justice recognized Miami Trace Local Schools as one of 75 workplaces designated by the Columbus CEO Magazine as a “Top Workplace” for qualities such as company leadership, communication, career opportunities, working environment and managerial skills as well as pay and benefits.
Justice also recognized winners of the Momentum Award as named by the State Board of Education. To earn such distinction, schools must exceed expectations in student growth for the year. The school must earn straight A’s on all Value Added measures on the report card, and the school or district must have at least two value added subgroups of students, which includes gifted, lowest 20 percent in achievement and students with disabilities.
Justice congratulated the educational leaders and teams of New Vienna Elementary, Washington Middle School, Bright Elementary and Clinton-Massie Elementary for earning Momentum Award honors.
Preschools in Adams, Clinton, Fayette and Highland Counties were also recognized for achieving the Step Up to Quality rating. Step Up to Quality is a five-star quality rating and improvement system administered by the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Receiving five-star recognition in Adams County were North Adams, Peebles and West Union Elementary Schools.
Five-star recognitions in Clinton County included East End Elementary of Wilmington and New Vienna and Sabina Elementary Schools of East Clinton. Putman Elementary of Blanchester earned a four-star rating.
Receiving five-star recognition in Fayette County were Cherry Hill Primary of Washington CH and Miami Trace Elementary.
Five-star recognition in Highland County included Bright Elementary of Bright Local and Greenfield and Rainsboro Elementary of Greenfield Exempted.
Human Resource Director and SOESC Master Teacher Consortium member Rogina Conroy recognized Stacey Camp, a fourth grade ELS and social studies teacher at Peebles Elementary, and Melanie Ohnewehr, a science teacher at North Adams High School, for completing the many hours needed to renew their Master Teacher designation.
SOESC Governing Board President Chrissy Charters brought the evening to a close by extending congratulations to all those present for the leadership they provide and the role they play in the many successes their schools have experienced.
Guest speaker Mrs. Tess Elshoff, president of the State Board of Education, spoke and offered advice on being a successful board member. She encouraged districts to celebrate their successes and to spotlight every positive thing going on in their districts. Elshoff also encouraged educational leaders to use the media as their friend rather than their enemy and to challenge fellow board members to go to neighboring districts to see what good things they have going on.
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“Have high expectations and find what each child is challenged by,” Elshoff said. “We can’t fail our students by not providing support. Hold your school leaders accountable and ask questions. Hold yourself as a board member to high standards.”
Among those afforded special recognition during the night’s events were “Friend of Education Award” recipients. Each year, superintendents from each of the four counties are asked to nominate members of the community as Friends of Education — individuals or organizations that have contributed greatly to successes in the schools.
The Highland County Friend of Education Award was presented to Doug Hauke.
According to superintendent Ted Downing, Hauke has been a great volunteer and partner with Bright Local Schools for many years and also served as a past member of the board of education for 12 years.
In the fall, Hauke took on the enormous project to build a 40x80 batting practice facility for both the baseball and softball programs. Working closely with the architect on the design and planning of the building, Hauke secured all of the permits to gain approval by the state and was successful in soliciting donations from local businesses to provide the materials and supplies.
Hauke also coordinated volunteers for the construction of the building and was able to make the project a reality when the students never thought it would be possible. In addition, Doug built a press box at the baseball field and prepared the dugouts for both the baseball and softball fields.
According to Superintendent Downing, “There is a saying that the best gift is given when you expect nothing in return, and this could have been written about Mr. Doug Hauke.”
Hauke continues to give to Bright Local Schools without asking for anything in return but rather to help the students in the community to have a brighter future.
“Bright Local is grateful and fortunate to have Doug as a partner,” Downing said.
Additional “Friends in Education” awards were presented to Sheriff K.R. Rogers of Adams County, Margie Eads Walker of Clinton County and Tim and Alana Walters of Fayette County.
SOESC Superintendent Beth Justice also presented awards to member districts and area educators.
Justice recognized Miami Trace Local Schools as one of 75 workplaces designated by the Columbus CEO Magazine as a “Top Workplace” for qualities such as company leadership, communication, career opportunities, working environment and managerial skills as well as pay and benefits.
Justice also recognized winners of the Momentum Award as named by the State Board of Education. To earn such distinction, schools must exceed expectations in student growth for the year. The school must earn straight A’s on all Value Added measures on the report card, and the school or district must have at least two value added subgroups of students, which includes gifted, lowest 20 percent in achievement and students with disabilities.
Justice congratulated the educational leaders and teams of New Vienna Elementary, Washington Middle School, Bright Elementary and Clinton-Massie Elementary for earning Momentum Award honors.
Preschools in Adams, Clinton, Fayette and Highland Counties were also recognized for achieving the Step Up to Quality rating. Step Up to Quality is a five-star quality rating and improvement system administered by the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Receiving five-star recognition in Adams County were North Adams, Peebles and West Union Elementary Schools.
Five-star recognitions in Clinton County included East End Elementary of Wilmington and New Vienna and Sabina Elementary Schools of East Clinton. Putman Elementary of Blanchester earned a four-star rating.
Receiving five-star recognition in Fayette County were Cherry Hill Primary of Washington CH and Miami Trace Elementary.
Five-star recognition in Highland County included Bright Elementary of Bright Local and Greenfield and Rainsboro Elementary of Greenfield Exempted.
Human Resource Director and SOESC Master Teacher Consortium member Rogina Conroy recognized Stacey Camp, a fourth grade ELS and social studies teacher at Peebles Elementary, and Melanie Ohnewehr, a science teacher at North Adams High School, for completing the many hours needed to renew their Master Teacher designation.
SOESC Governing Board President Chrissy Charters brought the evening to a close by extending congratulations to all those present for the leadership they provide and the role they play in the many successes their schools have experienced.