3 teachers, custodian take top Lakota awards

Three teachers and a custodian won Lakota Local Schools’ annual awards for top performances for the just-completed school year.

The annual Lakota Educator of Excellence Award — done in cooperation with The Community Foundation — is the most prestigious local school honor provided yearly by Butler County’s largest school system.

The winners are chosen from nominations from the district pool of 1,700 teachers and school staffers who serve Lakota’s 16,500 students.

The award for teachers includes a $1,000 grant for a project of their choice.

This school year’s winners are: Eunice Vogelsang and Kristin Sellers, first grade teachers at Liberty Early Childhood School who shared the honor; Jennifer Parrett, honors American history teacher at Lakota West Freshman School; and support staff winner John McCutchen, head custodian at Adena Elementary.

“The Community Foundation and Lakota Schools have had a long-standing positive relationship, and the Educator of Excellence Award is an important piece of that,” said Erin Clemons, Foundation president and CEO.

“We recognize how integral our educators are in creating a strong and vibrant community, and this is just one way we, as a Foundation, can support their efforts,” said Clemons.

Matt Miller, superintendent of Lakota Schools, which is the largest suburban district in Southwest Ohio, said “the Educator of Excellence award is a great reminder that our community stands behind our educators.”

“With nearly 30 outstanding educators nominated for this year’s award, our winners should be especially proud that they stood out among their peers. We are very proud of Mrs. Sellers, Mrs. Vogelsang, Mrs. Parrett and Mr. McCutchen,” said Miller.

Each recipient was honored within their school communities with a special surprise recognition.

Winners Sellers and Vogelsang — the first teaching pair to win the traditionally singular award — were compared to peanut butter and jelly, salt and pepper and macaroni and cheese in one nomination letter.

“Separately, they are amazing teachers in their own right,” it read. “Together, they are the Dynamic Duo.”

The team was commended for their creativity in hands-on projects that promote higher level thinking and dedication to challenge every student through truly personalized teaching strategies.

Parrett, who has made teaching a second career, has made a big impact in a short period of time. She was applauded for taking non-traditional approaches to help her students understand and relate to events in history. Her role as West Freshman’s “Champion for Change” is also evident through her teaching strategies.

“She holds them up to high moral standards and encourages them to do their best every day,” her nomination letter stated.

McCutchen, who has served Adena for eight of his more than 25 years at Lakota, was likened to “the glue that holds (Adena) together” in his nomination letter. “John is a role model of patience, kindness, humor, professionalism and wisdom.”

The nomination referenced his morning routine of greeting every student with a smile as well as his tradition of dressing up on holidays.

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