ASHLAND — The achievements of students, from sports to academics, was the theme of Ashland City Schools’ Monday night board meeting.
The board took about 40 minutes of its meeting to honor students of the month, winter athletes and the esports program. Students had their achievements read and shared aloud to the board and then shook board members’ hands.
The board also honored a support and certified staff member as staff of the month recipients.
“That is our product — it’s people,” said board President John Teevan.
Along with board vice president Pam Mowry, Teevan said seeing students and staff receive accolades was the meeting highlight for them.
Supt. Steve Paramore said Ashland City Schools’ No. 1 value is to be a good teammate.
“Besides just participating in class and engaging, we’re so blessed that kids get to engage in activities outside the classroom,” Paramore said. “And that’s attributed to great staff members that give up their time, and great families that allow their kids to be a part of those teams.”
Students of the month
Student of the month and staff of the month honors began at February board meetings. Recipients earn gift cards from local businesses who’ve partnered with the district, including Ohio Fire and Downtown Perk.
Each school in the district nominated a student. Two students were recognized from Ashland Middle School and four received the student of the month honor from Ashland High.
Paramore read out brief nominating statements, sharing about why each student had received the honor. He did the same with the staff members recognized.
Students honored included:
- Briar Repp, Reagan Elementary School
- Tenley Repp, Edison Elementary School
- Renzmae Yenni, Taft Intermediate School
- Sydney Spellman, Ashland Middle School
- Oliver Harpster, Ashland Middle School
- Riley Cline, Ashland High School
- Kaci McCormic, Ashland High School
- Alex Huckleberry, Ashland High School
- Taylor Duncan, Ashland High School
Staff members were:
- Amanda Derr, Ashland City Schools payroll clerk
- Linda Hodapp, Ashland High School guidance counselor
Athletics
Athletic prowess also received recognition Monday night as Athletic Director Jason Goings shared about the accomplishments of each winter sports team and recognized coaches’ work.
Ashland High’s competition cheer team; the girls’ and boys’ bowling teams; wrestling; indoor track; and swim and dive teams all had an opportunity to share about their athletes’ seasons and accomplishments.
Among the accolades recognized were a national record set by the boys’ bowling squad, Ashland’s first female bowler to sign to a Division I college for the sport and two “freshmen phenoms,” as Goings called them, on the wrestling team.
Esports
Ben Spieldenner, the chief innovation officer at Ashland City Schools, ended the roundup of student achievements by stepping up to share about the esports program.
This year’s program has had students place at the state level, Spieldenner said. Its coaches said that, while esports may not require the muscle of athletics, it requires students to solve complex problems quickly to help their team achieve victory.
Spieldenner also recognized the esports coaches, who help the teams with different games.
