AW recognizes staff, FCCLA students

The Anthony Wayne Board of Education recognized its staff members of the year and national award-winning FCCLA students during its Sept. 14 meeting.

Jennifer Gross, a special education aide at Whitehouse Primary School, is the Classified Staff Member of the Year. She encourages students with a wide range of needs and lifts the spirits of those around her, said Assistant Superintendent Kevin Pfefferle.

“We appreciate everything she does behind the scenes,” added Superintendent Kevin Herman, acknowledging that the humble Gross doesn’t like being in the limelight.

Christine Young is the Certified Staff Member of the Year. She shares her passion for learning in her seventh-grade social studies classroom and beyond.

“She makes a remarkable difference across the district and in the community. She is driven by a genuine desire to see every student succeed,” Pfefferle said.

As a leader with the Purple Star Generals program, Young rallies the community to support families who have active duty or veteran members.

“She is one of the biggest advocates for our military families. The work she does for them is incredible,” Herman said, adding that with the deployments out of the 180th Fighter Wing, she is working to support those families.

This year, the district started a new tradition of recognizing a group of individuals who make a difference. 

“This year it’s our school nurses, for their unwavering dedication and care across the district,” Herman said, noting that the six building nurses – Sarah Tapley, Libby Gagen, Amy Baburek, Fay Birkemeier, Valerie Bradfield and Laura Soeder – provide valuable support for students and staff.

Wearing their signature red blazers, several members of FCCLA (Family, Community and Career Leaders of America) shared how they won top awards during the 2026 leadership conference in Washington, DC this summer. The club for students in Family and Consumer Sciences class in grades 7-12 is led by Penta Career Center teachers Kay-Lynne Schaller at the junior high and Amanda Valdez in the high school.

“Every single one began researching their projects in October and worked on these projects, not for a grade or extra credit, but because they wanted to do something bigger than themselves,” Schaller said, noting that many of the projects that took these students to the national conference included a community service component.

Presenting at the meeting were junior high students Mary Amstutz, Karis Doro, Piper Trumbell and Hailey and Tiffany Thomas. Mary and Piper teamed up and earned gold for a Repurpose and Redesign project. Karis placed Top 10 in the nation and earned a gold medal for his entrepreneurship project. Hailey and Tiffany took second at nationals and earned a 100 percent score for their Food Innovations project.

Many FCCLA members continue with the organization through high school while juggling academics, athletics, jobs and family life, said Valdez.

“They take so much pride in what they do,” said Valdez.

High school FCCLA members Diana Beach, Sophie Canos, Bryn Hubbard, Karter Rinker and Gracelyn Vance shared their appreciation for Valdez’ leadership. Earning silver in the national conference were Diana, for Red Talks on Education; and Gracelyn, for Fashion Construction. Sophie won gold for Professional Presentation and Bryn earned gold for Career Investigation.

Also winning awards were 2026 graduates Maddie Johnston and Grant Hubley, Aradhya Muthumula, Skyler Smelly and Megan Carpenter.

The students thanked Penta Career Center and the Anthony Wayne Board of Education for their support of the FCCLA program.

Valdez was honored this year with the Spirit of Advising Award, given to just one adviser per state for providing programming excellence, advocacy and education, student support and professional engagement.

“We are all lucky to have her,” Schaller said of Valdez. “When my young students go to the high school, I know they will have an advisor who cares for them.”

During the meeting, the board also:

-Heard that the state is expected to release its report cards. Herman said while state testing and graduation rates are one way to share the success of students, the district’s Quality Profile – to be released on Sept. 17 – provides a comprehensive look at how students are encouraged to explore and find their niche in academics, athletics, the arts and beyond.

-Heard that an August job fair to recruit substitutes went well, resulting in 24 people signing up to serve as substitutes in at least one position.

–Approved donations, including: $2,000 from the Anthony Wayne Parent Teacher Association to Fallen Timbers Middle School for turf and borders on the gaga ball pit; $500 from Ohio Middle Level Association to FTMS for supporting middle level students; and $8,000 from the Lott-Conlon Foundation for the Waterville Sensory Gardens Project, which will be installed next spring.

-Awarded a $146,143 contract to Earl Mechanical Services, Inc. for the junior high kitchen replacement project.

-Accepted the resignation of Michele Slover, Monclova Primary custodian, due to job abandonment.  The board also accepted resignations from: driver Mike Stiff; special education aides Melissa Bergfeld and Pam Weideman; and custodian Christina Miller. Several others resigned from supplemental positions in order to take on new ones.

-Approved the hiring of Kevin Wikstrom, mid-day bus driver; Dorothy Schaffner, accounting secretary; Michelle Case, high school special education aide; and Jude Wyse, groundskeeper.

Case has worked in the district through the Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West for many years, but now is being brought on as staff so she can assist in other areas, Herman said.

-Listened to board member Mike Stamm ask what the district does to educate students on the Constitution, noting that teachers do a nice job with educating students about September 11, 2001 and Veteran’s Day. 

“It would be cool to see how student are learning about our country, freedoms and responsibilities,” Stamm said.

Herman said September 11 was marked with a moment of silence and activities throughout the day, and Veteran’s Day is recognized in multiple ways throughout the district. Students are required to learn about the Constitution, and Herman said he would share at the next meeting some of the ways that is done in the district. 

“We do a lot of good things each and every day that promote patriotism and taking pride in our country and showing respect to those individuals that serve our country,” Herman said.

-Learned that the next board meeting is Monday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m.