Lakota Staff:
A Cut Above the Rest

We have top-notch staff throughout Lakota Local Schools - shining gems who are a cut above the rest and live out the District’s mission on a daily basis. They bring a sparkle to our schools, going the extra mile to support every Lakota student and partner with parents.

Lakota's Gem Awards celebrate and recognize staff members for the exceptional work that they do.

About Lakota Gem Awards

Every month (October through April), Lakota Local Schools will shine the spotlight on some of the District's most precious gems - the teachers, administrators and support staff who are a cut above the rest. At any time throughout the year, staff, parents, students and community members are invited to nominate Lakota staff who bring a sparkle to our schools.

"Every single position here at Lakota is important and part of our district's success story," said Lakota Superintendent Dr. Ashley Whitely. "Through the Lakota Gem Award, it is my goal to celebrate staff whose range of responsibilities and areas of expertise are varied, but whose qualities are strikingly similar. Things like teamwork, innovation, positivity, growth and a student-centered mentality drive excellence and span all roles in public education."

To qualify, nominees should reflect any one of these gem-like facets:

Sapphire of Student Support - Values strong relationships and the importance of meeting students' individual academic, social and emotional needs.
Beacon of Positivity - Radiates positive energy and promotes a welcoming culture that celebrates and respects differences.
Brilliant Innovator - Uses creativity to create dynamic experiences for students and staff, solve problems and allocate available resources wisely.
Polished Team Player - Embraces the power of community and collaboration to lift one another up and work together for the best possible results.
Gem of Growth - A lifelong learner who values feedback and has a growth mindset for continuous professional improvement.
Clear Cut Expert - A skilled master of their trade who absolutely shines in their area of expertise, leads by example and adds exceptional value to our school community.

Lakota's monthly "gems" will be celebrated for one or more of these award categories, receiving one or more uniquely colored gems that corresponds with the facets for which they were selected. Not every category will be awarded each month. Likewise, the same category may be awarded to multiple staff any given month.

Over time, staff may be awarded multiple gems to celebrate the different qualities they exhibit through their work at Lakota. An individual will not be eligible, however, to receive the same gem twice, even spanning multiple school years. A comprehensive list of award winners, by year, is available below.

The District aims to recognize a new group of "Lakota Gem Award" recipients on a monthly basis who represent each grade band (K-2, 3-6, 7-8 and 9-12), as well as Central Office and the Service Center. These individuals will be determined by a representative selection committee, surprised during the workday and spotlighted through District communication channels.

Nominate a Gem

Staff members can be nominated at any time August through March using the form linked below. New nominations will be pulled on the first day of each month in consideration for the previous month's awards. All nominations will carry over from month to month and will be considered for the rest of the current school year without needing to re-submit. At the start of each new school year, the nominee pool will be reset.

Nominate a Lakota Gem

Lakota Diamond Award

The annual "Lakota Diamond Awards," presented in partnership with the Northern Cincinnati Foundation and Phelan Insurance, is given to four individuals who meet the criteria of all six Gem Award categories.

Two monetary awards are presented: One to a teacher from the elementary level (PreK-6) and another to a teacher from the secondary level (7-12). These winners receive a $1,000 grant to be used for a special project at their school.

The third and fourth non-monetary awards are presented to both a Lakota administrator and a non-teaching staff member (i.e. office staff, custodian, counselor, paraprofessional, etc.) who has shown extraordinary commitment to the students and teachers of Lakota Local Schools.

Nominees and winners for Lakota's monthly Gem Awards will NOT be automatically considered for this top award, but are eligible and can be nominated using the separate application shared in the spring. Likewise, a staff member need NOT be a Gem Award winner to be considered for the top "Lakota Diamond Award" each year.

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Gold circle encloses a diamond graphic emerging from an open book with the text "Diamond Educator"

2026 Lakota Diamond Awards Recognize Staff Who are 'A Cut Above the Rest'

The Northern Cincinnati Foundation, in partnership with Lakota Local Schools and Phelan Insurance Agency, is accepting nominations for recipients of the prestigious 2026 “Lakota Diamond Educator Award.” Nominations for these top awards are due Friday, March 27. Four honorees who are "a cut above the rest" will be announced the first full week of May during “Teacher Appreciation Week.”

Formerly known as the “Lakota Educator of Excellence Award,” the refreshed name was introduced last year and establishes a connection to the District’s Lakota Gem Award, which celebrates outstanding staff all year long. Recipients need not be a former Gem Award winner, but must exemplify all six facets, or categories, of the Lakota gems that the District awards on a monthly basis. Teacher, administrators and non-teaching staff are all eligible for the award.

Gem Award Winners

Learn more about Lakota's most precious gems. Watch the videos below to see the touching moments when each winner receives a surprise visit from District leaders. The articles recap why each group of monthly staff members were nominated.

2024-2025 Winners

2024-2025 Winners

Abby Trybus - Sapphire of Student Support
Andrew Wheatley - Sapphire of Student Support
Ashley Whitely - A Cut Above the Rest
Bailey Plummer - A Cut Above the Rest
Benjamin Schneider - Beacon of Positivity
Beth Morgan - Beacon of Positivity
Brianne Kopecky - A Cut Above the Rest
Bryan Hacker - A Cut Above the Rest
Christine Wurzbacher - A Cut Above the Rest
Dawn Higdon - A Cut Above the Rest
Delaney Wilson - Gem of Growth
Diana Camacci - Beacon of Positivity
Elizabeth Bonin - Diamond Educator of the Year Award (K-6 Teachers)
Erin Schneider - Sapphire of Student Support
Helen Vassiliou - A Cut Above the Rest
Jason French - Sapphire of Student Support
Jennifer Price - A Cut Above the Rest
Jennifer Russell - Diamond Educator of the Year Award (Student Support)
Jenny Haynes - Sapphire of Student Support
Jenny Iames - A Cut Above the Rest
John Federle - Brilliant Innovator
Jordan Rosenfield - Gem of Growth
Kate Joseph - Sapphire of Student Support
Katherine Schieman - Beacon of Positivity
Kelly Carstens - Sapphire of Student Support
Kim Phillips - A Cut Above the Rest
Kimberly Fleenor - Beacon of Positivity
Krista Heidenreich - Polished Team Player
Lisa Kiesewetter - Sapphire of Student Support
Lucas Pennington - A Cut Above the Rest
Mandy Benjamin - Sapphire of Student Support
Mark Byrd - Sapphire of Student Support
Matt MacFarlane - A Cut Above the Rest
Matthew Smythe - A Cut Above the Rest
Megan Brankamp - Sapphire of Student Support
Michelle Brown - Sapphire of Student Support
Nick Parr - Gem of Growth
Nicolas Pegram - A Cut Above the Rest
Paula Hale - A Cut Above the Rest
Robyn Parrish - Sapphire of Student Support
Sharon George - Beacon of Positivity
Stacey Lane - A Cut Above the Rest & Diamond Educator of the Year Award (7-12 Teachers)
Tamara Roman - A Cut Above the Rest
Terri Doerr - Polished Team Player
Traci Stubenrauch - Diamond Educator of the Year Award (Administrator)
Terry (Marc) Williams - Beacon of Positivity