Meet Our January ‘Lakota Gems’

Lakota Local Schools is celebrating its January “Lakota Gem Award” winners - the teachers, administrators and support staff who bring a sparkle to our schools. Selected from a growing pool of over 230 nominations, Lakota’s most precious gems for December include: 

• Marc Williams (Custodian, Shawnee ECS) – Beacon of Positivity Award
• Beth Morgan (Teacher, Cherokee Elementary) – Beacon of Positivity Award
• Delaney Wilson (Teacher, Hopewell Junior) – Gem of Growth Award
• Erin Schneider (Teacher, Lakota East High School) – Sapphire of Student Support Award
• John Federle (Maintenance Team Member) – Brilliant Innovator Award

Each “gem” was celebrated this week with a surprise recognition during their workday and surrounded by their students, colleagues and those who nominated them. Watch this month's Lakota Gem Awards video to see their reactions.

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The Facets of Our January Gems

Marc Williams: Early Childhood School Honoree (Grades K-2)

Nominated for the "Beacon of Positivity" award, Shawnee ECS's custodian, Marc Williams, was applauded for having this effect on his fellow team: "He makes coming to work feel like home," wrote another Shawnee staff member. 

"If you've had the pleasure of meeting him, you can instantly feel his uplifting energy. He not only ensures our building remains spotless, but also has an incredible ability to bring a smile to anyone's face," read his nomination.

Marc was also celebrated for his unparalleled work ethic.

 

 

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Beth Morgan: Elementary School Honoree (Grades 3-6) 

Cherokee Elementary teacher Beth Morgan was called a "Beacon of Positivity" for her qualities of optimism and deep respect for others. This extends to students and staff, alike. 

"Beth has a rare ability to inspire and uplift those around her and embodies the Lakota values of resilience, compassion and interconnectedness. Whether leading or collaborating, Beth fosters an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered," read her nomination. 

Beth was applauded for the leadership she has displayed specifically around the Third Grade Reading Guarantee, new curriculum, professional development and her willingness to be a mentor to new teammates. 

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Delaney Wilson: Junior School Honoree (Grades 7-8)

In a very short time, Hopewell Junior School teacher Delaney Wilson went from a tutor in the building to a full-time math teacher to the team leader of her teaching team. Nominated for the "Gem of Growth" award, the three-year teacher was applauded for her commitment to seeking continuous feedback about her profession, including inviting administrators to her classroom to help provide guidance. 

"She commits herself to making things work and is very assertive in problem solving the more difficult parts of teaching middle schoolers. She has met with many of her colleagues in the building to ask about how they handle situations and genuinely seeks to learn from them," a colleague wrote in her nomination. 

It was also noted that Delaney has coached three sports, all while pursuing her Master's degree,which she earned at the end of last school year. 

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Erin Schneider: High School Honoree (Grades 9-12)

Lakota East High School English teacher Erin Schneider received a very heartfelt nomination from a former student of the Class of 2019, who joined her teacher's surprise celebration via Facetime. 

"She was a light in my day to day life as a growing teenager. High school is hard - emotionally, socially, academically. But, when you have a teacher who shows you that YOU matter, especially in a school with thousands of students, that does not go unrecognized," wrote the Thunderhawk alum. 

The former student, currently in a Master's program at The Ohio State University and applying for a doctoral program, credits much of her success to Erin. She went on to share this: " I have always wanted to find a way to give her some recognition, the recognition she deserves and although she may never truly be able to know how much she has impacted me, nominating her for an award is a great place to start." 

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John Federle: Lakota Service Center Honoree

Maintenance team member John Federle serves many Lakota schools, but was specifically celebrated by a special education teacher at Independence Elementary for being a "Brilliant Innovator."

"John always shows up when he says he will and is able to use his creativity to solve any problem that arises - even when my team has felt there is no solution possible. If John walks in and his plan doesn't work that day- he's always back the next day with a new plan to fix the problem," she wrote.

She went on to explain her unique need to adapt things in her classroom for the safety of her students, pointing to a recent example when he found a creative solution to adapt a flexible seating option that didn't meet the exact needs of her students. "John is a gift to this school district and uses his creativity and skills to ensure students have a classroom where they can be safe and successful every day," she wrote.

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About the Lakota Gem Award

"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.
• A Cut Above the Rest - Shines in their area of expertise and goes above and beyond in their daily work.

Every month, Lakota's "gems" are celebrated for ONE of these award categories, receiving a unique gem pin that corresponds with the facet 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.

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 are determined by a representative selection committee, surprised during the workday and spotlighted through district communication channels. 

Staff members can be nominated at any time 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 staff member for a Lakota Gem Award. Nominees will be pulled on the last day of January, with the February recipients announced mid-month.