Meet Our Last Gem Award Winners of 2026

A proud monthly tradition at Lakota Local Schools, the Lakota Gem Awards shine a spotlight on the teachers, administrators and support staff who make our schools sparkle. With more than 300 nominations submitted since the start of the 2025-2026 school year, April’s honorees truly reflect the heart of Lakota. As we wrap up this year’s Gem Awards, we’re excited to celebrate our final—and truly dazzling—gems of the year:

• Allison McIntosh (Counselor, Hopewell ECS) - Beacon of Positivity and Sapphire of Student Support
• Kelly McGuire (Intervention Specialist, Cherokee) - Sapphire of Student Support
• Carrie Oglesby (PE/Health Teacher, Plains Junior) - Polished Team Player
• Taryn Barker (Associate Principal, Lakota West Freshman) - Clear Cut Expert

Each "gem" was surprised during their workday with heartfelt recognition, surrounded by students, colleagues and nominators. Their passion continues to make Lakota shine every day!

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The Facets of Our April Gems

Allison McIntosh: Early Childhood School Honoree (Grades PreK-2)

Allison “Aly” McIntosh, school counselor at Hopewell Early Childhood School, earned both the Beacon of Positivity and Sapphire of Student Support gem awards. As shared in her stack of nomination letters, Aly embodies the spirit of these honors through her steady compassion, professionalism and unwavering dedication to every child and family she serves. Her influence is felt throughout the building as she supports students through "big emotions," partners closely with families and collaborates with staff to foster a nurturing, inclusive environment. One colleague shared, “Aly consistently brings warmth and expertise into every situation, ensuring students feel seen, understood and supported no matter what they are facing.”

What truly sets Aly apart, said one colleague, is her genuine commitment to knowing each child as an individual and meeting them exactly where they are. She builds strong, trusting relationships that help students develop critical skills in emotional regulation, problem‑solving and positive peer interactions. Aly understands that academic success begins with social and emotional well‑being, and she thoughtfully designs supports tailored to every child’s strengths and needs. As one nominator wrote, “She is a constant source of positivity and calm — someone who lifts others up and makes our entire school stronger.” Through her daily work, Aly creates a true sense of belonging at Hopewell ECS, making her deeply deserving of both of these recognitions.

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Kelly McGuire: Elementary School Nominee (Grades 3-6)

Kelly McGuire, Intervention Specialist at Cherokee Elementary, embodies the spirit and impact celebrated by the Sapphire of Student Support Award. Nominators consistently shared that Kelly’s door — and heart — are always open. While she provides outstanding care to the students on her caseload, it is clear that her support extends to every child in the building. Students seek her out for encouragement, understanding and calm reassurance, knowing they will always be met with warmth and empathy. One nominator shared, “No matter the situation, students know they can turn to Mrs. McGuire for support — she makes every child feel seen, valued and cared for.” 

Kelly’s impact reaches far beyond daily interactions. She helped establish an awareness week at Cherokee Elementary that celebrates student differences and educates the school community about disabilities and medical conditions — intentionally building empathy and understanding before some students even enter Cherokee's halls. This proactive approach makes a profound difference for families, helping students feel welcomed, confident and supported from day one. Kelly also creates space for student voices, offering meaningful opportunities to share personal stories and build self‑confidence in ways that leave a lasting impact. Known for going the extra mile — often being one of the last staff members to leave for the evening — Kelly’s dedication, compassion and tireless advocacy truly embody what it means to support the whole child. 

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Carrie Oglesby: Junior High School Honoree (Grades 7-8) 

Carrie Oglesby, Health and Physical Education teacher at Plains Junior School, is being honored with the Polished Team Player Award. As shared by several colleagues, Carrie consistently demonstrates what it means to build community and lift others up through collaboration, kindness and purpose. Each day, she welcomes hundreds of junior high students with a genuine smile and an unwavering belief in their potential, creating a classroom where every student feels valued, seen and capable. One nominator shared, “Carrie doesn’t just teach content — she creates connection, and that’s why even our most vulnerable learners find confidence and success in her class.”

Carrie’s influence reaches far beyond her gymnasium and classroom walls. As a department chair and trusted colleague, she is known for her calm leadership, thoughtful listening and willingness to step in wherever support is needed. She has dedicated countless hours to studying and refining the new health curriculum, ensuring colleagues across the District feel prepared and supported. Her work supporting Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) initiatives has helped foster a culture of joy, motivation and belonging school‑wide. As one colleague wrote, “Carrie has a quiet way of making everyone around her better — she leads by lifting others up.” 

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Taryn Barker: High School Nominee (Grades 9-12)

Taryn Barker, Associate Principal of Lakota West Freshman School, is receiving the Clear Cut Expert Award for being a shining example of skilled, purposeful leadership, according to the staff who nominated her. Since serving in leadership roles at West - first as assistant principal and now as associate principal - Taryn has fostered a culture built on trust, approachability and continuous improvement. She actively seeks and values feedback from families, faculty and staff, setting clear goals and implementing thoughtful procedures to meet them. Known for her deep expertise in special education and her commitment to staying current with educational research, Taryn leads with clarity and organization while maintaining a strong daily presence in hallways and common spaces. One nominator shared, “In my 18 years of teaching, I have never felt more supported or safe than I do under her leadership at the Lakota West Freshman Building.”

Taryn’s leadership is both hands-on and deeply collaborative. She works seamlessly with her administrative team, advocates fiercely for students and staff, and steps in wherever help is needed - even during unexpected challenges like facility issues or emergency cleanups. Her commitment to knowing and supporting at‑risk students through meaningful relationships helps prevent challenges before they arise. As an instructional leader, she encourages innovation, strong classroom management and practices that ensure success for every learner. Always positive and always striving for excellence, Taryn has brought stability, confidence and growth to Lakota West Freshman School.

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About the Lakota Gem Award

"This year's theme, 'WE are Building OUR Future...One Piece at a Time,' reinforces the idea behind Lakota's Gem Awards," said Lakota Superintendent Dr. Ashley Whitely. "Every single role in this District is an important piece to the bigger puzzle and our overall success story." 

"The response we received during our first year of Gem Awards was impressive to say the least," Whitely continued. "Our committee read over 400 nominations and it was no small feat to select our winners each and every month. The range of responsibilities and expertise was wide ranging among our winners, but their qualities were strikingly similar. They exhibited things like teamwork, innovation, positivity, professional growth and a student-centered mentality. I'm excited to celebrate even more staff members whose brilliance makes a difference in our students' lives every single day." 

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" are celebrated for one or more of these award categories, receiving one or more uniquely colored gems that correspond 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, and even during the same month, 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.

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 through the end of 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.

Lakota's annual "Diamond Award," 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. One individual is recognized for each of these groups: K-6 Teachers, 7-12 Teachers, Support Staff & Administrators. 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 during the spring each school year.

Nominations for the 2025-2026 school year are no longer being accepted, but will re-open in August 2026.