Meet This Year's First Lakota Gems

Lakota Local Schools is proud to continue its monthly tradition of recognizing "Lakota Gem Award" winners - the teachers, administrators and support staff who bring a sparkle to our schools. With nearly 60 nominations submitted during the first month and a half of the new school year, Lakota’s most precious gems for October include: 

• Becca Striet (Teacher, Shawnee ECS) – Beacon of Positivity & Brilliant Innovator Awards
• Trina Moore (Instructional Aide, Endeavor Elementary) – Sapphire of Student Support and Beacon of Positivity Awards
• Meghan Lester (English teacher, Ridge Junior) – Clear Cut Expert Award
• Randy Doyle (Cross Country Coach, Lakota West High School) – Sapphire of Student Support Award
• Jackie Smith (Specialist Business & Technology Operations, Lakota Special Services) – Beacon of Positivity Award

Each “gem” was celebrated over the last week with a surprise recognition during their workday and surrounded by their students, colleagues and those who nominated them. 

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The Facets of Our October Gems

Becca Striet: Early Childhood School Honoree (Grades K-2)

Nominated for not just one, but two Gem Awards - "Brilliant Innovator" and "Beacon of Positivity" - Shawnee ECS kindergarten teacher Becca Striet was commended by one parent for "making learning feel like magic." 

"A kindergarten classroom is full of curiosity, energy, and wonder—and Becca Striet turns that into magic through innovation," wrote the parent. "She constantly finds creative ways to reach her students, turning everyday lessons into hands-on adventures that spark imagination and joy... whether it’s using games, songs or everyday objects she adapts and invents to meet the needs of every child."

Her nomination letters referenced traditions like her use of the school's nature trail and her class's annual performance of "The Nutcracker" as moments that make the time in her class unforgettable for her students. She was described as not just teaching, but inspiring curiosity, building confidence and showing her students that learning is limitless. 

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Trina Moore: Elementary School Honoree (Grades 3-6) 

Endeavor Elementary School instructional aide Trina Moore, who fittingly has been on the nominating side of countless Gem Awards,  earned her very  own this month for being both a "Sapphire of Student Support" and "Beacon of Positivity." 

The nominations from Trina's peers made it clear that she brings joy, kindness and positivity to everything that she does. As one individual put it, "You will always find her looking at the bright side of life." Trina is known for making every day brighter for students and staff, whether that means handing out summer reading logs and celebrating students' success when they return in August, dressing up as a Christmas elf or quietly jumping in wherever help is needed. 

"She is a smile that every rocket can depend on whether it be a staff member, student or Endeavor graduate," wrote one of her colleagues, who was joined on the day of her recognition by countless others who have worked  alongside Trina over the last 25 years. "We are blessed to have such an incredible role model of positivity in our district." 

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Meghan Lester: Junior School Honoree (Grades 7-8)

English language arts teacher Meghan Lester fills countless other roles at Ridge Junior School, including athletic director and part of the school's building leadership and safety teams. Also the district's summer school coordinator, she was commended for being a "Clear Cut Expert" in all of her roles. 

Her expertise in teaching and learning, particularly in data-driven strategies, is something she shares with her peers, across Lakota and even across the region and nation at the conferences where she's been asked to present. "Not only does she have the knowledge herself, she is always excited to find ways to share it and add value to her colleagues’ instruction and her students’ ability to learn," wrote a colleague. 

Meghan was described as a trusted leader, collaborator and go-to resource who generously shares her expertise with others at Ridge and beyond, to elevate instruction for the benefit of all students. 

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Randy Doyle: High School Honoree (Grades 9-12)

Lakota West cross country coach Randy Doyle is the first coach to receive a gem award. Nominated for the "Sapphire of Student Support" gem, Randy was described as meeting all of his athletes where they are and valuing personal goals as much as overall performance. 

"He cares enough to recognize that not everyone on cross country/track is there to be the best and the fastest runner," wrote the parent of one of his runners. "He encourages and values personal goals, and had each of the students write down a personal goal and a team goal."

He was commended for introducing new ideas like pilates and cross training to make the sport fun for his athletes and is known for securing free resources for the team through community partnerships. The former Lakota West cross country athlete is also known to run alongside his team at practices!

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Jackie Smith: Service Center Honoree

Jackie Smith was nominated for a "Beacon of Positivity" gem for shining in two different roles at Lakota. That includes her previous position as the office manager at Endeavor Elementary and her current role as a specialist for business and technology operations out of Lakota's Service Center. 

Jackie was referred to as the "face of Lakota" by the staff member who nominated her and wrote: "Jackie is radiant, sparking such a light to all who are blessed to know her. She cares so much about her work and the people that she serves. It seems that no matter what role she plays, she is joyful, welcoming and involved."

Jackie was applauded for her warm smile and even filling in on the food line in Endeavor's cafeteria when extra help is needed.

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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" will be celebrated for one 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 April 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 Educator of the Year 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.

Nominate a staff member for a Lakota Gem Award. Nominees will be pulled on the last day of October, with the November recipients announced mid-month.