Akron’s Best 2008-09
Each year our students and staff receive thousands of awards and recognitions. This partial listing only
includes the recognitions submitted to the district communications office in 2008-09. Please join us in
congratulating our students and staff for these accomplishments.
National Recognition
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Buchtel senior Mathu’ Davis was named a Gates Millennium Scholar. One thousand students were selected
for the award, with 11 from Ohio and Davis as the only one from Akron
Bruce Perry, Firestone, earned a perfect score on both the ACT and SAT tests. Less than 200 of 2.2 million
students taking the ACT and only 335 of more than 2.6 million taking the SAT achieve perfect scores.
For the fifth year in a row, Firestone was named one of Newsweek's top 1,500 U.S. high schools. Selection
includes the number of advanced placement and International Baccalaureate courses offered to students. The
IB coordinator is Judith Harrison.
East/Garfield senior Justin LeFever received one of 10 GM Goodwrench Scholarships awarded nationwide.
Firestone students Jack Licata, Shammas Malik and Bruce Perry are National Merit semi-finalists.
Elizabeth Haase, Firestone, was named National Merit Commended Student. About 34,000 Commended
Students throughout the nation are recognized each year.
High Schools That Work awarded Firestone its national Gold Achievement Award.
Firestone’s DECA students participated in the State Career Development Conference. Moving on to the
international conference: Elizabeth, Molly Putman, Danielle Shaw, Steven Stapleton, and Gretchen Von
Koenig. Top 10 finalists were: Alexis Laston and Sarah Smith, Travis Reish and Logan Stinson and Barry
Stormer. National Honor Awards recipients were: Kayla Anderson, Steven Forfia, Haase, Mariya Shaeffer
and Sarah Smith. Katherine Englehart, Steven Forfia and Lindsay Marsh received Outstanding Chapter
Award at the Gold Level. Firestone’s DECA program received the National Gold Seal Award.
Kenmore marketing student Christopher Commings placed in the top 10 and earned a medallion at the
National DECA Conference. His teacher is Julie Garcia.
Ellet teacher Barbara Baltrinic successfully renewed her National Board Certification in Adolescent/Young
Adult, English/Language Arts.
Ellet National Honor Society received the National Award for Leadership, for the third time. Barbara Baltrinic
is the school’s NHS adviser.
Ten Ellet National Honor Society students attended the national conference: Jackson Boling, Rebecca
Calvin, Elizabeth DeLuca, Kaitlin Derrenberger, Khayla Finnegin, Samantha Goodrich, Cory Gravesmill,
Melissa Marmaduke, Matthew Williams and Brandon Yackey.
Ask Gilby™, APS produced children’s show, was nominated for an EMMY through the Lower Great Lakes
Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Ask Gilby™ airs in 20 cities across the nation.
State Recognition
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Felisha Cheatem, Perkins principal, was named one of the Metlife/NASSP Ohio Principals of the Year.
Judith Maver, Ellet counselor, was elected president of the Ohio School Counselor Association.
Project RISE program manager, Debra Manteghi, was chosen Social Worker of the Year by the Ohio chapter
of the National Association of Social Workers.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol inspected/approved APS’s 87-unit bus fleet, marking the 28th consecutive year
the fleet passed inspection and received decals on the first-scheduled inspection.
The Ohio Academy of Science selected APS teachers to receive the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Youth
Science Opportunities: East – Charles Armstrong, John Guidubaldi, Christine Justiss-Simon, Sharon
Kaffen, Johnna O’Neal, William Stone and Robin Tidrick; and Innes - Robin Clark and Annmarie Crofoot.
James Hardy, Board of Education vice president, was recognized for his service to the Ohio School Boards
Association Board of Trustees.
Linda F.R. Omobien, Board member, was named to the Federal Relations Network committee of the Ohio
School Boards Association.
Erie Island teacher Peggy Dougherty was selected as a delegate by the People to People Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
APS Master Teachers include: Mary Armbruster, Marcy Aronson, Christine Bates-Lankey, Sandra
Becker-Neidert, Christine Becknell-Brown, Melissa Bell, Terese Bell, Patricia Bilal, Dawne Blackburn,
Marseena Bobo, Elizabeth Bocian, Marsha Bodiford, Amanda Boyd, Mary Breiding, Gwendolyn Bryant,
Elizabeth Bugner, Callie Butcher, Felicia Campbell, Tamara Casalinova, Rachel Chaplin, Toby Clifford,
Toni Coleman, Sonya Colvin, Karen Cox, Curt Crews, Loi Dang-Nguyen, Dana Davis, RaChandra
Decatur, Dorothea Dingle, Marla Duve, Rozanne Emich, Carrie Evans, Patricia Falls, Jennifer Fillmore,
Rosemary Floccari, Darcy Forshee, Cheryle Franklin, Diane Fuller, Theresa Gadomski, Diane Gearhart,
Karen George, Mary Kathleen Gill, Martha Godward, Sheryl Griffin, Stephanie Hardman, Nicole Hassan,
Darlene Hensley, Cindy Hina, Julienne Hogarth, Ruth Hotchkiss, Valerie Humphrey, Christine Hunt,
Willena Jackson, Michelle Johnson, Michelle Jones, Kimberly Joseph, Christine Justiss-Simon, Jane
Kalstrom, Saundra Kolar, Cathy Kunkel, Maryann Lawson, Deborah Leonard, Martha Levine, Keith
Liechty, Michell Loan, Vincent Malorni, Jessica Martin, Kimberlee Martin, Tracy Martin, Sandra McClain,
Elizabeth McClarnon, Linda McCormick, Ann Merendino, Kelli Moles, Laura Morrison, Hanh Nguyen,
Teresa Noland, Diane Pancoe, Emily Parker, Julie Paulus, Rebecca Paulus, Jim Perge, Jocelyn Perge,
Nancy Plavan, Marianne Pramuka, Susan Price, SheRel Pringle, Mary Pullekins, Jacqueline Reed,
Patricia Riggs, Tanya Robinson, Tracey Robinson, Rilinda Rodgers-Knott, Helen Rowland, Amy Rudd,
Margaret Ruppert, Linda Scherer-McDaniel, Diana Schott, Susan Schutte, Sherri Shaub, Laura
Sherman, Martha Skinner, Annie Sojourner, Aryiro Spithas-Miner, Anna Starczewski-Clough, John
Sturmi, LaVonne Taylor, Rebecca Taylor, Lisa Thompson-Cerosky, Angela Vassalotti, Dennette Waters,
Helen Willey, Shana Williamson, Susan Yingling, Mark Yokum, Greg Yorgey,
Barbara Baltrinic, Janet Biedenbach, Tammy Brady, Pamela Cicora, Jodie Coffey, Nora Flanagan,
Nicole Frohnapfel, David Gilbert, Patricia Gonzalez, Judith Harrison, Kristen Hawkins, Carolyn Justice,
Christine Milcetich, Maria Newman, Mary Olson, Lisa O’Rourke, Cristine Pace, Kathleen Shippy, Marcia
Skidmore, Denise Sparks, Levonia Swails, Lori Villanova, Judith White and Robyn Zinn.
Vanessa Suich of Ellet served as one of the Masters of Ceremony for the 2008 Youth Energy Celebration.
Garfield cosmetology students passed the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology Licensing Examination:
Shauntay Amos, Adrianne Bagley, Amira Carswell, Jazmin Freeman, Sheirra Jones, Ashley Nevins and
Fakeshia Terry. Their instructor is Marla Duvé.
Hyre sixth-graders were so successful with math content standards that a vast majority of their math
achievement scores were rated as “accelerated” exceeding the district and state averages.
Firestone Project Lead The Way students Nicholas Kienzle and Evan Purkhiser earned silver awards in Web
design at the SkillsUSA state competition. Their instructor is Daniel Spak.
Litchfield and Roswell Kent students presented school-year research results at the OhioView SATELLITES
Geospatial Technology Conference.
Leon Evans, Buchtel restaurant management student won gold at the district and state FCCLA competitions
ranking second in the state in dining room attendant and earned a scholarship to Hocking College.
Christopher Commings, Kenmore marketing student received a Rotary scholarship for Marketing Student of
the Year and won first place in the state DECA competition making him eligible for national competition. Julie
Garcia is his teacher.
FCCLA Leadership Conference state awards were presented: North team – silver medal (teacher Patricia
Gibson); Leon Evans, Buchtel – gold medal and second overall in the state (teacher Valerie Skelly);
Tyleasha Blasdel and DeVonte Reid-Douglas, Ellet – gold medal and first overall in the state (teacher Carol
Zona); Abby King and Shyqueta Simmons, East – gold medal and second overall in the state (teacher
Susan Huntley); and Shonda Johnson, Naiya Thomas and Shaianne White, Perkins – gold medal and
second overall in the state (teacher Linda Sunyak). The Perkins winners were invited to nationals.
Outstanding Achievement Awards from the State Support Team Region 8 were given to Christopher
Duckworth, Kenmore; and Darius Peoples, North.
Audiology assistant Elizabeth Salchak earned an Outstanding Educator Award.
Seniors who passed the Ohio Dental Assistant Certification Exam: East - Tameka Bayless, Katelyn
Goodwin, Dominque Mingo and Ciara Morris; Ellet - Brooke Haggard; and Garfield - Erna Becirovic.
Junior Alexandra Ulrich (Ellet) passed the exam in April. Instructors are Teresa Gadomski and Michelle
Johnson.
Regional awards
•
Daniel Spak, Firestone teacher, was named Project Lead The Way Outstanding Teacher of the Year by The
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
University of Akron and the Minorities in Mainstream Technology Committee.
Project RISE received the Barbara Norton Award: 2008 Outstanding Community Partner Award from Project
LEARN.
Candace Beam and Jennifer Wagner, Jennings CLC teachers, and librarian Susan Hall accepted
scholarships to participate in a faculty team workshop at Kent State University.
Kathy Guarino, Rankin teacher, was nominated and selected for an OfficeMax campaign award titled “A Day
Made Better.”
Teresa Noland, Glover CLC teacher, was named the 2008 Teacher of the Year for the first-ever All-County
Teaching Team. Former superintendent Dr. Sylvester Small received the Lifetime Educator Achievement
Award.
Sarah Kaufman, Miller South music teacher received The University of Akron School of Music Distinguished
Music Educator Alumni Award.
Roswell Kent seventh-graders earned honorable mention awards from Project Love for Outstanding Teen
Leadership: Kristine Barbee, Tameka Blake, Samantha Gordon, Brittani Preib, Shannan Urdiales, Alain
Vue, Payeng Vue and Bryan Wegman.
Charles Huggins, Kenmore student, was chosen for the Hugh O’Brien Youth Program at Mount Union
College.
The Ohio Western Reserve Chapter, Military Officers Association of America, recognized Kenmore cadet
Jeniece Mitchell at an awards dinner. The program instructor is David Sears.
Several hundred APS students in grades 4-6 graduated from the Gang Resistance Education and Training
program provided by Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh’s office.
The Garfield NJROTC drill team (instructor Joseph Grieco) competed in a meet at Euclid High School with
the following results: first place – Bobbi Brown and Tommy Chounramany; second place – Emma Hershey
and Kevin Owens; and third place – Shelby Brown. Overall, the team placed first out of five teams.
APS students competed in the Summit County Spelling Bee: Goodyear – Shyleen Connalley, Michael
Selzer and Arman Stephens-Dabney; Hyre – Alexandra Kovacevic, Victoria Nehls, Charles Pardee and
Oliver Zhang; Innes – Karisma Palmore; Litchfield – Lilith Freed, D’Metrius Grier, Michael Long and
Rachel Weibel; and Riedinger – Brianna Doyle, Alonzo Porter and Kelliah Stillwell.
Ellet students competed in the Region 10 Business Professionals of America Skills Assessments and earned
awards: individual economic research project – Shawn Greathouse (first place) and Bradley Bess (second
place); team economic research project – Adam Braham, Evan Faidley and Caitlin Sutherland (first place
team); insurance concepts – Greathouse (first place) and Larry Dobbins (second place); administrative
support concepts – Brittney Sullivan (second place); Web site design team – Richard Hawkins, Zachery
Rodgers and Katie Spinks (second place team); video production team – Alexander Hawks, Branden
Simone, Ashley Wisberger and Rakia Wolfe (first place team); small business management team – Mikayla
Goode and Christina Green (second place team); interview skills – Bambi Fullerton (second place);
prepared speech – Faidley (first place) and Tyron Hoisten (second place); individual presentation – Alissa
Miller (first place) and Bryanna Hensley (second place); and management/marketing/human resources skills
– Hensley (second place). The first-place winners qualified for the state contest. Teachers are Tracy Ebner,
Tari Nockengost and Barbara Williams.
Firestone physics and AP physics students competed in The University of Akron Balsa Bridge Competition
and finished in the top 15: Catherine Lehman and Joshua Nees (4.57); William Pantages and Michael
Simonson (3.39); and Alex Darkow and Allison Latham (2.44). Teacher is Christine Milcetich.
Two teams of Firestone Project Lead the Way students presented papers at the annual ASME student papers
night: Alexander Darkow and Zachary Schroeder (“Ceramic Fiber Reinforced Silica Aerogel”), and
Shammas Malik and Bruce Perry (“Incorporation of Sodium Benzoate into Silicone for Greener Antifouling
Coatings”). Project instructor is Daniel Spak.
Firestone Project Lead the Way students competed in the regional SkillsUSA competition: Logan Adair, Kareem Browne, Alex Darkow, Austin Kettner and Allison Latham. Four students will advance to state
competition to join seven other students who already qualified: Anna Dorfi, Nicholas Kienzle, Angel Pay,
Bruce Perry, Joseph Pica, Evan Purkhiser and Zachary Schroeder. Their instructor is Daniel Spak.
At the FCCLA competition, three Perkins students presented an illustrated talk on the Rape Crisis Center. The
students (Shonda Johnson, Naiya Thomas and Shaianne White) advanced to state competition. Their work
and family teacher is Linda Sunyak
East students finished fourth out of 25 teams in the annual Northeast Ohio Robotics Competition: Jacob
•
•
•
•
•
Carmichael, Tayler Legrair, David Powell, Matthew Schertz and Samantha Smith. Carmichael and Smith
competed in the statewide SkillsUSA Robotics and Industrial Automation contest finishing fourth out of 14
teams. Their adviser is Fred Weiss.
Bus drivers competed in the Northeast B Regional Bus Road-e-o: first place – Kathleen Schindler; fourth
place and “Rookie of the Year” – Lisa Leemaster; fifth place – Gail Barker; alternates for state competition –
Francene Fubler and Lynn Stovall; first-place team – Barker, John Paugh, Schindler and Stovall; and
second-place team – Charles Childress, Fubler, Leemaster and Linda Thompson.
Sam Salem CLC students competed in the Read and Win Program sponsored by The Summit County
Agricultural Society of Ohio by reading at least 300 minutes: grade K – Konner Board, Ashley Richardson
and Faith Woods; grade 1 – Mary Hunt and Alexa Tracy; grade 2 – Paige Boggs and Michaela Bowman;
and grade 3 – Vincent Fogle and David Tracy.
Garfield’s NJROTC unit received the 2009 Area 3 Unit Achievement Award. Their instructor is Joseph Grieco.
Firestone senior Elizabeth Hall submitted a portfolio of her original poetry to the Wick Poetry Center at Kent
State University and earned a $2,000 renewable, first-place scholarship.
Miller South student Zoe Dong won the Best of Show and the Blue Ribbon Award from the Cleveland Clinic
for her artistic interpretation of art and wellness. Her artwork was displayed at the Great Lakes Science Center.
District awards
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mary Anne Cort, Helen Arnold CLC teacher, was named Akron’s 2009 Teacher of the Year. Nominees were:
Daniel Camburn, Garfield; Toby Clifford, Glover CLC; Mary Leahy, Buchtel; Janet Lippincott, King;
Rebecca Oram, Hyre; Marianne Pramuka, Forest Hill CLC; Linda Reischman, Goodyear; and Kimberly
Shama-Hanna, Ritzman.
Mona Kotran, Akron Early College High School mathematics/computer science teacher, was selected as an
APS Outstanding District Educator for 2008-09.
Linda McCormick, Bettes kindergarten teacher, received a visit from the Cavs’ mascot Moondog, who
presented her with a “Head of the Class” award.
The East Alumni Association inducted APS employees David Butz and Sharon Hall into its Hall of Fame,
along with former employees Neil Quirk and George Tonies; and Ward 10 Councilman Garry Moneypenny.
Ilene Zackaroff - former information services employee, and current information technology teacher at
Buchtel - was voted teacher of the month by her students.
Carla Sibley was named to the 2008-09 Leadership Akron class.
More than 230 career education students were recognized at the 17th annual TOPS Awards Recognition
Night sponsored by the North Akron Chamber of Commerce.
The Akron Rotary Organization provided $200 Rotary Student of the Year awards to Shomari Akhdar,
Benjamin Fluellen, Shatira Freeman, Dominique Jackson, Devon Micochero, Erica Morris, Latashia Neal
and Stephen Triola. Earning the $100 Rotary Outstanding Student of the Year award were Shana Alton,
Natalie Batten, Cody Behrens, Whitney Brown, Sha’Nay Bushner, Amira Carswell, Jessie Colbert,
Devan Curet, Cissy Hazelett, Tedette Jones, Joshua Lewis, LaToya Lewis, Markesha Mason, Zachary
Michael, Sandra Miller, Amber Monahan, Kayla Rosekelly, Amber Schmitt, Christopher Smelko and
Bryant Taylor.
Taylor Nicholson, Jonathon Sayre and Shawnterrance Smith, McEbright students, received the Pamela J.
Marksberry Award created in memory of Pamela Marksberry, a long-time McEbright teacher. Laura Beale and
Nyna Sayarath earned the Principal’s Bond Award, a $50 savings bond for maintaining high academic
standards:
The Brothers of the Prince Hall Masonic Family honored the top student readers at: Erie Island – Ta’Myrah
Burton, Ramon Cantera, Brittany Mosley, Teanna Short, Destynee Taylor, Shamar Wright and Elijah
Young; Smith – Allison Cunningham, Casey Dauberman, Sterling Fox, Andrew George, Jorrdin Jones,
Christina Malagamba, Noah Merrill and Amaya Phelps; and Stewart – Alysse Faulkner, Havilland Jones,
Ashley Moore, Ayana Moore, Tempestt Rogers and Kenyon Ward. Top readers (Wright, Erie Island;
Malagamba, Smith; and Rogers, Stewart) were awarded a $25 gift card and a plaque in conjunction with the
“100 Book Challenge.”
The 100 Black Men of Greater Akron’s Leadership Academy Achievement Banquet honored students for best
attendance, merit roll, honor roll, most improved behavior and most improved grades.: Helen Arnold CLC –
Zjkel Cargill, Isaish Edwards, Demonte Farrey and Stephen McCall; North – Christopher Holley; Rankin
– William Benford, Damon Dixson and Daze Phifer; and Seiberling – Xavier Jones, Kelvin Lawrence and
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Da’Vonte Murphy.
Firestone students earned AP Scholar Awards for their achievement on the AP exams: Scholar With Distinction – Sarah Loar, Bruce Perry, Stewart Warther and Andrew Wright; Scholar With Honor – Iris Wang; and
Scholar Award – Julie Botnick, Robert Culp, Zachary Hafner, Robert Keith, Bethany McFarland, Molly
Saks and Zoe Speas.
Outstanding seniors recognized by the Akron Council of Engineering and Scientific Societies: Buchtel – Siera
Avent and Mathu’ Davis; East – Dexter Collins and Laurel Homa; Ellet – Cory Gravesmill and Melissa
Marmaduke; Firestone – Katherine Alkire and Michael Simonson; Garfield – David Graybeal and
Lyndsay Mitchen; Kenmore – Thomas Myers and Shelby Torre; and North – Joshua Kane and Kristen
Oels. Projects earned $500 ACCESS grants: Buchtel – “Get Your Feet Wet With Scientific Inquiry – A Water
Lab Experience” (teacher Patricia Smoot Wicks); and East – “CWRU Lego Robotics Competition” (teacher
John Guidubaldi) and “Akron ACS School” (teacher Johnna O’Neal). A GLOBE presentation was given by
the Satellite Girls (Ashley Falls, Katelyn Jefferys, Julia Moyer and Elizabeth Price). Their teacher is Steven
Frantz, Roswell Kent.
Barber’s third-grade OAT reading scores improved over the last three years (29% in 2006, 36% in 2007 and
59% in 2008). Students were honored with a special locker balloon and a pizza party.
Litchfield spelling bee winners were D’metrius Grier, Lilith Freed, Michael Long and Rachel Weibel.
Alternates were Emily Michalec and Bethani Walton.
Solomon St Clair, Miller South, won the grand prize in the CSB Child Abuse Family Awareness Slogan. Two
honorable mention awards: Hae In Kim, Miller South and Amber Eagle, Bettes. In the poetry and essay
division, Kenmore: Brandi Bock (second place in poetry) and Stephanie Harmon (third place in essay).
The following APS students were honored in the Akron Police Department’s “Do the Right Thing” program:
Brooke Waffen, Essex; Cherrelle Hill, Garfield; Grace Benson, Miller South; Andrea Holderbaum and
Mya Schilling, Rimer; Summer Vatthanatham, Rimer; and Emily Guilliams, Sam Salem.
Miller South Power of the Pen team members competed in the district tournament and regional tournament.
The coach is Bonnie Wachter.
Ninth-grade Akron Early College students participated in the 2009 Akron Urban League Science Fair: Claude
Christensen-Diehl, Shane Hugg, Eliza Jacops, William Lockhart, Dannysha Luna, Drew Malinowski
(second place), Desmond Serrant (first place), Sabrina Shackelford, John Simms, Tony Smith, Shannon
Smothers, Candace Thomas, Dylan Turner and Sydney Weeks.
Garfield students were recognized in the Akron Police Department’s Do the Right Thing program: Olivia Hershey , Shailer Turner and Kimisha Vaughn.
Akron Beacon Journal’s “Best of 2009 Star Students”: Mathu’ Davis, Buchtel; and Bruce Perry, Firestone.
Honorable mention was awarded to: Buchtel – Shaiana Jones; East – Matthew Garrett, Adam Henderson
and Jasmine Jones; Ellet – Rebecca Cavin, Khayla Finnegin and Cory Gravesmill; Firestone – Robert
Culp III and Jessica White; Garfield – Laimere Latson, Kelly Le and Zer Yang; Kenmore – Monique
Bingham, Thomas Myers and Amanda Zganjar; and North – Peter Belcher, Diem Thi Thuy Nguyen and
Ashley Stopka.
Mayor Don Plusquellic and Congressman Tim Ryan honored APS students at the 19th annual Global Youth
Service Day: Akron Early College High School – Ashley Bateman, Brandie Hazelett, Dylan Quintrell,
Carina Studer-Dyer and Josephine Watson; Innes – Andrew Bailey, Samantha Chaplin, Kelsey Fields,
Michael Greer, Alicia Haarlammert, Claudia Hamilton, Kaitlyn Hazelett, Cody Laslo, Amber McAvinew,
Sondra McGraw, Devin Norman, Heather Patton and Ciarra Thomas; and Kenmore – Victoria Graham
and Jasmine Ingol- and Sarah Rhodes, Innes
The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation recognized these APS teachers as 2008-09 Jennings Lecture Series
Scholars: Irene Adler, Sharon Brooks, Rachel Chaplin, Gayle Davis, Steve Deitrick, Ruth Hotchkiss,
Norma James, Sara Leffler, Debbie Lower, Nancy Plavan, Curtis Smith, Constance Smith-Clemens,
Janet Whitney and Diana Williams.
Scholarships (this partial list only includes scholarships submitted to APS School News)
•
•
2009 APS graduates earned about $7 million in scholarships: Buchtel – $928,700; East –$555,300; Ellet –
$1,958,948; Firestone – $2,139,168; Garfield – $250,000; Kenmore – $767,940; and North – $349,020.
Congratulations, graduates!
Buchtel senior Mathu’ Davis was named a Gates Millennium Scholar. Mathú plans to attend Howard
University and his scholarship will pay for his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in the field of
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
electrical and mechanical engineering.
2008 Judith A. Resnik Scholarships were awarded to India Kaczmarek from Garfield and Benjamin Lauer
from Kenmore.
NAACP scholarships: Buchtel – Keisha Shadie and Ashleigh Watts; East – Shomari Akhdar and Destanie
Robinson; Firestone – Rebecca Barnes-Felton and Ashleigh Fowler-Snipes; Garfield – Andrea
Bloodworth and Brittney Williams; and Kenmore – Amber Adams, Juliana Cable and Wesley Payne.
East student scholarships: - Andrew Henninger (Marine Corps NROTC); and North - Da Von Coman (athletic),
Armin Cvoric (Rotary), Brittany Davis (Oscar Memorial), Christopher Derr (OMNOVA), Peter Belcher
(AkronReads), Steven Cannady (bowling), Cameron Clayton (academic), Anaya Harris (academic), Jonathan
Harvey (academic), Victoria Jeffries (academic), Joshua Kane (academic), Markeya Lawson (Cotillion), Kristen
Oles (Rotary), Dejan Soprenic (Stark State College), Ashley Stopka (OMNOVA) and Jacob Turley (PTA).
East senior Jasmine Jones received a $9,000 Director’s Scholarship to attend Ashland University.
Akron Council of PTAs presented 74 scholarships totaling $34,150 to APS students: Buchtel – Gloria Brown,
Sean Graves and Shaiana Jones; East – LaQuette Gaines, Morgan Key and Lonnie Wilborn; Ellet –
Rebecca Calvin, Elizabeth DeLuca, Kaitlin Derrenberger, Andrew Genemans, Cory Gravesmill, Joshua
Huddleston, Antonia Jackson, Melissa Marmaduke, Matthew Roberts, Cody Sherman, Erika Slaughter,
Jessica Soles, Elizabeth Unger, Alyssa Williams, Matthew Williams and Brandon Yackey; Firestone –
Chelsea Abrams, Katherine Alkire, Kayla Anderson, Elizabeth Aronhalt, Lauren Barnes, Christopher
Bozeka, Tomarra Buckner, Abigail DiLullo, Madelyn Gaither, Katharine Graham, Elizabeth Haase, Sara
Hardman, Mary Heffern, Jennifer Kim, Jack Licata, Carrie Linden, Anneliese Linnen, Alissa Miller,
Verona Miller, Cara Parker, Bruce Perry, Molly Putman, Jared Schprechman, Zachary Schroeder,
Andrew Scott, Nicole Seaman, Michael Simonson, Breonna Slocum, Sarah Smith, Jessica White,
Malikah Williams, Zachary Woloch and Lindsay Zeiger; Garfield – Jasmine Arrieta, Theresa Behrens,
Theresa Fendenheim, Kelly Le, Goran Martic, Courtney Waldsmith, Christopher Willman-Bunge, Zer
Yang and Emma Zickefoose; Kenmore – Monique Bingham, Heather Bliss, Ryan Harris, Sanja
Hercegovac, Krysten Hudspith, David Moore, Thomas Myers, Shelby Torre and Amanda Zganjar; and
North – Jacob Turley.
East senior Kristy Raines received the 2008 Holmes-Davis Memorial Scholarship.
Firestone senior Anne Julian received President’s Award Scholarship for Columbus College of Art & Design.
W.B. Snow Scholarship – a renewable, $1,500 award presented by FirstMerit Bank given to Cierra Clark,
Cody Jones, Justin LaFever, Chenay McKenzie, Telissa Smith, Alex Snyder and Anthony Wheeler.
Three students earned the new Goodyear Tire and Rubber Scholarship – $1,500, two paid summer internships
and a laptop computer: Andrew Gallo, Kevin Gray and Lordell Horne.
Tyleasha Blasdel and DeVonteReid-Douglas each received a $4,000 scholarship to Connecticut Culinary
and 1-1/2 years at Hocking College. Abby King and Shyqueta Simmons each won a $3,000 scholarship to
Connecticut Culinary.
Bruce Perry, Firestone senior, was one of 108 Ohio students (and one of six Summit County students)
selected to receive a $1,500 Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship, renewable for four years.
Four Firestone Project Lead The Way students received $3,000 in W.B. Snow scholarships: Elizabeth
Aronhalt, Alex Darkow, Usaaman Taugir and Martezz Williams. Each student was accepted at the college
of their choice and will pursue an engineering degree. Their instructor is Daniel Spak
Subcontractors Association of Northeast Ohio awarded $1,000 scholarships to Benjamin Lauer of Kenmore
and Dejana Soprenic of North
East basketball player Shantel Cherry received a basketball scholarship to Midway College in Kentucky. Her
coach is Michael Eberhart.
Career Ed student Armin Cvoric from North received a $5,000.00 Carrier Award and a $1,000.00 PACC
Award; Garfield student Bonnie Vue and Firestone student Usaaman Taugir each received a $1,000.00 Jim
Beal Award
Parker-Hannifin provided $1,000 for two scholarships for North High students
Irwin Seal Scholarship Fund: Board accepted an increase to the endowment provided to APS in memory of
Irwin Seal and in honor of Ernest Stotler in 2008.
Cargill Inc. awarded a $1,000 college scholarship to Lauren Barnes of Firestone. Firestone received $200 in
her honor support the school library
Project Grad awarded $164,000 in scholarships to 41 Buchtel High 2009 grads-each receives $4,000.
Arts
• The District VI Solo and Ensemble Adjudicated Event resulted in ratings of 60% Superior, 29% Excellent and
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
10% Good.
Art in Business program purchased and framed King students’s artwork: Stevie Fisher, Madison Hillyard,
Tashara Hutchison, Shiane Lathan, Nina Mauck, Kendall Miller, Krista Nisly, Hannah Petras, Leo
Spinos, Alanna Sturm and Katelyn Toth. Each student also received a $100 savings bond.
Students were selected and performed in the Ohio Music Educators District VI Middle School Honors Band:
Hyre – Aaron Beckert, Stephanie Bordash, Stephen Fassnacht and Cayce Pasko (director Laura
Genemans); and Miller South – Tyra Dickerson, Elizabeth Garner, Emma Lasko, Thomas Lehman and
Halle Miller (director Eric Langreder).
Hyre art students (teacher Patricia Bodine) earned the following prizes in the Summit County Prosecutor’s
2009 Safety Calendar Contest: first place – Kellee Hudak and Ashley Love; second place – Rebecca
Allman, Jacob Denman, Aries Gooden, Anita James and Dakota Mickle; third place – Chloe Burkhart and
Michael Tell; and honorable mention – Tara Ferguson, Katilee Valvoda and Caitlin Wagner.
The East and Ellet bands were parade winners in the 22nd annual Welcome Santa Parade this year.
Participating in the Mayor’s Holiday Art Show: Rhonda Wadsworth, Barber; Wayne Reitz, Bettes; Anne
Alexander, Bridges; Amy Knopp, Erie Island/Robinson CLC; Brianna Hayes, Erie Island/Hatton; Barbara
Vitale, Essex/David Hill CLC; Frank DelGreco, Essex; Carol Comer, Firestone Park; Carol Petz, Forest
Hill CLC/Rankin; Jodi Crossley, Glover CLC/Hatton; Erica Flemmer, Goodyear; Lily Paskey, Harris;
Thomas Bagiackas, Hatton; Victoria Miletta, Innes/Mason CLC; Jessica Johnston, Leggett; Timothy
Radden, Lincoln/McEbright; Susan Yingling, Miller South; April Cameron, Pfeiffer/Windemere; Sarah
Huziak, Resnik CLC; Amy Pepperney, Ritzman/Smith; Monica Meyer, Seiberling; and Heather BraunWargowsky, Voris CLC.
Firestone student Courtney Sanders was a member of the 37th Ohio Band Directors Conference High School
Honors Band, directed by Dr. William Malambri, Winthrop University and sponsored by The University of
Akron’s School of Music.
Gold and silver key winners from the 55th Annual Scholastic Art Awards competition: Firestone (James
Dauphin and Stewart Langenbeck, art teachers) – Elizabeth Aronhalt, Nathan Brahce, Kevin Burand,
Casey Engelhart, Leah Fulton (also, portfolio award), Anne Julian, Ajla Karalic, Adam Laston, Claire
Marks, Joseph McGee, Kyle McWhorter, Benjamin Patrick and Kaitlyn Wellendorf; Garfield (Patrick
Dougherty, art teacher) – Laimere Latson; Jennings (Candace Beam, art teacher) – Erica Cantrell, Kasie
Harlin and Ryan Vinci; Miller South (art teachers Julienne Hogarth and Susan Yingling) – Jayme Bryson,
Aaron Byrd, Megan Champ, Zoe Dong, Clara Dorfi, Chloe Evans, Benjamin Gfell, Noah Gfell, Genna
Hailey, Kelsey Hall, Gabriel Hunt, Martinez Lee, Joanne Lutman, Emily Mattern, Demetrius McGhee,
Richard Milford, Chloe Mitchell, Sarah Specker, Kevin Staley, Claudia Tommasi and Megan Zanin;
Akron/Summit Federation of Women’s Clubs Award ($500 cash) – Fulton, Firestone; Ruppel’s Art & Paint
Supply Award ($100 gift certificate) – Burand, Firestone; and Masterpiece Art Workshop Award ($100 cash) –
Kelsey Hall, Miller South. The gold key winners will compete New York City.
Miller South students displayed artwork at Summit ArtSpace: Kristi Brancho, Jayme Bryson, Courtney
Bukovitz, Maggie Dempster, Tara Deryck, Kelsey Hall, Paige Heinle, Tiffany Roberts, Sydnie Rosenfeld,
Sarah Specker, Shanika Taylor, Claudia Tommasi and Erika Westfall.
Miller South fifth-grader Maria Bishop and sixth-grader Vanessa Henderson had winning entries in the
Akron Summit County Vern Odom Branch Library T-shirt design contest.
Thirty-five Kenmore vocal music students participated in the Ohio Music Educators Adjudicated Event. The 19
soloists and five ensembles received 12 Superior ratings, nine Excellent ratings and three Good ratings from
the judges. Their teacher is Barbara Bellamy.
Award winners at this year’s Jazz Festival: rhythm – Firestone (first place); Ellet (second place); and East and
Garfield (third place); reed – East (first place); Firestone (second place); and Garfield (third place); trumpet
section – Firestone (first place); Garfield (second place); and East and Miller South (third place); trombone
section – Garfield (first place); Firestone (second place); and East (third place); saxophone solo – Colin
Downey, Firestone (first place); Brendon Phelps, East (second place); and Adrian Alati, Ellet (third place);
trumpet solo – Matthew Garrett, East (first place); Leah Oplinger, Kenmore (second place); and Thomas
Lehman, Miller South (third place); trombone solo – Shanyse Strickland, Garfield (first place); Max Brady,
Firestone (second place); and Dallas Hicks, East (third place); keyboard solo – Paul Merendino, Ellet (first
place); and Joshua Cox, Miller South (second place); bass solo – Andrew Genemans, Ellet (first place); drum
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
solo – Thomas Chenevey, Ellet (first place); David Nees, Firestone (second place); and Dinareo Hill, Garfield
(third place); and guitar solo – Brian Crace, Ellet (first place).
The West Point Market is using Firestone student artwork in promotional banners: Tineke Klaassen, Claire
Marks and Lauren Smith.
Commercial arts students competed at the Regional SkillsUSA competition and took first place in the promotional bulletin board contest: East – Ra Chau, Willie Reddick and Bryson Warner; and North – Thien Dang.
The team advanced to state competition. Their project adviser is Kay Dreslinski.
APS students recognized in the City of Akron’s Holocaust Arts and Writing Contest: middle school visual art,
individual – Emily Mattern (4th place); and Zoe Dong and Brian Hirsch (honorable mention); and middle
school visual art, collaborative – Melanie Darrah/Erica Kraus/Dana Meitus (3rd place); and Jayme
Bryson/Imogen Underwood, Kacey Cousineau/Breanna Nixon and Chloe Piepho/Benjamin Rohrer
(honorable mention), all from Miller South students. HIgh school visual art, individual – Patricia Kisinger,
Firestone (2nd place); Morgan Storey, Garfield (3rd place); and Kathryn Palmer, Firestone (honorable
mention); middle school multimedia, collaborative – Abigail Ball/Chlor Napoletano, Miller South (1st place);
middle school creative writing – Amelia Britton, Miller South (4th place); and Lilith Freed and Michael
Nabors, Litchfield (honorable mention); and high school research writing – Andrew Bangachon, Firestone
(1st place); and Arian Daneshvar, Firestone (honorable mention).
Christy Rawdon and Merari Steadman, Rimer students, were rewarded for their winning scripts by Kid
Scripts and received signed copies of their plays and certificates. Their plays were performed by Magical
Theatre actors.
In the 56th Annual Scholastic Composers Contest, sponsored by The Children’s Concert Society, Resnik CLC
had five of the 18 first-place winners: Edith Bowers (grade 3), Kluuni Ohls (grade 4), Diane Pancoe (grade
5), Carolyn Porter (grade 3) and Penny Sengpiel (grade 3). The music teacher is Candace Minchin.
Summit County Children Services poster contest winners: poster – Solomon St. Clair of Miller South (grade
prize); and Amber Eagle of Bettes and Hae In Kim of Miller South (honorable mention); and high school
essay – Stephanie Harmon of Kenmore (third place).
Garfield art students swept the top three awards in the United Way’s poster competition: Mai Xiong (Best in
Show, $75 gift certificate), Stacey Beasley (first place, $50 gift certificate) and Breonna Alexander (second
place, $25 gift certificate). Their art teacher is Patrick Dougherty.
Sports
• High school baseball regular season co-champions: Firestone (coach Bradley Lightfoot) and Kenmore
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
(coach Joseph Nauer); playoff champion – Kenmore (coach Nauer); player of the year – Jonathan Kienzle
of Firestone; coach of the year – Lightfoot of Firestone
Girls High school softball regular season and playoff champion: Ellet (coach Charles Shuman); player of the
year – Crystal Harris of Ellet; co-coaches of the year – Shuman of Ellet and Bruce Clough of Firestone
Boys High school softball regular season and playoff champion is Ellet (coach Charles Shuman); player of the
year is Taylor Charles, Ellet; coach of the year is Bruce Clough, Firestone
Girls High school tennis regular season champion: Firestone (coach Craig Sampsel); player of the year –
Logan Adair of Firestone; coach of the year – Stephen Gambaccini of Ellet
Boys High school tennis regular season champion is Firestone (coach Craig Sampsell); player of the year is
Bradley Minrovic, Ellet; coach of the year is Sampsell, Firestone
High school female track team champion: Firestone (coach Malia Milec)
High school male track team champion: North (coach Thomas O’Neil)
Buchtel senior Terence Somerville was named Plain Dealer Boys’ Track Athlete of the Year. Other students
noted were Tiffany Tucker of Buchtel (girls’ track) and Lase Brooks of North (boys’ track).
The Akron Beacon Journal named Firestone’s Jonathan Kienzle 2008 Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Other scholar-athlete finalists were Nia Johnson of Firestone and Stephen Triola of North. Honorable
mention awards went to: Firestone – Samuel Brenn, Charles Guyton, Zachary Hafner, Julie Kostura,
James Laria, Charles Wagner and Robert Zupke; and Kenmore – Jessica Chadbourne, Zachary Field,
Rich Fong, Craig Griffith and Samantha Place.
Beacon Journal Athletes of the week: Kaye Giacomoni, Ellet (cross-country); and Gretchen Von Koenig,
Firestone (volleyball).
Beacon Journal Football All-Stars team: Garfield junior Tyson Gulley
Akron Beacon Journal Player of the Week: East senior guard Rosalita Woodall
• East senior bowler Tomy Smith was the high qualifier in the Boys’ Akron District with a series of 714 moving
•
•
•
•
•
•
on to state competions.
2009 Beacon Journal Winter All-Stars: Breanna McCann, Firestone (girls swimming); and Andola Dortch,
Kenmore (girls basketball). Their coaches are Cindy Virdo and Yontami Jones, respectively.
East MD students (teachers Joan Gipson, Carolyn Hofer, Cornelia Leavell and Marquetta Smith)
participated in the annual special education bowling tournament and East won the traveling trophy for
secondary school competition.
WAKR Student Athletes of the Week: Antonio Lovelace (football), Buchtel; Rosalita Woodall (basketball),
East; Ashley McCall (basketball) and Brittany Page (volleyball), Ellet; Breanna McCann (swimming) and
Senicia Reid (volleyball), Firestone; Laimere Latson (football), Garfield; Andola Dortch (basketball) and
Matthew Massaro (soccer), Kenmore; and Donta Covington (football), North.
High school baseball regular season co-champions are Ellet (coach John Sarver) and Kenmore (coach
Joseph Nauer); playoff champion is Ellet (coach Sarver); player of the year is Ryan Harris, Kenmore; coach
of the year is Sarver, Ellet
High school female track champion is Buchtel (coach John Scott)
High school male track champion is North (coach Thomas O'Neil)
Grants and Revenue
• Robinson CLC received a $7,500 Neighborhood Partnership Program Grant to support the new CLC’s art program titled “Murals of Reflection,” to be created by Robinson CLC students, staff and community.
• Akron Community Foundation grants: the Ballet Theatre of Ohio’s “Take Me Out to the Ballet” program, the
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Center for Applied Theatre and Active Culture’s after-school theatre program for elementary students, the
Friends of Firestone’s Artist in Residency program, and Kent State University’s Wick Poetry Center Giving
Voice program at Miller South.
Ohio Department of Education Nutrition and Physical Activities Fair Mini-Grant awarded $300 to Rankin for
instructional materials and supplies to educate students on the importance of healthful eating habits and
regular physical activity and will provide math and reading enrichment.
Akron Community Foundation/Knight Foundation gave Rankin a $2,000 grant to purchase materials and
supplies for a reading room and volunteers to work with students on their reading skills in the morning prior to
school.
Kathy Crawford, LRC technician at Robinson CLC, received a $1,500 First Book grant.
City of Akron/Akron Community Foundation Neighborhood Partnership Foundation Program $5,060 grant to
APS for inner-city youth, ages 9-12.
The GAR Foundation provided $5,000 to Roswell Kent to support its GLOBE program, a hands-on science
and education program.
Several hundred APS students in grades 4-6 graduated from the Gang Resistance Education and Training
program provided by Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh’s office. Funded through a $149,929
federal grant, it operates in conjunction with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.
The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation awarded a $2,993 grant to Glover to create a fourth-grade active
learning science environment and a $2,983 grant to fund a variety of instructional science materials.
APS received $187,857 for the State Action for Education Leadership Project.
OMNOVA Solutions Foundation provided a $6,040 grant for the Let Me Learn Program at East.
The Ohio Department of Education’s Office of Literacy awarded APS a $770,000 grant to hire school literacy
consultants for Barrett, Crouse, Lincoln, Schumacher and Seiberling; and Goodrich, Goodyear, Innes,
Jennings CLC, Roswell Kent, Litchfield and Perkins.
Fourth-grade Glover teacher Julie Paulus received a $3,000 Martha Holden Jennings foundation grant for
science.
Reading Recovery $57,011 grant awarded to APS for provide training for literacy specialists in effective early
intervention strategies.
Enhancing Education Through Technology $154,000grant awarded to Jennings CLC for a new PLATO lab
and math technology which was used for 20 hand-held PSPs.
The University of Akron’s Tech Prep Consortium awarded career education the following grants from: 1)
Buchtel Teaching Academy, Ellet construction, Garfield machining, and Kenmore machining and
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
construction programs – $10,000; 2) career technology program marketing – $6,000; 3) Garfield medical
assisting program’s continued collaboration with The University of Akron and Summit College – $2,000; and 4)
travel expenses for Tech Prep programs (especially the Buchtel fire program) – $6,000.
GAR Foundation awarded a total of $76,715 to: Helen Arnold CLC (Digital Young Writers – $4,445), King
(Science is VIRAL – $5,000; and Literacy Leap – $5,000), Leggett (Art of Writing – $15,000), Portage Path
(ABCD Good Books – $5,000; and Get Smart With Math – $15,000), Resnik CLC (Family Math Night –
$15,000) and Sam Salem CLC (Creative Writing – $12,270).
Temporary Assistance To Needy Families grant from the Ohio Department of Education awarded a
$339,846.07 grant for extended-day and extended-year programs at Helen Arnold CLC, Barrett, Glover,
Harris, Jennings CLC, Lawndale, Leggett, Lincoln, Mason CLC, Perkins, Rankin, Riedinger, Robinson
CLC and Schumacher.
The “Ready Schools” project will provide Leggett with $10,000, funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the
Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton provided Leggett, one of 10 elementary schools in the state, to
participate in a two-year pilot program to form a stronger link between preschools and the public schools they
feed.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program
awarded APS with $162,419 for the 2008-09 school year for collaboration with area shelter care providers,
educators, parents and community representatives to provide summer programming, educational and
enrichment activities, tutoring, and parent-child activities.
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Refugee Children School Impact Program approved for $18,000
for efugee students in intensive summer school programs.
The ODE, CTAE Project Operations, provided $15,000 for the Project Lead the Way Biomedical Science
Program at North.
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Grant from the Ohio Department of Education provided APS with
$516,000. to provide extended-day and extended-year programs for approximately 100 students each at Helen
Arnold CLC, Barrett, Glover, Harris, Jennings CLC, Lawndale, Leggett, Lincoln, Mason CLC, Perkins,
Rankin, Riedinger, Robinson CLC and Schumacher.
The Knight Foundation is providing Perkins with a three-year, $275,000 grant to cover the cost of the project
coordinator for out-of-school programs.
The Ohio State University Office of Minority Affairs Young Scholars Program provided a $1,000 grant in
support of the program.
The GAR Foundation awarded $5,660 to Firestone (“Interfacing French”), $3,200 to Kenmore (“Get Graphic in
the LRC”) and $2,500 to Perkins (“Learning Within the Circle”).
The City of Akron continues to fund Akron Public Schools elementary after-school programs in the amount of
$190,000 for 16 weeks of recreation and enrichment activities at each site.
In the fourth year of the program, $16,050 was awarded from the Teaching & Learning Collaborative to train 25
teachers. As a follow-up to this program, APS was awarded an additional $16,040 to train 25 teachers.
Knight Foundation received a $53,000 payment of a $203,000, four-year grant to participate in the Harvard University Educators’ Executive Leadership Initiative.
The Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents awarded a $100,000 grant to APS to implement a Seniors to
Sophomores dual enrollment program in partnership with The University of Akron.
Professional Development Grant from eTech Ohio awarded a $9,450 grant to support technology-related
professional development for educators and administrators.
APS received $129,460 this year to support a continuation of the school psychology intern training program
FirstEnergy awarded Miller South teacher Linda Ward a math, science and technology education grant from.
The Beasley Charitable Trust awarded $10,000 to the APS AkronReads program.
Martha Holden Jennings Foundation gave Litchfield $3,000 to increase student performance in the core
content areas of math, science and technology through an after-school science club.
the Akron Community Foundation for its Performing Arts Can Teach program awarded Project RISE $10,000
to provide services to homeless children and youth who are residing in Akron-area shelters.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation provided a $60,000 grant
for a two-year performance assessment pilot project with partners Ohio Department of Education, Stanford
University and ESC of Franklin County.
National Inventors Hall of Fame School—STEM
• GAR Foundation: a $1,28 million grant over three years
• Ohio Partnership for Continued Learning/ODE: a $278,598.37 grant to be used, in collaboration with
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Battelle, for professional development and program development.
STEM Subcommittee of the Partnership for Continued Learning, ODE: a $600,000 grant
STEM Subcommittee of the Partnership for Continued Learning, ODE: a $195,848.93 grant
OMNOVA: $500,000 grant over three years
City of Akron: $5 million
Knight: $500,000
Goodyear: $125,000
ExxonMobil: $10,000
Federal: $238,755
Ohio Schools Facility Commission: $7.8 million
• An Entry-Year Program grant from the Ohio Department of Education, Division of Professional Development of
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
$33,600 provides entry-year teachers a Pathwise-trained mentor teacher for their first year of teaching and
preparation for the PRAXIS licensure assessment.
Essex teacher Dawn McCombs received a $300 grant from Target and Scholarship America to be used for
K-1 student transportation to a Summit County Metropolitan park for a life science lesson.
Project GRAD Akron received a $10,000 Development Grant from United Way of Summit County for the
Parents as Partners Academy; and also a $15,000 grant from the Mary S. and David C. Corbin Foundation for
its math program
ODE and the Ohio Association of Elementary Schools Administrators gave $10,000 to support the Governor’s
Summit for the Ready Schools Initiative at Leggett.
The Ohio Department of Mental Health awarded a $30,000 grant for students enrolled in the Akron
Alternative Academy for career goal exploration, development activities, case management and programming
– with emphasis on attendance – group participation and tutoring.
ODE awarded The University of Akron and a group of northeast Ohio school districts with a High Schools That
Work grant. Akron Public Schools’ receives $7,600 for “Making Mathematics Work,” training for 20 teachers in
the middle grades.
ODE awarded APS with a $8,880 Ohio K-12 Network ISP grant to be used for costs associated with the
requirements of the Education Management Information System..
The Ohio Department of Education awarded APS a $7,000 grant to support the 2009 Coherent Human Capital
Management (CHCM) Pilot Project.
JPMorgan Chase Foundation: $12,000 grant for East High School ACT Prep and Administration Program
APS received a $612,419 grant via American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Summit
County Department of Job and Family Services for paid work readiness training and work experience,
mentoring, and work site supervision for at-risk students.
Akron Public Schools applied for federal stimulus funds and will receive $21 million over two years. $14 million
will be spent on teaching positions to improve literacy and $84,000.00 in stimulus funds is earmarked for school
kitchen equipment.