2016-17
Ted Krekeler, Senior Accountant, Treasurer’s Office — I Care
"As a Senior Accountant, Ted is always willing to stop what he is doing and answer questions or provide help to others in the Treasurer's department, or from out in the CPS community. He remains cheerful and positive regardless of the level of stress that may be occurring. I feel he reflects the I Care values in his daily work as well as the way he treats everyone he encounters."
—Shouted Out by Nan Hagood, Treasurer's Office
Debbie Crawford, Blended Learning Coordinator, Information Technology Management — I Care; I Continuously Improve; I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"Debbie exemplifies 'I am CPS' every day! She’s a true collaborator who reaches out and follows through. When I was new in this role, she was one of the first to welcome me warmly and take extra time to show me some of the ropes. She has shown she cares not only about our work, but about my well-being and goes the extra mile just to brighten people’s day! Her excellence in her work, along with her passion about next steps with CPS, are inspiring. Debbie brings out the best in 'I am CPS!' "
—Shouted Out by Rosemary Sirmans, Information Technology Management
Chrissy May, Senior Support Specialist, Aiken High School — I Commit to Success
"Chrissy May has worn dual hats for more than a year. She stepped into two roles at Aiken High School to keep things moving forward. She also has given her time freely to train, answer questions and mentor me in my new role as Senior Accounting Technician."
—Shouted Out by Jodie Link, Senior Accountant, Aiken High School
Sandy Mountain, Intermediate Accountant, Treasurer's Office — I Care; I Continuously Improve; I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"Sandy was informed about a situation in our department. She went above and beyond the call of duty to reach out to her contacts and quickly resolved our problem."
—Shouted Out by Bert Hughes, Transportation Department
Pat Auciello, Lead Secretary, Riverview East Academy — I Care
"Pat is the most amazing secretary in the district. She is retiring in August, but she has improved the office at Riverview, which has resulted in smooth operation of the school. She is always helpful, and she always finds solutions to everyone's problems. Way to go, Pat."
—Shouted Out by Charlene Myers, Principal, Riverview East Academy
Heather Tomlin, Senior Support Specialist, Dater High School — I Care; I Collaborate
"I would like to thank Mrs. Tomlin for making my first year at Gilbert A. Dater High School a success. Mrs. Tomlin is the definition of multitasking with LOVE and Dedication! The support that she provides the students, parents and staff is FIRST CLASS! It has been truly amazing to work with Mrs. Heather Tomlin! I am so proud to be on her team! Thank you!"
—Shouted Out by Susan Adewusi, Assistant Principal, Dater High School
Janet Oliver, Human Resources' Receptionist, Education Center — I Continuously Improve; I Collaborate
"I always hear positive things about Janet from employees when they come into the HR department. Janet does more than just greet folks and answer phones all day. She takes the time to ensure she answers all their questions, referring them to the appropriate person when needed. Sometimes folks aren't sure what their question is — that is where she takes it one step further. That is priceless! That is 'I am CPS.'"
—Shouted Out by Jennifer Bailey, Benefits Manager, Human Resources
Pat Bruckner, Secretary to the Board — I Care; I Continuously Improve; I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"I can't say enough about the work of Ms. Bruckner. She is blessed with so many skills that benefit not only the Board, but her co-workers. She goes out of her way to make sure that every document is as professional as it can be. She has a deep passion for equity in her work. For example, she took the initiative to create a resolution to ensure that continued processes were followed! She leaves ‘no stone unturned’ in the creation and editing of documents. Thanks Pat, for taking on the many tasks that are asked of you to do! You always find a way to make it happen, amongst the many other tasks that you are faced with completing. I am blessed to be a recipient of her outstanding skills and work ethic!"
—Shouted Out by Phyllis Davis, Administrative Assistant to the Board
Heather Wiesmann and Krista Price, Teachers, Dater High School — I Care; I Collaborate
"These teachers are the prime example of coming through in the clutch. They stepped up to the plate when there were situations in which things needed to be done for students and their education, and they did not wait to be asked or told. They just did what needed to be done for students. They are awesome examples of staff who make 'Dater Greater'."
—Shouted Out by Amy Uecker, Assistant Principal, Dater High School
Casey Cross, Refrigeration Technician — I Care; I Commit to Success
"Casey and the entire department have always done an amazing job servicing the Food Service equipment in all of CPS' kitchens. When an emergency arises — a.k.a. dish machine breaks down, ovens are not heating, etc. — he is there to service that equipment in a speedy and efficient manner. Don't know what we would do without him and the crew of technicians!"
—Shouted Out by Diane Beerman, Lunch Room Manager, Food Services Department
Donna M. Jenkins, Customer Help Center — I Collaborate
"Donna responded to a call from UC that expressed receipt of a misplaced textbook shipment. She personally contacted Curriculum with contact information that resulted in relocating these materials to their proper location....She is always pleasant and looks for solutions to assist the parent and allows us to bring our best in customer service to the community."
—Shouted Out by Anna E. Hutchinson, Director of Curriculum
Christen Johnson, Accountant, Treasurer’s Office — I Care; I Continuously Improve; I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"It has been a great pleasure to work with this woman. She embodies all the values of I Am CPS. She has gone above and beyond the call of duty as a friend and has helped me out in ways that may actually change my life. Watch out, because her 'Rays of Positivity' are infectious! Love Her!"
—Shouted Out by Kristin Greene, clerical sub, Treasurer’s Office
Chris Davis and Mike Schaffar, Office Services - Education Center copying shop — I Care; I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"These guys always do an exceptional job printing the Advisory manuals, student workbooks, and everything else we throw at them! Their turn-around time is superb!"
—Shout Out from Tammy Zilliox and the Advisory/CBL Team
Debra Crawford, Blended Learning Coordinator, Information Technology Management Department — I Care; I Continuously Improve
"Deb has demonstrated continuous improvement and caring by coming up with a strategic plan to encourage the utilization of Schoology as a tool to support student learning. The Schoology nominations have re-energized the use of Schoology and allow for others to learn from one another. This has both showed educators that we care and will continue to get better. Thank you!"
—Shouted Out by Emily Campbell, Mathematics Curriculum Manager
Jennifer Bailey, Benefits Manager, Human Resources — I Care
"I'd like to compliment one of your employees, Jennifer Bailey, for the excellent service she provided me last week. Ms. Bailey helped me to sort out my account after I discovered issues and, after several attempts to get this resolved, she was able to assist me through this difficult process….Ms. Bailey's professionalism and ability to get to the bottom of the situation has exceeded my expectations. She went above and beyond to increase my satisfaction, and it is very appreciated. Such a commitment to great customer service is to be commended. Thanks!"
—Shouted Out by Theresa Hill
Teresa Nicholas, Senior Executive Secretary, FACE Dept. — I Continuously Improve; I Commit to Success
"Solutions oriented. Go-getter. Way-maker. Active learner. Dynamic. Strategic. Connected. Resourceful. Knowledgeable. Multitasker. Fast learner. SunGard-Contract-Invoice extraordinaire... These would be just a few of the words that describe Teresa Nicholas. She is always willing and ready to help each member of the FACE team — often going beyond the call of duty. 24 Karat!"
—Shout Out from Pat Neal-Miller, Ife Bell, Julie Doppler, Rolonda Smith, Tracy Stillwell, Dara Jenkins, Leslie Bryant, Jane Zultoski, of the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Department
Angela Campos and Peggy Cummings, Dater Montessori School — I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"Our Reading Specialists, Angela and Peggy, are so committed to our students' success. Peggy rearranges her schedule to ensure all students receive her time and attention. Angela is always available to answer questions and solve problems when they arise."
—Shout Out from Susan Shackelford, Teacher, Dater Montessori School
Katherine Brown, Tracey Wilson and Deborah Anderson, Oyler School Front Office Team — I Care
"While at Oyler recently, I noticed how several students came into the office to share a hug and to say good-bye for the weekend. The front office team individually talked with them about grades on recent tests and shared words of encouragement. They've established a rapport that's a shining example of the 'I Care' value."
—Shout Out from Rolonda Smith, Family and Community Engagement Coordinator, Family and Communitry Engagement (FACE) Department
Julie Bassett, Supplemental Services, Student Services Department — I Collaborate
"Julie is always willing to help the ITM Department (especially me!) with requests for information, whether it be surveying for hardware/software within her department or the schools, or reaching out to staff on our behalf to collect data to make our computer refreshes go smoothly. She is a great asset to special needs children at CPS, and goes above and beyond to collaborate to ensure everyone's success! Thank you, Julie — you are appreciated!"
—Shout Out from Tim Elkins, Network Administrator, Information and Technology Management Department
David Maina, Intermediate Accountant, Treasurer’s Budget Office — I Collaborate
"David has transferred into the Budget and Accounting Department of the Treasurer's Office and has stepped up to the plate from day one. He has taken on additional responsibilities without having to be asked, especially working on updating the Kings Island spreadsheet so the students of CPS can enjoy the upcoming Educational Days at Kings Island. He has shown the 'I Collaborate' value of I Am CPS."
—Shout Out from Cheryl Whittaker, Accountant, Treasurer’s Budget Office
Kimberly Hughes, Senior Executive Secretary, Treasurer’s Office — I Care; I Continuously Improve; I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"I want to thank Kim Hughes for always going over and beyond to help. Recently, a vendor called her out of frustrations from the run-around she was getting from a school. The vendor had an outstanding invoice since July 2016, and called Kim as a last resort. Kim took the matter to heart, and reached out to the school and expressed the vendor's frustrations. Within a few days, the school had entered a requisition, and the vendor was paid. Thanks Ms. Kim, and we appreciate all you do.
—Shout Out from David Maina, Intermediate Accountant, Treasurer’s Budget Office
Nathan Tyahur, Accountant, Treasurer's Office — I Care
"I keep calling Nathan for things that have not one thing to do with him, and his patience with me exceeds understanding. Not once has he made me feel bad about it, but always says, 'Let me know if you need anything else.' Thank you, Nat!"
—Shout Out from Christina Miller, Senior Support Specialist, Roberts Academy
Stephanie McCoy, Treasurer's Office/Grants Administration — I Care; I Continuously Improve; I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"This person has laboriously worked through a new system (SunGard) to come up with a workable solution (PNC Reconciliation Process) that meets the needs of various departments and employees while reaching a sensible end result. Thank you!"
—Shout Out from Lisa Rollison, Accountant, Treasurer's Office
Barb Banfill, Janis Barnett and Marilyn Thomas, Student Services Department — I Care
"These three Individuals are always very helpful when I have questions. They are always willing to stop what they are doing to help in any way. They deserve a Big Shout Out."
—Shout Out from Yvette Simpson, Senior Support Specialist, Student Services Department
Michael Gustin, Business Systems, Treasurer's Office — I Care; I Continuously Improve; I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"Mike resolved a SunGard Business+ issue that was preventing payment to a transportation provider. Though it was no fault of his own doing, Mike took more than 1 percent ownership of the problem and neutralized it. Mike has earned the title 'Miracle Mike.'"
—Shout Out from Steve Spohn, Intermediate Accountant, Treasurer’s Office
Cheryl Whittaker, Accountant, Treasurer's Budget Office — I Care; I Continuously Improve; I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"Cheryl is selfless and always willing to help. I feel very confident, even when I am out, because I know my schools are in great hands. She also goes the extra mile to bake cupcakes for coworkers on their birthdays. Not to mention, the cupcakes are awesome, and she does it out of love and care for her teammates, which makes them even tastier. I couldn't have asked for a better back-up partner or department. Thanks Cheryl, and we appreciate you!"
—Shout Out from David Maina, Intermediate Accountant, Treasurer's Office
Cheryl Whittaker, Accountant, and Teresa Campbell, Accounts Payable — I Care
"As a new person to schools and its systems, I don't always do things in the correct order, OR correctly. Cheryl and Teresa (and a few others) took the time out of their day to get a planned trip back on the right track. I'm really thankful for their spirit of helpfulness!"
—Shout Out from Christina Miller, Senior Support Specialist, Roberts Academy
Nanette Hagood, Accountant, Treasurer's Office — I Care
"How many times has she helped me? Let me count the ways! Thank you, Nan, for all you do!"
—Shout Out from Christina Miller, Senior Support Specialist, Roberts Academy
Sandra Mountain, Payroll Department — I Care
"As my payroll clerk, Sandy has been a wonderful source of information and great at training me to do my job well. She has gone above and beyond to insure I am successful as a senior support. She is a pleasure to work with!"
—Shout Out from Christina Miller, Senior Support Specialist, Roberts Academy
Jennifer Bailey, Benefits Manager, Human Resources Department — I Care
"I've often looked for Jennifer to personally thank her for being such a nice, friendly and helpful person to me. I finally met her today, put a face with her and get a hug from her! Thank you so much again!"
—Shout Out from Terry Powell-Bivens, Transportation Specialist, Transportation Department
Caroline Bedarff, Administrative Research Assistant, Test Administration — I Care; I Continuously Improve; I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"Caroline took time to answer my many questions about test data last November. As we were talking on the phone, I told her about my position at Pleasant Ridge Montessori School and explained that I was trying to find historical data that might help me gauge my impact. When I asked if she could pull data about PRM's students from the previous five years who met the criteria to attend Walnut Hills, she explained that it might take some time, but that she would be happy to do it for me. Earlier this month, I received a spreadsheet from her with everything I had requested, and more. She went above and beyond to help me."
—Shout out from Jackie Bonfield, Teacher, Pleasant Ridge Montessori School
Traci Moore, Administrative Secretary, Treasurer’s Office — I Care; I Continuously Improve; I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"Traci is exceptional at helping out, and, if she is not able to help, she always goes the extra mile to find someone who can. She always has a positive attitude. For example, she stepped in to help Accounts Payable when they needed it most and never complained."
—Shout Out from David Maina, Intermediate Accountant, Treasurer’s Office
Jeana Clark-Roberts, Senior Support Specialist, Student Services Department — I Care
"Jeana has patiently helped me learn the process of placing orders in Sunguard and is also available and willing to answer my questions. She is a welcome smile to the department."
—Shout Out from Amber Bronson, Senior Support Specialist, Student Services Department
Sheila Hess, Executive Communication Assistant, Public Affairs Department — I Continuously Improve
"Sheila is exceptional at thinking on her feet and anticipating the needs of her Public Affairs colleagues and others we support throughout the district. Sheila's flawless set-up of our most recent press conference is one small example of the numerous ways she steps up to ensure that Public Affairs can meet expectations. She is a quick thinker and an excellent problem-solver. We would be lost without her."
—Shout Out from Dawn Grady, Marketing Manager, Public Affairs Department
LaRita Cornett, Intermediate Accountant, Treasurer’s Office — I Continuously Improve; I Commit to Success
"There are always challenges with new software; however, LaRita has conquered the Sungard challenges and created procedures to make sure all staff reimbursements are paid in a timely manner. Thank you for all that you do!"
—Shout Out from Angela Murrell-Axle, Senior Executive Secretary, Human Resources Department
Roger Lawson, Novell System, Information and Technology Management Department — I Care; I Continuously Improve; I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"Roger is always responsive, always willing to assist, and his job remains top priority regardless of when an issue might appear. Recently, he worked through the New Year's weekend to resolve an unforeseen issue on one of my servers. Without a doubt, Roger exemplifies 'I am CPS!'"
—Shout Out from Christa Kramer, Network Administrator, Information and Technology Management Department
Ashley Ogletree, Blended Learning Coordinator, Information and Technology Management Department and Elizabeth “Lisa” Bryant, Senior Accountant, Treasurer’s Office — I Care; I Collaborate
"I'd like to thank these two colleagues of the ITM and Treasurer's departments for their assistance with the HQT section of the Ohio Department of Education Desk Review. The Vlookup formula saved valuable time to reach our deadline. Thank you!"
—Shout Out from Angela Murrell-Axle, Senior Executive Secretary, Human Resources Department
Cheryl Whittaker, Accountant, Treasurer's Office — I Care; I Continuously Improve; I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"Cheryl has gone above and beyond in performing her duties as an Accountant working with Student Activity Funds. Most recently, Cheryl performed the work of two desks while she patiently awaited our Accountant vacancy to be filled. During that time, she somehow also managed to create training documents that she uses in her monthly training of CPS Support Staff. Cheryl does an amazing job with training to ensure that Support Staff are able to perform their Student Activity-related duties to the best of their abilities. She is a perfect example of a Team Player who steps up to the plate and takes care of business! Thank you, Cheryl, for all you do! Your hard work, integrity and dedication to your job are greatly appreciated."
—Shout Out from Elizabeth "Lisa" Bryant, Senior Accountant, Treasurer's Office
Heather Tomlin, Senior Support Specialist, Dater High School — I Care
"Heather works the front desk at Dater High School. She knows every kid and treats them with respect and dignity. She is so helpful to teachers and staff. She's always willing to help, and her help is always professional. We're lucky to have her as the face of Dater. As we say at our school, "she's makin' Dater greater.'"
—Shout Out from Glenetta Krause, Teacher, Dater High School
Joyce Galbraith, Remedial Specialist, North Avondale Montessori School — I Collaborate
"Joyce Galbraith, as our reading coach, works tirelessly with students and staff to provide the best environment and conditions to create successful readers and learners at our school."
—Shout Out from Nico DiMarco, Teacher, North Avondale Montessori School
Shauna Murphy, Principal, Woodward Career Technical High School — I Care; I Collaborate
"For the last three years, CPS has held its Teacher Job Fair at Woodward. Shauna opens her doors to us in Human Resources, and she and her staff welcome applicants and schools with open arms. She always makes sure that everything is taken care of and we have every last thing we need to have a successful event!"
—Shout Out from Julia Indalecio, Recruitment and Staffing Manager, Human Resources Department
Marie Kobayashi, Manager, English as a Second Language Office — I Care; I Continuously Improve; I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"Marie Kobayashi is an excellent person who lives the CPS values on a daily basis. She is caring and supporting of her entire staff and will always listen and collaborate in any way to help you and motivate you to accomplish you goals and your job at CPS. I am very glad to be part of her team and workforce. I know I can always count on her support and advice."
—Shout Out from Victor Canel Jr., Instructor Assistant, Student Services Department
Nathan Tyahur, Accountant, Treasurer's Office — I Continuously Improve
"Nathan took the initiative to request that SunGard/BusinessPlus reports have the report criteria added right below the end of a report instead of on a separate page. This resulted in cost savings through a reduction of paper and ink. Thank you, Nathan!"
—Shout Out from Chandra Brown, Treasurer’s Office
Janet Lyn Oliver, Front Desk, Human Resources — I Care
"Janet is a wonderful example of the I Care value. She always greets potential and current employees with a smile, and her standard response is, 'I'm happy to be here.' Her demeanor lets future employees know that CPS is a great place to work."
—Shout Out from Rolonda Smith, Family and Community Engagement Department
Rebecca Vogler, Director, Grants Administration — I Continuously Improve
"Want to thank Rebecca for organizing/sponsoring professional development for the District!"
—Shout Out from Nanette Hagood, Treasurer's Office
Coronda Wilson, Purchasing — I Continuously Improve; I Commit to Success
"To provide better service from the SunGard Help email account, Coronda has increased her knowledge of Accounts Payable screens and processes. This allows us to provide quicker answers and has allowed me to spend more time on other high-priority tasks."
—Shout Out from Michael Gustin, Treasurer's Office
CPS Treasurer's Office Coaches — I Care
"On Saturday, January 7, 2017, the Treasurer's Coaches team sacrificed their Saturday morning by volunteering for three hours at Child's Hope International on Kemper Road. They helped pack 126,144 meals for starving orphans in Haiti!"
—Shout Out from Jennifer Wagner, Treasurer
Randy Halbert, Facilities/Maintenance — I Care
"Since starting in May, Randy has been a consistent example of integrity. He takes pride in creating clean work environments for the Central Office areas under his charge. He has such a positive personality, is pleasant to everyone he comes in contact with and is a wealth of knowledge to help get things done."
—Shout Out from Anna Hutchinson, Curriculum Department Director
Joelle McConnell, Teacher — I Care; I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"Joelle has been in multiple teacher leader roles in the last 12 years in CPS. She is currently an Intervention Specialist Demonstration Coach in a co-teaching classroom. Her dedication and vigilance to ensuring a quality education for ALL students is a model for teachers and educators throughout Cincinnati Public Schools!"
—Shout Out from Julia Indalecio, Human Resources
Blanche Lockett, Human Resources — I Care; I Continuously Improve; I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"She's truly committed to success, and, every chance she gets, she shows that she cares when she is communicating with or helping someone. She also collaborates with different departments to make the process smoother or to help improve interactions."
—Shout Out from Yvette Smith, Human Resources
Susan Bunte, Director, Student Services — I Care; I Continuously Improve; I Collaborate; I Commit to Success
"Susan is always demonstrating the I am CPS competencies both within and across departments. She is one who sees this culture change as a way to better herself and her team."
—Shout Out from Emily Campbell, Math Curriculum Manager