From the Flight Deck
September 2018 Staff Newsletter
From Frank
It is so hard to believe that we have a month of school under our belts. How time flies fast! I am so proud of the manner in which our Sycamore Family, each and every day to begin the year, have forged incredibly strong relationships with our students and families. Keeping relationships at the core of what we do and how we do it only enhances our culture of service to students.
As I travel around the district, I continue to be so very impressed by the innovative practices being facilitated by you in our classrooms. You are stretching our students’ minds while engaging them in activities that challenge their problem solving skills, tap their resiliency and having them own their responsibility in their learning.
Recently, I had the great opportunity to join part of the Culturally Responsive Committee meeting. What struck me was the energy of the staff, parents and community members focused on our goal of ensuring an inclusive culture for all members of the Sycamore Family. This team is forward thinking on how we best nurture this inclusiveness and are developing specific plans and activities that will allow us all to be reflective of our practices. Look for more information coming from that team of dedicated individuals.
In our unyielding efforts to be accountable to our community, results from Local Report Card testing were released this month. There is much good news embedded in these results which is a tribute to your efforts with students. As I have said frequently and publicly, these results are just one measure of how are students are doing. I applaud your efforts to monitor your students progress with multiple measures, MAP, common assessments, classroom data, that are truly authentic and guide your instructional approaches in the interest of students reaching their full potential.
Finally, as we look to the future and plan even greater ways to empower our students in their learning, the district continues to move at a good pace in our Master Facility Planning process. The Board will meet several times in the next couple of months to narrow our facility plan options before coming back to the community for feedback as we concept test those options. I am excited about the potential moving forward but want to ensure we are strategic and thorough in our process while being respectful of the support and resources our community has blessed us with.
In closing, please know what a positive impact you make on our students each and every day. It is noticed and valued by our community. As Aviators, our sky is our only limit as we focus on what is most important: our students. I am proud of you.
Welcome New Staff!
Blue Ash Elementary School
Jenny Ament-Assistant Principal
Rosa Calamita-Psychologist
Rebecca Owens- Educational Assistant
Sara Meek-Educational Assistant
Billie Sue Pettyjohn-Educational Assistant
Emily Pergrem-Child Nutrition Services
Maple Dale Elementary School
Susan Clancy-Kindergarten Teacher
Taylor Muia-3rd Grade Teacher
Mandi Taylor-2nd Grade Teacher
Carly Lefton-1st Grade Teacher
Kelsey Listerman-Psychology Intern
Jennifer Goodlett-Educational Assistant
Carolann Vayo-Smith-Educational Assistant
Nina Levy-Educational Assistant
Linda Constand-Educational Assistant
Montgomery Elementary School
Olivia Overbeck-Kindergarten Teacher
Sarah Shewbridge-Intervention Teacher
Amy Westman-Kindergarten Teacher
Tracie Steinert-Educational Assistant
Anna Lykins-Child Nutrition Services
Ashley Momper-Playground Educational Assistant
Catherine Lyden-Playground Educational Assistant
Kimberly Rose-Custodian
Symmes Elementary School
Stephanie Cline-2nd Grade Teacher
Katelyn Clouser-Special Education Teacher
Jory Pruss-Special Education Teacher
Jamie Swanson-Special Education Teacher
E.H. Greene Intermediate School
Sarah Clark-Special Education Teacher
Miranda Fox-Language Arts Teacher
Abigail Hinson-Instrumental Music Teacher
Jessica Neef-Language Arts Teacher
Jennifer Steelman-Intervention Teacher
Sycamore Junior High School
Devon Wilhelm-Special Education Teacher
George Bowman-Educational Assistant
Katherine McCue-Educational Assistant
Robin Meglio- Child Nutrition Services
Sycamore High School
Kayla Brooksbank-Special Education Teacher
Courtnee Clark-Social Studies Teacher
Alaina Derrick-Special Education Teacher
Stephanie Dunne-Psychologist
Jennifer Ferris-Nurse
Yesenia Melton-Special Education Teacher
Tyler Perry-Science Teacher
Haley Philbin-Special Education Teacher
Caitlin Thomas-Special Education Teacher
Micah Ewing-Music Teacher/Supervisor
Haley Walter-ESOL Teacher
Clark Robinson-Secretary
Poppy Clay-Educational Assistant
Cameron Lee-Educational Assistant
Fozia Ikram-Educational Assistant
Denise Neuss-Educational Assistant
Randi Granat-Educational Assistant
Jessica Saunders-Child Nutrition Services
Charles Bishop-Child Nutrition Services
District Office
Trisha Underwood-Instructional Innovator
Kelly Wegener-Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Transportation
Amy Turner-Bus Driver
Lisa Hilling-Bus Driver
James Leisring-Bus Driver
Walter Smith-Bus Driver
Nativity School
Kimberley Hoffmaster-Child Nutrition Services
**staff may work in more than one building, their home building is listed
District Office Updates
Kelly Wagener is our new Director of Curriculum & Instruction. Kelly comes to Sycamore from Hamilton County ESC where she served as their director of curriculum, instructional coach and consultant. Prior to that, she worked as a secondary math curriculum specialist and math teacher at Lakota, Coshocton and Hamilton City Schools. You can reach Kelly by email or at extension 5408.
Meet our New Assistant Principals!
Misty was hired by Sycamore in 2015 as an intervention specialist before becoming the Special Education Department Supervisor at the junior high in 2016. Prior to coming to Sycamore, she worked as an intervention specialist at Lebanon City Schools for six years and an education coordinator for Home for Life at Monroe City Schools.
Jenny comes to Sycamore from Lakota Local Schools where she worked as an interim assistant principal and elementary teacher. Prior to Lakota, Jenny taught 1st and 2nd grade at Fairfield City Schools and 7th grade at ECOT Online Charter School. She is a proud Sycamore grad!
Staff Information - Final Forms
Important Fundraising Information
The Ohio Auditor of State’s office (AOS) recently issued guidance to schools on the use of internet sites to collect donations, a practice known as “crowdfunding”. Sites that may be familiar are DonorsChoose.org, GoFundMe, etc. AOS recommends that school districts have a board adopted policy and procedures to guide this process. The Board does not have a policy in place but will review the possibility in the next few months. Until then, use of crowdfunding is prohibited. By temporarily pausing this practice, the district can provide guidance to protect you as an individual or an employee making the request as well as the district. Please contact Beth Weber in the treasurer’s office with questions for more information.
Revised School Calendars
The Board of Education approved revised calendars for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years at the May 2 Board meeting. In developing the calendars for both years, it was determined that work days for Certified Staff would fall one day short of the 185 contract days due to our Spring Vacation Day. In collaboration with SEA representation, an additional Teacher Work Day has been placed on both calendars after Memorial Day (May 28, 2019, and May 26, 2020). We will forego our 10% absentee rate limitation on this day for those wishing to utilize one of their personal days on these additional Teacher Work Days. Click here to see the revised calendar.
Superintendent Listening Sessions
I am looking forward to spending time with building and department staff to provide you updates and take your questions as part of my Superintendent Listening Sessions. These are voluntary sessions for staff. Your Principal/Supervisor will update you on time and location.
The dates for the fall sessions are as follows:
- Montgomery Elementary, October 1
- Transportation, October 1
- Blue Ash Elementary, October 4
- Symmes Elementary, October 5
- E.H. Greene Intermediate, October 9
- Sycamore Junior High, October 10
- Child Nutrition Services, October 11
- Sycamore High School, October 16
- Maintenance Department, October 26
- Maple Dale Elementary, October 30
Thinking about going back to school?
We received information from the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators (OAESA) regarding online programming available in this area. Local meetings in October can provide more information. Click here if interested.
Professional Development Opportunity
Award Winning!
Symmes Family Fun Night
6:00 pm
SHS Variety Show
7:00 pm
JH Aviator Flight Fest
8:00 am
Festival following race