Top: 2017-2018 GEM award winners. Left: Westerville Police Officer Cory Baker accepted the Community Heroes GEM award on behalf of the Westerville Division of Police, who received a standing ovation. Right: Westerville Caring & Sharing Project Manager Connie Jones and Caring & Sharing President Barbara McCoy accepted the Terry Gordon Business GEM award.
Westerville Parent Council, Roush Honda, the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent of Schools, and the Westerville City Schools Board of Education recognized Great Educator and Mentor (GEM) award winners at a reception and special ceremony held at Westerville North High School on Monday evening, April 30. GEM awards are given to individuals who make a difference in the lives of students in the Westerville School District. All GEM winners promote the welfare of pupils in the home, school and community, and each goes above and beyond the call of duty. This year, 27 deserving individuals and one business were recognized as GEM award winners. In addition, a special Community Heroes GEM award was bestowed on the Westerville Division of Police. The 2017-2018 GEM Award recipients are:
Preschool
Early Learning Center: Krista Houston
Elementary Schools
Alcott: Jill Teruya
Annehurst: Angie Monahan
Cherrington: Jen Share
Emerson: Laine Wood
Fouse: Tracy Price
Hanby: Monica Brown
Hawthorne: Gina Carfagna
Huber Ridge: Elsie Hunt
Longfellow: Jan Hamann
Mark Twain: Chelsie Lakeman
McVay: Lisa Dapoz
Pointview: Amanda Oakes
Robert Frost: Jim Knapp
Whittier: Molly Woodruff
Wilder: Nichole Price
Middle Schools
Blendon: Kathy Hayman
Genoa: Andrea Bishop
Heritage: Dr. Dru Tomlin
Walnut Springs: Donte Martin
High Schools
Westerville Central: Stephanie Martin
Westerville North: Jon Boyd
Westerville South: Jen Baker
District
Lisa Aucoin
Dennis Blair
Elizabeth Firth
Nancy McFarland
Community Heroes GEM Award
Westerville Division of Police
Terry Gordon Business GEM Award
Westerville Caring & Sharing