Author: Tanner Atha

Congratulations to these Embrace, Empower & Inspire Award winners, Denise Estep (3rd grade teacher at Horizon Elementary) and Julie Keefer (1st grade teacher at Crossing Elementary).

“Mrs. Estep has developed a school garden where her 3rd grade students can learn about planting, growing, and harvesting fruits, vegetables, and flowers. The class then gets to eat and experiment with different foods using the items they’ve grown in the garden. It has fostered a love of gardening for the students and taught them the benefits of including healthy foods in your diet. The students have grown and discovered so many new things through this process! Such a wonderful learning tool for them! This experience takes a lot of effort and energy and Mrs. Estep puts a tremendous amount of both into it. Stepping outside the classroom to learn has captivated this group of 3rd graders and they look forward to participating in it every Friday! The health benefits and knowledge they have gained will stay with them for a lifetime.” 

“Mrs. Keefer is a truly phenomenal teacher. She inspires a love for learning for her students and creates a classroom environment that is welcoming and collaborative. We are so appreciative of her communication with her parents. Her weekly emails outlining topics help us to support learning at home. She has been especially helpful as we navigate the new phonics program! Mrs. Keefer is quick to respond to questions and concerns, even during evening hours. The student-led conferences that she structured were outstanding. Our daughter was so proud to share what she had been learning and we were blown away by the way our six-year-old was taking ownership of her education (with a lot of guidance and support from Mrs. Keefer no doubt). We have been thrilled with the growth we have seen this year; but, more importantly, Mrs. Keefer has made her classroom a place where students can be their best. Our daughter loves being a Keefer Cardinal!” 

These staff members go above and beyond the expectations of the Hilliard Way and truly make a difference in our district. If you know a staff member who goes above and beyond their way to make a difference, you can nominate them for next month’s award by clicking HERE!

Middle school Battle of the Books teams dedicated their year to diving into a shared list of 12 books, gearing up for the ultimate test of knowledge. Sixty enthusiastic 7th and 8th graders from Heritage, Memorial, and Weaver gathered in the Heritage Media Center, showcasing their passion for literature as they tackled questions about the stories they’d immersed themselves in.

The atmosphere crackled with excitement, as students relished spending a day among fellow bookworms. Each team shined, but the Heritage Team, composed of Rhiman Samant, Emmaline Anderson, and Greta Gehring, emerged victorious, clinching the Battle of the Books trophy. This prestigious award will proudly adorn the Heritage Media Center, a symbol of their hard-earned triumph until next year’s battle.

Fueling a love for reading is a core mission of our district’s Media Specialists, ensuring our students are poised and eager for the challenges of tomorrow.

Chase Hampton’s story has come full circle. A 2015 graduate of Hilliard Darby High School, he is now a seventh grade math and We Build it Better teacher at The Hub – Innovative Learning Campus. 

He said the Hilliard City Schools Academy Edu program that he participated in as a student is a key part of his success today. 

“Letting students explore different pathways while the risk and cost are low is something Hilliard Schools did and continues to do well. I got to observe a lot of areas through the Academy Edu program while I was here, which helped me determine that that’s what I wanted to do as a career,” he said. 

He was recruited to Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, a Division I school where he ran cross country and track, before wrapping up his degree at Otterbein University when COVID-19 put an abrupt halt to his student teaching.

He feels fortunate to have gotten his foot in the door as a tutor at Weaver Middle School during the 2020-2021 school year. He then worked as a seventh grade math teacher at Weaver for a year before being offered his current job. 

Mr. Hampton is excited about the opportunity to be part of Hilliard’s innovation at The Hub. Two years ago, they paired the curriculum from Flight Works Alabama with the existing math program of study to help students learn math through real-world application. For example, they use 3D printers while learning about scale and measurement, and Raspberry Pi computers to code and build calculators that actually work to solve equations. 

He loves the sense of family and community that Hilliard provides. 

“When students learn that I went to school here, I think it gives me a leg up on relating to them,” he said. “I also love that in 10-15 years, some of my students could be my colleagues and I’m building relationships that will one day turn into friendships just as my relationships with former teachers and coaches have turned into friendships.”

Some of those teachers and coaches include Mrs. Gongwer, his Academy Edu teacher who has since retired but who he still likes to bounce ideas off of when they connect, and Mark Tremayne, his high school cross country coach and teacher at Darby. Today, Mr. Tremayne is the Director of Innovation and Extended Learning. 

If you would like to nominate a teacher or staff member for our Hilliard Highlight for their work/activities inside or outside the classroom, or you know alumni you would like to see spotlighted, email us! 

SAVE THE DATE: May 14th, 4-7 PM! Join Hilliard City Schools, the City of Hilliard, and Hilliard City Lab for an Innovation Showcase at The HUB. Explore cutting-edge projects, hands-on activities, and creative solutions from students, community members, and local innovators. This event is an opportunity for students and community members to demonstrate how they’re making a difference in the community and in learning through innovation. There will be food trucks and activities for kids of all ages.

It has taken Hannah Gardner, a 2017 graduate of Davidson High School, a little longer than some to figure out what she wanted to do for a career. It’s certainly not for a lack of trying new things, however. 

Upon graduating, she attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago for two years. She returned home and secured several part-time jobs, including working part-time for Festa, an organization dedicated to overcoming poverty; as a retail manager for rue21; and creating graphics and serving as an office manager and youth leader at a church. 

All of these experiences led her to find her passion. Today, she works full-time for Festa as their volunteer coordinator and developer. In her role, she meets with local congregations and businesses to help expand the community’s knowledge of poverty and how they can help. She also oversees the children’s portion of Festa’s 3-Generation English as a Second Language program which serves nearly 600 people. She is currently attending Southeastern University pursuing a degree in human services and criminal justice. She hopes to one day practice immigration law. 

She said the diverse cultural experiences she had at Hilliard Schools opened her up to the world and prepared her for exactly what she is doing today. Teachers like her art teacher, Ms. Yates, photography teacher, Mr. Ricker, and math teacher, Mr. Nutter, also made learning fun. 

While in high school, she served as a youth leader at Upper Arlington Lutheran Church – Mill Run Campus. She also traveled to Russia and taught English to children during her spring breaks. These two experiences helped her realize her calling for the future!

“I appreciated people seeing the leadership potential in me during that time. It’s nice to be on the other side of that now encouraging others,” she said. 

If you have an alum you would like to see spotlighted, click here to send us an email!

Get ready for an exciting summer filled with fun and learning opportunities! Hilliard City Schools is offering summer workshops for K-8 students. Please note that registration is based on the students’ current 2023-2024 grade level. Don’t wait too long! Limited spaces are available, so make sure you sign up now to secure your spot.

Registration for the K-8 summer enrichment will run from March 22-April 25th. Each session is $50 per student. Students can sign up for one or both sessions. Scholarships are available. Location for Summer Enrichment: All classes will be at the The HUB 3859 Main St, Hilliard, OH 43026.

Learn More & Sign-Up Here!