Category: News

Congratulations to this month’s Embrace, Empower & Inspire Award winners, Shannon Johnston (Bus Driver), and Ingrid Riddle (Secretary at Alton Darby Elementary).

“I gave Ingrid the nickname “Angel Ingrid” within the first month of meeting her and it’s no surprise to anyone in our building when they hear positive words about her either. Ingrid is a true gift to our building. I’m not sure I’ll be able to name all the ways she positively impacts our students, staff, and community, but I will name the ones that have stood out the most to me. As a kindergarten teacher, I have seen my fair share of nervous kiddos, especially during the first few days of school. We had a student in K this year who struggled to adjust. Ingrid became his person. He starts his morning in the office, picking out matching stickers to wear on his hand, that also match one on Ingrid’s hand, just to be a constant reminder throughout the day for each other to be brave. Big hugs come after holding hands and walking down the hallway to this child’s classroom. Angel Ingrid.

Another example of her remarkable work is when we as teachers feel the pressures and challenges of the job, she will be there, will listen to us cry, get angry and is always there to offer a hug, smile, words of encouragement and even candy, she is always stocked with the best candy. Angel Ingrid.

I have had numerous parents in my classroom comment on the “sweet secretary up front” who greets them with a smile, friendly tone and even when having to be the one to call them to let them know something happened with their child, she’s always calm, reassuring, respectful, and oh so loving! Angel Ingrid.

I could continue to ramble about the amazing woman that Ingrid is, but I hope this shows you a glimpse of the amazing human we get to call family at ADE. We are so lucky to have her with us. She is changing the world and I hope she always remembers that!”

“Mrs. Shannon was my kid’s bus driver from Kindergarten to 5th grade, they are now in 6th grade and still go to the bus stop a couple of days a week to say hi! Mrs Shannon truly cares about the kids on her bus and she has left permanent footprints in their lives! My kids always wanted to sit in the front with her as they always had meaningful conversations! She got them gifts on every holiday! And they always wanted to get her something too! If we saw her in public she always made an effort to come say Hi! It was always a positive experience sending my kids off to school with her, a lot of trust in her to get them there safely and home safely! She is a wonderful person who has touched the lives of so many kids! I feel she has helped raise my kids in their early years!”

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!

According to Stephanie Drenten Ferro, a 2007 graduate of Davidson High School, Hilliard Schools more than prepared her for the path she has pursued since graduating. 

“The curriculum and teachers instilled in me confidence, curiosity and passion. They led me to world-renowned institutions and helped me believe that I could take on hard challenges,” she said. 

Stephanie attended Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana, a highly selective college. She earned a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering before returning to the Hilliard area and working the first five years of her career with the Bruner Corporation, a mechanical contracting firm that allowed her to work with some of the who’s who in business across central Ohio, from Riverside Hospital to none other than Hilliard City Schools. 

Then, she took a year off to pursue her master’s in philosophy in engineering for sustainable development from the University of Cambridge in England, another prestigious organization. There, she had the chance to work with colleagues from across the globe.

She again returned to Ohio, this time working for Forest City in Cleveland, where she created, led and managed energy and utility savings programs across a portfolio of nationwide apartment, commercial and office buildings. 

Today she is a principal and senior project manager of building optimization for HEAPY, an engineering and sustainability company that works with those in the healthcare, education, government, and cultural and science technology industries. 

“As a female going into engineering, I had a lot of self-doubt, especially as a junior and senior in high school,” said Stephanie. “The support from my teachers, principals and advisors was critical for me. They taught me that you don’t know if you can succeed at something until you take a chance and trust yourself.”

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

Preschool Curriculum Resource Preview

The Hilliard City School District is in the process of adopting a new preschool curriculum resource called Frogstreet PreK. During the next two weeks, the Board of Education and the community will have the opportunity to preview this new resource. We invite all families and the community to preview Frogstreet and if so desire, use the Feedback Form to provide feedback. Clicking on this link will provide a preview for our families. A sample display of the curriculum resource will also be available at Central Office on April 7-11. Visitors may come in person to preview the samples between the hours of 9:00am-11:00am and 2:00pm-4:00pm.

What’s Next?

These projects are progressing as planned, and we will continue providing monthly updates. Your support and patience are greatly appreciated as we work toward enhancing our schools for the future.

Stay Informed: Bookmark our Master Facilities Web Page for real-time updates.

The Shark Tank engineering event, provided Hilliard Davidson senior engineering students with a platform to present their capstone projects to industry professionals, engineers, consumers, and business leaders. Held at Hilliard Davidson High School, the event simulated a real-world boardroom experience, allowing students to showcase their problem-solving skills and innovative solutions. Industry experts offered valuable feedback, helping students refine their projects and gain insights into practical applications. The event emphasized professional growth, fostering skills like public speaking, teamwork, and critical thinking.

Each senior engineering team spent months developing their capstone project, addressing real-world challenges through innovative solutions. Some projects tackled innovations to current products, others were completely new ideas. These projects showcased not only technical skill but also a deep sense of social responsibility. One of the most significant takeaways from this event was the professional growth of the students involved. By presenting in a boardroom-style setting, they honed essential skills such as; public speaking and professional communication, problem solving and critical thinking.  The student-led engineering event was a resounding success, demonstrating the power of collaboration between students and industry leaders. It provided a platform for young engineers to showcase their creativity, receive valuable feedback, and build professional relationships. Looking ahead, we hope to take the feedback given to better our products and create prototypes to show at our district end of year poster show on Friday May 2nd at Hilliard Davidson High School.