News – Page 6 – Hilliard City Schools

Alumni Spotlight – Brandon Long

Posted on March 10, 2025March 6, 2025

Detective Brandon Long of the Hilliard Police Department is a familiar face in the community; and what many would call a hometown hero thanks to his passion projects.

After graduating from Hilliard Davidson High School in 1998, he served in security and policing in the military for six years before attending Ohio University where he got a bachelor’s in criminology and a master’s in sociology.

During his undergrad experience, Long participated in the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program. Classes are held in a prison which gives students the chance to see crime and social justice issues from a different perspective. This piqued his interest in the incarceration aspect of criminology and sociology and landed him an internship in a Mexican prison for three months.

From there, he worked for the Athens County Prosecutor in their Victim Advocacy and Diversion Program where he served as the primary counselor to 20+ incarcerated individuals at the SEPTA Correctional Facility. He joined the Hilliard Police Department as a police officer in 2011 and has since served in various roles with the division, including as a member of the crash investigation team, traffic safety officer, and criminal investigator. He has also helped with Safety Town, a program that teaches area kindergarteners important safety lessons.

What he’s most known for, however, is his advocacy and coaching role with the Hilliard Bobcats Special Olympics. He currently serves as the State Director of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Ohio which raises awareness and support for the Special Olympics.

Long said his understanding of the special needs community has helped not only fellow Hilliard police officers but law enforcement personnel across Ohio have better outcomes when interacting with those who have special needs. “It keeps our officers and our entire community safer,” he said.

Thank you, Detective Long, for your dedication and commitment to serving our community. Your efforts make a meaningful impact, ensuring safer and more positive interactions for everyone. We appreciate your service!

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

Beacon STEM Team Named Finalists for AI Innovation

Posted on March 6, 2025March 6, 2025

Beacon Elementary and their 5th grade STEM team competed in the OSLN (Ohio STEM Learning Network) Statewide Design Challenge as a selected finalist in this year’s competition. They qualified as a finalist because they had been among one of the top 20 teams in the state, K-12th grade, with a qualifying score. The statewide design challenge is a partnership with Battelle, NASA, OSU, and Starlab. Students worked to problem solve and use design thinking to solve this year’s challenge: How do we improve the sustainability of life in low-Earth orbit, such as living aboard the Starlab space station?

Beacon’s STEM team approached this problem with a focus in mental health and wellbeing by designing an AI companion bot named Sylis. Since October, students got to work with science experts from the aerospace and engineering community of NASA as they worked on their design project and prototypes. Their one-of-a-kind solution addressed the loneliness and mental health struggles that astronauts might struggle with when away from home on missions. Another part of this project was for students to transfer their design into the real world, and the Beacon STEM team provided an amazing translation of their solution. Sylis could be an AI companion bot that can help students at school. Students can use Sylis right before a test, if they get nervous and our bot can help with stress relief. Or if a student is having a medical emergency and needs an epi pen, it can inject the lifesaving medicine. Or, if a student has a disability like dyslexia, it can read books or test questions to them.

We are proud of the Beacon STEM team and all of their accomplishments. Way to go Beacon!

Exciting News: New Preschool Location Announced

Posted on February 26, 2025February 26, 2025

As part of Phase 1 of our Master Facilities Plan, we are excited to share that the future home of Hilliard City Schools’ new preschool will be on the Britton Norwich campus, connected to Norwich Elementary. This location will provide a welcoming, accessible space for our youngest learners while keeping them connected to the broader school community.

While this is an important milestone, we want to emphasize that there is still much work to be done. Our team is carefully considering key factors such as traffic flow, parking, pedestrian safety, playground design, and bell schedules to ensure a safe and efficient environment for students, staff, and families. Additionally, we are working closely with the City of Hilliard and Norwich Township Fire Department to address environmental and safety concerns, ensuring that the project aligns with all regulations and best practices.

We recognize that our community has a vested interest in this project, and we remain committed to transparency throughout the process. As planning progresses and details are finalized, we will continue to provide updates and opportunities for engagement.

Thank you for your continued support as we take this exciting step toward expanding and enhancing early childhood education in Hilliard!

Recipients of the Embrace Empower and Inspire Award

Posted on February 18, 2025

Congratulations to this month’s Embrace, Empower & Inspire Award winners, Kylie Bell (Intervention Assistant at Darby High School), and Marcy Baker (SACC at Tharp).

“Ms. bell deserves this award because she’s there for every student d helps those in need with the panther corner. she also encourages me to see the good in myself. lastly she helps me out on decisions and making life choices that are hard but helping me through and explaining the choices better. lastly she’s gets along with everyone and helps a variety of kids in and out of school.”

“Miss Marcy is amazing. We love getting to see her every now and then at Station even though Elora isn’t with her at Tharp any more. At the bowling alley excursion, she stepped naturally into a leadership role and helped kids feel comfortable the space and have fun with their friends and the activity. I felt very comfortable leaving my child in her care and my child lit up with joy when they saw her. She was the best balance between strict and caring so that kids knew how to behave and still felt valued. She also created a team feeling among her fellow staff that benefitted the kids and I’m sure made it a good working environment. We appreciate even more that she is an advocate for kids of color, going out of her way to help kids of all races understand how race affects experience.”

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!

Bradley High School Hosts Black Student Leadership Summit and HBCU Panel

Posted on February 12, 2025

Bradley High School is proud to host the Black Student Leadership Summit, an inspiring event bringing together students from Hilliard City Schools and districts across Central Ohio. This summit provides a unique opportunity for students to engage in meaningful discussions on identity, wellness, and leadership.

The event features two powerful sessions. Author and educator Jamilah Pitts will lead an interactive session on wellness and identity, encouraging students to reflect, meditate, and express themselves through journaling. Additionally, a leadership discussion with Ange-Marie Hancock, Executive Director, and Carla Williams-Scott, Head of the OSU Extension Center of the Kirwan Institute, will equip students with valuable insights on personal and professional growth.

The highlight of the summit is the HBCU Panel Discussion, where students will hear from graduates of Kentucky State, Morehouse, and Xavier, along with former Hilliard students currently attending Howard University and Morehouse College. The panel aims to expand awareness of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their impact, particularly for students in suburban districts who may have limited exposure to these opportunities.

By bringing together students from across Central Ohio, this event fosters community, empowerment, and access to valuable post-secondary education pathways.