Mar. 14, 2025 -- The Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District is committed to recognizing staff members who go above and beyond to “Create a Culture of Excellence” in our schools.
The District is once again honoring a Teacher of the Year, Helping Hand of the Year, and Rookie of the Year at each school. These honorees were chosen by their school colleagues for demonstrating excellence in their efforts to educate and support our community’s students.
2024-2025 Teachers of the Year:
Heights High School - Sobhi Awadallah, Intervention Specialist
Delisle Options Center - Ntianu Cloud, Social Studies Teacher
Monticello Middle - Sarah Cusick, Science Teacher
Roxboro Middle - Jennifer Hollender, Eighth Grade Math Teacher
Boulevard Elementary - Lauren Eaton, First Grade Teacher
Canterbury Elementary - Sherry Esper, Second Grade Teacher
Fairfax Elementary - Tamar Gray, Vocal Music Teacher
Gearity Elementary - Caren Golenberg, First Grade Teacher
Noble Elementary - Marian Stephens, ELA/Math Support
Oxford Elementary - Bridgette Bondarenko, Title I Lead Teacher
Roxboro Elementary - Romina Berardinelli, Spanish Teacher
Board of Education - Dr. Hannah Reid, Instructional Specialist
2024-2025 Helping Hands of the Year:
Heights High School - Brenda Taylor, Security Monitor
Delisle Options Center - Asil Ali, Security Monitor
Monticello Middle - Theresa Sullivan, Special Education Paraprofessional
Roxboro Middle - Hannah Gilson, EL Paraprofessional
Boulevard Elementary - LaShownda Horton, Special Education Paraprofessional
Canterbury Elementary - Brenda Hockett, Lunchroom Supervisor
Fairfax Elementary - Aleacer Tripp, Lunch Non-Paraprofessional
Gearity Elementary - Tawana Williams, Special Education Paraprofessional
Noble Elementary - Marie Jefferson, Lunch Non-Paraprofessional
Oxford Elementary - Halle Tomasek, Media Ancillary
Roxboro Elementary - Sheena Douglas, General Office (Attendance)
Board of Education - Patrice Martin-Bonner, Confidential Administrative Assistant - Data & Assessment
2024-2025 Rookies of the Year:
Heights High School - Jamaya Greer, English Teacher
Delisle Options Center - Bill Mattingly, IT Support Specialist
Monticello Middle - Aliesha Strickmaker, Sixth Grade Math Teacher
Roxboro Middle - Almad Allen, Dean of Students
Boulevard Elementary - Genevieve Kenealy, Fifth Grade Teacher
Canterbury Elementary - Kilian Netzer, Special Education Paraprofessional
Fairfax Elementary - Michael Green, Special Education Paraprofessional
Gearity Elementary - Kristin Schultz, Fifth Grade Teacher
Noble Elementary - Tarhonda Ward, Second Grade Teacher
Oxford Elementary - Jaime Kanengeiser, Fifth Grade Teacher
Roxboro Elementary - Elisabeth McCray, Intervention Specialist
Board of Education - Amanda Zapotechne, Coordinator of Curriculum and Instruction
The honorees were selected by colleagues at their respective buildings. CH-UH staff will vote to determine the four finalists for District Teacher of the Year, the four finalists for District Helping Hand of the Year, and the four finalists for District Rookie of the Year. These finalists will then move on to a panel interview.
The overall District Teacher of the Year, Helping Hand of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Administrator of the Year will be announced at the Staff Awards Ceremony on May 30. CH-UH will also honor retirees, tenured teachers, and staff who presented at state or national conferences this past school year.
Congratulations to the awardees!