"It is a great honor to recognize and celebrate President West for reaching an incredible milestone of 40 years of dedicated service to public education," said Southern Ohio ESC Superintendent, Mr. Curt Bradshaw. "For four decades, Mr. West has exemplified the very best of what it means to be a public servant, always placing students first and working tirelessly to support strong schools and strong communities. His vision, wisdom, and steadfast advocacy have helped shape not only the success of the Southern Ohio ESC, but also the future of countless young people across our region. We are deeply grateful for Mr. West's extraordinary leadership and board service."

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is proud to announce that 367 Ohio schools earned Purple Star designations as members of the Purple Star Class of 2025. Purple Star schools show a significant commitment to serving students and families connected to our nation’s armed forces. Of this group, 115 schools received the esteemed award for the first time, while 252 schools earned a renewal. Ohio is now home to 700 active Purple Star schools that dedicate time and support to students in military families.

The complete list of statewide awardees and active Purple Star schools is available on the Department’s Purple Star School webpage.

Newly Distinguished

Laurel Oaks Career Campus

Lynchburg-Clay High School

Renewing Schools

Clinton-Massie High School

Hillsboro High School

Washington High School

On April 3, Hillsboro High School was filled with pride, celebration, and heartfelt recognition during the 42nd Annual Exceptional Achievement Awards Ceremony. Representatives from Adams, Brown, Clinton, Fayette, and Highland counties gathered to honor the remarkable students, educators, and supporters who make a lasting impact in the lives of individuals with disabilities.

We extend our sincere appreciation to all who helped coordinate, present, volunteer, and attend this meaningful event. A special thank you to Amy Luttrell, the Region 14 Governing Board, SATH District Fellowship, and the Parent Advisory Council for their continued leadership and support.

✨ Exceptional Achievement Award Recipients

Adams County:
Carla Campbell, Amber Chamblin, Paige Edwards, Christina Howard, Courtney Mitchell

Brown County:
Rachel Cluxton, Natasha Davidson, Sarah Ingle, Deann Kropf, Stacy Whitt

Clinton County:
Heather Barber, Cheryl Brackemyre, Malory Entrekin, Cassie Findley & Kari Terrell, Leesburg Fire Department & EMT Team

Fayette County:
Bruce Bennett, Jaide Howard, India Smith, Danielle Snyder, Sarah Taylor

Highland County:
Jeanie Linten, Darci Miles, Ben Miller, MaKayla Risner-Kranz, Lisa Wilt

🎓 Outstanding Student Award Recipients

• Adams County: Garret Purnhagen (Adams County/Ohio Valley Schools)

• Brown County: Ryder Bates (Western Brown Schools)

• Clinton County: Duke Beckett (Wilmington City Schools)

• Fayette County: Anika Foy (Washington CH City Schools)

• Highland County: Cameron Spurlock (Hillsboro City Schools – Regional Winner)

🍎 Outstanding Educator Award

Melissa Brown – Western Brown Schools

🏅 PBIS Awards

Building-Level PBIS Awards were presented to numerous schools across the region, with several earning Bronze, Silver, and Gold distinctions for their commitment to Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports. This year Region 14 State Support Team is pleased to announce a record 26 buildings that received an award at the bronze, silver and gold levels and 3 school districts

receiving an award for district wide implementation success.

PBIS District Awards:

• Bright Local Schools

• East Clinton Local Schools

• Ripley-Union-Lewis-Huntington Local Schools

We are proud to celebrate each of these award recipients and the communities that support them. Your achievements are a shining example of excellence in education, inclusion, and innovation across Southern Ohio. Thank you for inspiring us all!

The Southern Ohio ESC is proud to announce that our Business Advisory Council (BAC) has been recognized as a 3-Star Business Advisory Council for 2025 by the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce! This honor highlights our continued commitment to strengthening partnerships between schools and businesses to provide students with meaningful career opportunities.

"This achievement reflects the dedication of our partners, including local businesses, school districts, community organizations, and workforce development agencies, all working together to create meaningful opportunities for students," said Curt Bradshaw, Superintendent of the Southern Ohio Educational Service Center. "Their collaboration and commitment are instrumental in bridging education and industry."

The Southern Ohio ESC BAC serves Adams, Clinton, Fayette, and Highland Counties as a collaborative effort between educators, businesses, and workforce development agencies. Their goal is to assess regional workforce needs and ensure students are equipped with the skills necessary for success.

The Ohio Business-Education Leader Awards for Excellent Business Advisory Councils celebrate councils that go above and beyond in creating strong career pathways for students. The SOESC BAC is honored to be recognized for its efforts in workforce development and education-industry collaboration.

Learn more: https://education.ohio.gov/Media/Ed-Connection/April-1-2025/Announcing-Ohio%E2%80%99s-2025-Business-Education-Leader-A

The Southern Ohio ESC is hosting hands-on, minds-on sessions to experience OpenSciEd on June 9 from 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM! 🌟

✅ Hands-on Exploration
✅ OpenSciEd Vision & Approach
✅ Sample Unit Walkthrough
✅ Instructional Shifts
✅ Tools and Resources

🗓️ June 9 Schedule:

• Session 1 (Elementary): 8:30–11:30 AM

• Session 2 (Middle/High School): 12:30–3:30 PM
  Attend one or both sessions!

🎯 Cost:

• FREE for SOESC Member Districts

• $25 for 1 session / $40 for both sessions for non-members

👉 Register now: https://bit.ly/OpenSciEdwithSOESC

View all employment opportunities here: bit.ly/JoinTeamSOESC

The SOESC is dedicated to providing member districts with the highest quality of services in a collaborative environment that is cost-effective. This service allows many of our employees to work outside of our main office(s) and directly in one or multiple member school district(s).

Together, we empower excellence by transforming education through dynamic partnerships for our students and community.

For more information regarding hiring please contact Assistant Superintendent, Casey Enochs at cenochs@soesc.org

Our Leadership Cabinet has been working with a full agenda addressing the Staff Satisfaction Survey and updating the SOESC Strategic Plan. At the beginning of the year, the Leadership Cabinet reviewed the current evaluation processes and implemented a new and effective timeline. Team leaders are working on evaluations and sharing the feedback we have captured from our District Performance survey that concluded in February. The SOESC Leadership Cabinet last met March 19th and will meet again on May 7th.

The planning phases are underway for our End of Year Meeting as we wrap up the 2024-2025 school year. The meeting will take place on May 23, 2025. More information will be shared to staff by email.

On Tuesday, March 25, Heith Brown, Highland County Workforce Development Director, presented to the Southern Ohio ESC Governing Board. He shared exciting updates on workforce development and career readiness programming in Highland County, highlighting impactful partnerships with school districts, businesses, and community service organizations.

The upcoming SOESC governing board meetings will take place on

May 27, 2025 - 7 pm

June 24, 2025 - 7 pm

July 22, 2025 - 7 pm

For more information on our governing board, please visit soesc.org/GoverningBoard

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