Above & Beyond Award Recipients

At Lakota Local Schools, we are fortunate to have a caring, dedicated, and hardworking staff who make a positive difference in the lives of our students every day. We are excited to recognize those individuals who consistently go above and beyond their normal job responsibilities through the Lakota Above and Beyond Award.

This award honors any Lakota staff member who demonstrates exceptional dedication, provides outstanding service, and makes a meaningful impact on students while going beyond the expectations of their role.

Miss Celia DeTray creates a welcoming environment where students feel safe, supported, and encouraged to succeed. Her student nominators praised her willingness to help, her commitment to student well-being, and her strong stance against bullying. They appreciate how she listens, supports their learning, and holds them accountable while helping them do their best.

Beyond sharing her enthusiasm for music and dance, Miss DeTray supports fellow staff members and contributes to the Lakota community through her involvement as the musical and play director, a senior class advisor, and assistant coach for the softball and cross county teams. Her kindness, leadership, and dedication make a meaningful difference for students in and beyond the choir room.

A Lakota graduate and parent of three Lakota students, Mrs. Ashley Cramer demonstrates a deep commitment to the district. Beyond her classroom responsibilities, she serves as co-advisor of Student Council and National Honor Society, a Biddy Sports Board member and Biddy Basketball coach, a Literacy Team and LPDC committee member, and the high school representative for the LEA.

Her dedication also shines through in thoughtful, everyday support for colleagues. She creates reference sheets, posters, and resources that help staff navigate school policies, literacy strategies, and schedules. Mrs. Velasquez shared that, before the school year began, Mrs. Cramer provided her with an easy-to-use guide to the regular and Vanguard Block schedules, helping ease her transition to the high school schedule.

Mrs. Cramer consistently recognizes what others need and takes action without being asked. Her generosity, initiative, and willingness to share her time and creativity make a meaningful difference throughout the Lakota community.

Mrs. Megan Brickman makes a lasting difference through her kindness, encouragement, and dedication to her students. Her student nominators described her as cheerful, supportive, and always willing to listen or go out of her way to help. They appreciate the care she shows for their learning and well-being.

Kelsey Gnepper praised Mrs. Brickman’s ability to build trusting relationships with families, provide thoughtful feedback, and balance compassion with accountability. She shared that Mrs. Brickman took the initiative to gather input from other teachers to provide a fuller picture of her child’s school experience. Her support continues beyond middle school, with former students knowing they can return for encouragement and advice. Through her care, guidance, and commitment, Mrs. Brickman helps students feel valued and supported.

Mrs. Amanda Blachuta is making a lasting difference by helping students build confidence and discover a love of learning. Andrea Graber praised her dedication to helping her son strengthen his reading skills and develop an enjoyment of reading. She also highlighted Mrs. Blachuta’s commitment to building strong relationships and helping every student succeed. Haylee Rupright shared that Mrs. Blachuta has helped her child look forward to school and love learning, while maintaining strong communication with their family. Both nominations reflect the care, encouragement, and dedication Mrs. Blachuta brings to her classroom each day.

Mrs. Jeanette Perkins has helped transform Lakota’s courtyard into a beautiful space for students to learn and explore nature. She devoted time throughout the summer to watering plants and provided plants selected to attract and support butterflies. She also collaborated with others on a grant to educate students about plants and butterflies. Through “Make a Difference Day,” students, staff, and community members came together to improve the courtyard, which now includes healthy butterfly habitat and plants intended for use in the school cafeteria. Her dedication has created meaningful opportunities for students to experience nature firsthand.

Rhonda Slick brings kindness, positivity, and smiles to Lakota every day. Whether greeting students in the hallway, sharing a playful moment at lunch, or making rounds with her Giraffe Cart, she makes a point to connect with students and brighten their day. Kristi O'Connell praised her dedication to putting students first, while Abby Nagy highlighted her cheerful willingness to tackle even the dirtiest jobs. Rhonda also supports colleagues by explaining how to use equipment and checking in to see how they are doing. Her hard work and thoughtful attention to others help make Lakota a welcoming place to learn and work.

Any student, parent, guardian, or staff member may nominate any Lakota employee for this recognition.

Recipients will be recognized each quarter, and nominations that are not selected will automatically roll over to the following quarter. At the end of the school year, every staff member who was nominated will receive copies of their nominations.

Please take a few moments to recognize the outstanding members of our Lakota team who make our schools a great place to learn and grow!