2017 Recognizing Our Faculty and Staff

Ravenscroft faculty and staff were recently honored and recognized for their teaching excellence and service to the school. Held on May 15th, the Faculty and Staff Recognition event announced and celebrated the winners of the Helton Award, the Qubain Award for Teaching Excellence, the Parents' Association Distinguished Faculty Award, and the O'Herron Distinguished Faculty Award. A reception followed to celebrate the award winners. Our honorees were also recognized during our 2017 Commencement service.

The Helton Award recognize and rewards teachers who make the classroom exciting and encourage a love of learning which will last a lifetime. For staff members, the Helton Award is given in recognition of special achievement and distinguished service to the Ravenscroft. Charles and Barbara Helton established the Helton Award in 1991. Helton Award winners for 2017 are:

Lisa Miller, Human Resources Director
Jon Karny, Upper School Science Teacher

Lisa Miller (left), Jon Karny (right)

The Qubain Award for Teaching Excellence recognizes and rewards excellent full-time teachers at Ravenscroft. Janet and Munther Qubain established the award in 2002. Qubain Award winners for 2017 are:

Josh Gallagher, Middle School Social Studies Teacher
Karrah Lewis, Kindergarten Teacher
Dante Johnson, Fifth Grade Teacher
Jessica Cummings, Middle School Mathematics Teacher
Kevin Flinn, Upper School English Teacher

Josh Gallagher, Karrah Lewis, Dante Johnson, Jessica Cummings, Kevin Flinn

Lower School Second Grade Assistant, Terri Bednarz received the Parents' Association Distinguished Faculty Award, which was established by a special endowment in 2000 and recognizes, encourages and rewards excellence in teaching.

Janet Vande Berg, Middle School Science Teacher won the O'Herron Distinguished Faculty Award, which was established by the O'Herron Foundation to honor distinguished educators.

The following members of the faculty and staff were recognized for more than 35 years of service:

Ned Gonet, 36 years
Melony Lightfoot, 36 years
Marcia Jones, 37 years
Carol Miedema 38 years
Ed Yohman, 39 years
Jimmy Cox, 40 years

In addition, the community honored and reflected upon the memorable careers of those that are retiring this year:

Martha Janes, School Nurse - 42 years of service
Carol Miedema, Lower School Assessment Coordinator - 38 years of service
Mary Catherine Phelps, Lower School Library Assistant - 33 years of service
Rebecca Poole, Assistant to the Head of School and Board Liaison - 32 years of service
Julie Folsom, Middle School Language Arts - 17 years of service
Debbie Ragusa, Lower School Teaching Assistant - 11 years of service
Jenwei Kuo, Upper School World Language Teacher - 9 years of service
Joni Keane, Lower School Fourth Grade Teacher - 7 years of service

Martha Janes (left), Carol Miedema (right)