Cincinnati Public Schools Names 2026 Employees of the Year

Cincinnati Public Schools is highlighting and recognizing some of its remarkable employees by naming the 2026 CPS Employees of the Year. 50 outstanding employees representing union groups across the District, from teachers and principals to custodians, clerical staff and more, will be honored during the annual CPS Employees of the Year recognition event in early June. 

The award winners were nominated by their peers and selected by their union for the honor. 

Congratulations to all the award recipients for their exemplary work, passion and dedication to Cincinnati Public Schools! You can find a full list of the honorees, categorized by their union affiliation, below. 

AFSCME – Assistants, Coordinators, Couriers, Custodial, Dining Services, Exterminators, Maintenance, Nurses, Paraprofessionals, Security, Sign Language Interpreters and Specialists

• Will Castleberry - AMIS
• Kenina Cephas - Aiken New Tech High School
• Venita James - Roselawn Condon School
• Autumn Mason - Rockdale Academy
• Hector Murrieta Flores - Woodward Career Technical High School
• Steve Stanley - Oyler School 
• Travis Sterrett - Mt. Washington School 

CAAS – Administrator, Associate, Coordinator, Director, Elementary Principal & Assistant Principal, Manager, Secondary Principal & Assistant Principal, Specialist and Supervisor

• Ruba Al-Serhan - Rising Stars at Cheviot/Westwood 
• James Boyd - Facilities 
• Emily Campbell - Curriculum and Instruction
• Tony Fields - Customer Care 
• Josh Hardin - Athletics 
• Dana Jason - Taft Elementary School 
• Rolonda Smith - Human Resources and Talent
• Tammy Solomon-Gray - Cheviot School 

CFOP – Accountants, Assistants, Buyers, Clerical/Secretaries, Coordinators, Occupational/Physical Therapist Assistants, Specialists and Technicians

• Chartrae Durham - Human Resources and Talent
• Jorden Moore - Transportation 
• David Rineair - Purchasing
• Heather Tomlin - Dater High School
• Nancy Young - Safety Services 

CFT – Educational Support Personnel, Teacher and Specialist/Interventionist

• Clayton Adams - Aiken High School
• Becki Arlington - Midway School
• Melissa Bailey - Curriculum and Instruction
• Shirley Brame - Woodward Career Technical High School
• Angela Campos - Carson School
• Robyn Coleman - Department of Student Services
• John Crawford - Rees E. Price Academy
• Nikida Davis - Curriculum and Instruction - ESL
• Zoe Harvey - Woodford Academy
• Sandra Horine - Aiken New Tech High School
• Holly Irby - The Promise Center
• Kesha Jackson - Cheviot School
• Candace Jones - Woodward Career Technical High School 
• Kim Kirkman - Parker Woods Montessori 
• Maria Kitsinis - Curriculum and Instruction
• Karen Kuhn - Oyler School
• Naomi Larsson - Taft Elementary School
• Michelle Leisgang - Woodford Academy 
• Naomi Madaris - Positive School Culture
• Carrie McCarthy - Pleasant Hill Middle School
• Irvetta McMurtry - Dater Montessori School
• Suzanne Nall - Academy of World Languages
• Rachel Tapp - Oyler School
• Chavonne Taylor - Pleasant Ridge Montessori 
• Kim Toben - Woodward Career Technical High School 
• Rasheeda White - John J. Gilligan Digital Academy 

IUOE and Local 20 – All Trades, Alarm Installer, Foreman, Building Engineer, Electrician, Foreman, Glazier, HVAC Technician, Mechanic Plumber, Refrigeration Technician and Tinsmith

• Luke Davis - Shroder High School 
• Theodore Wilfong - Frederick Douglass School 

Unrepresented – Administrative Assistant, Clerical Sub, Community Coordinator, Executive Communication Coordinator, Manager, Senior Executive Secretary, Senior Manager and Special Director

• Mark Hermann - Athletics 
• Andrea Tapp - Operations