CPS and Western & Southern Financial Group named Dr. Mary Webb, math teacher and department chair at Withrow University High School, the 2023 Dr. Lawrence C. Hawkins Educator of the Year.
Dr. Webb was chosen by Western & Southern and other reviewers from a group of finalists who were nominated by their peers in CPS. She was recognized on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, with a plaque at a ceremony held at the Guilford Building downtown and will receive a personal check for $10,000.
At the ceremony, WLWT-TV anchor Courtis Fuller served as emcee, and John F. Barrett, Western & Southern’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, and Iranetta Wright, superintendent and chief executive officer of CPS, congratulated the finalists.
“We are very pleased to recognize Dr. Webb for her dedication to her students and serving as an exemplary role model,” Barrett said. “Recognizing educators like Dr. Webb and preparing young people for the future is a focus of Western & Southern in its efforts to help make Cincinnati the best place to live, work and celebrate life.”
"As a District, we are incredibly proud of Dr. Mary Webb and her exceptional care and dedication to improving outcomes for students. Dr. Webb goes above and beyond to meet her students' needs, while engaging them in real-world math applications. A dedicated public servant, Dr. Webb is an Army veteran with nearly 30 years of teaching experience. In addition to being an outstanding math teacher, Dr. Webb leads the math department at Withrow University High School," Wright said. "We thank Western & Southern for honoring Dr. Webb's achievements and applaud all of the educators who were nominated."
From the 80 nominees, a selection committee from CPS and Western & Southern chose 15 semi-finalists. Five were selected as finalists.
The 2023 Dr. Lawrence C. Hawkins Educator of the Year Award 5 Finalists:
- Antonio Smith: Ethel M. Taylor Academy - 4-6th Grade Math/Science
- Traci Cummings: Sands Montessori School - K-6th Grade Multi-Subjects
- Brad Gerard: SCPA - 7-12th Grade Stage Production
- Robin Day: Winton Hills Academy - 4-6th Grade Math
- Mary Webb: Withrow University High School - 7-8th Grade Math
The 2023 award recipient, Dr. Mary Webb, was announced May 9, 2023 at a celebration during Teacher Appreciation Week.
Western & Southern Financial Group established the Dr. Lawrence C. Hawkins Educator of the Year Award to inspire and reward excellence among educators in CPS. The Hawkins Award honors one educator who has elevated the educational process in our public schools to an exceptional level through personal commitment, dedicated focus and outstanding results. The outstanding CPS educator will receive a personal award of $10,000.
The 2023 Dr. Lawrence C. Hawkins Educator of the Year Award 15 Semifinalists:
- Leslie Lyles: Bond Hill Academy - 4-6th Grade STEM
- Shanina Lige: Covedale School - 1st Grade ELA
- Antonio Smith: Ethel M. Taylor Academy - 4-6th Grade ELA
- Abigail Weitzel: Fairview Clifton German Language School - 1st Grade Multi-Subjects
- Diane Washington-Turner: Fairview Clifton German Language School - KG Multi-Subjects
- Jason Banks: James N. Gamble Montessori High School - 11-12th Grade Biology
- Joe Seiler: Mt. Airy School - 4th Grade Multi-Subjects
- Paulette Simpson: North Avondale Montessori School - K-6th Grade Media Specialist
- John Crawford: Rees E. Price Academy - 5th Grade Math
- Traci Cummings: Sands Montessori School - K-6th Grade Multi-Subjects
- Brad Gerard: SCPA - 7-12th Grade Stage Production
- Anne Ashcraft: Silverton Academy - K-2nd Grade Interv. Specialist
- Joseph Gerth: Walnut Hills High School - 10-12th Grade Social Studies
- Robin Day: Winton Hills Academy - 4-6th Grade Math
- Mary Webb: Withrow University High School - 7-8th Grade Math
"Our District is filled with great educators who are vital to the work we are doing to improve outcomes for students. So many educators go above and beyond the call of duty to serve our students, and I am thrilled to see some of those individuals recognized for their exceptional commitment,"said Superintendent Iranetta Rayborn Wright. "We are grateful for our long-standing partnership with Western & Southern, which remains strong with a record number of nominations this year."
The 2023 Dr. Lawrence C. Hawkins Educator of the Year Award 80 Nominees:
- Tim Martin: Aiken High School - New Tech - 8th Grade Interv. Specialist
- Alyssa Collin Allen: AMIS Academy of Multilingual Immersion Studies - K-1st Grade ESL/ELA
- Joseph-Todd Hamilton: AWL Academy of World Languages - 7-8th Grade Science
- Jacob Brown: AWL Academy of World Languages - 7-8th Grade Interv. Specialist
- Leslie Lyles: Bond Hill Academy - 4-6th Grade STEM
- Margie DiMuzio: Carson School - 5th Grade ELA
- Marcia Weaver: Chase School - 4-6th Grade Multi-Subjects
- Crystal McFarland: Cheviot School - 5-6th Grade Multi-Subjects
- Mary Beth Shannon: Cincinnati Digital Academy - 1st Grade Multi-Subjects
- Nick Meiners: Clark Montessori High School - 9-12th Grade Interv. Specialist
- Carl Wiers: Clark Montessori High School - 11-12th Grade Math
- Laurie Maull: Clifton Area Neighborhood School CANS - 3rd Grade ELA
- Samantha Messer: College Hill Fundamental Academy - K-6th Grade Art
- Shanina Lige: Covedale School - 1st Grade ELA
- Ann Myers: Dater Montessori School - 4-5th Grade ELA
- Lynn Collins: Frederick Douglass School - 5-6th Grade ELA/SS
- Antonio Smith: Ethel M. Taylor Academy - 4-6th Grade ELA
- Brenda Childs: Evanston Academy - 2nd Grade Multi-Subjects
- Abigail Weitzel: Fairview Clifton German Language School - 1st Grade Multi-Subjects
- Diane Washington-Turner: Fairview Clifton German Language School - KG Multi-Subjects
- Elaine Niehauser: Gilbert A. Dater High School - 9-12th Grade Interv. Specialist
- Chik Fung: Hartwell School - 2-8th Grade Art
- Alice Jones: Hays-Porter School - 3rd Grade ELA
- Susan Grasso: Hughes STEM High School - 9-12th Grade Career Tech/IT
- Mark Messerly: Hyde Park School - K-6th Grade Music
- Robyn Weaver: James N. Gamble Montessori Elementary - K-6th Grade Reading Specialist
- Jasmine Johnson-Hayes: James N. Gamble Montessori High School - 7-8th Grade Interv. Specialist
- Jason Banks: James N. Gamble Montessori High School - 11-12th Grade Biology
- Babbette Clay: John P. Parker School - K-3rd Grade Reading Specialist
- Stephanie Bisher: Kilgour School - 3-6th Grade Math
- Sarah Musselman: LEAP - K-1st Grade Reading Specialist
- Elissa Veite: Lighthouse School - 7-12th Grade Math
- Kimberly Gohs: Midway School - K-2nd Grade Reading Specialist
- Kristine Ketcham: Mt. Airy School - 6th Grade Math
- Brandie Goens: Mt. Airy School - 3rd Grade Reading Specialist
- Stacey Wiliams: Mt. Airy School - 1st Grade ELA/SS
- Ericka Turner: Mt. Airy School - 5th Grade Multi-Subjects
- Joe Seiler: Mt. Airy School - 4th Grade Multi-Subjects
- Kristen Taylor: Mt. Airy School - 2nd Grade Multi-Subjects
- Andrea Sponsler: Mt. Washington School - 3rd Grade ELA
- Paulette Simpson: North Avondale Montessori School - K-6th Grade Media Specialist
- Nico DeMarco Stiles: North Avondale Montessori School - 1-3rd Grade ELA
- Susan Fox: Oyler School - 7-8th Grade ELA
- Susan Guetle: Parker Woods Montessori School - 1-3rd Grade Multi-Subjects
- Debora Sherwood: Pleasant Hill Academy - 1st Grade Multi-Subjects
- Sarah Lofquist: Pleasant Ridge Montessori School - 1-3rd Grade Multi-Subjects
- Terrence Nurredin: Promise Center A2S/A2E Program - 4th-6th Grade Multi-Subjects
- Trina Tolbert: Promise Center A2S/A2E Program - 7-8th Grade Multi-Subjects
- John Crawford: Rees E. Price Academy - 5th Grade Math
- Maria Reid: Rising Stars Academy @ Cheviot/Westwood - Pre K Multi-Subjects
- Renata Adkins: Riverview East Academy - 9-12th Grade Science
- Pamela Roehling: Robert A. Taft Information Technology HS - 8th Grade Math
- Michelle Judt: Roberts Paideia Academy - 4-6th Grade Math
- Phylicia Bailey: Rockdale Academy - 6th Grade Multi-Subjects
- April Thompson: Roll Hill Academy - 1st Grade ELA
- Kimberlee Gaalaas: Roselawn Condon School - KG Multi-Subjects
- Crystal Alston: Rothenberg Preparatory Academy - 5-6th Grade ELA
- Traci Cummings: Sands Montessori School - K-6th Grade Multi-Subjects
- Tong Yu: Satellite/Hospital Programs - 9-12th Grade Multi-Subjects
- Hope Hoekstra: Sayler Park School - 7-12th Grade Stage Production
- Brad Gerard: SCPA - 7-12th Grade Stage Production
- Candace James: Shroder High School - 7-8th Grade Social Studies
- Anne Ashcraft: Silverton Academy - K-2nd Grade Interv. Specialist
- Nicole Williams: South Avondale School - K-3rd Grade ELA
- Kira Rucker: Spencer Center for Gifted Students - 7-12th Grade Science
- Nina Ginocchio: Spencer Center for Gifted Students - 3-12th Grade Principal
- Rebecca Neighborgall: Virtual High School - 9-12th Grade Math
- Joseph Gerth: Walnut Hills High School - 10-12th Grade Social Studies
- Alexandra Mondini: Walnut Hills High School - 7-12th Grade Meteorology
- Salena McKenzie: Western Hills University High School - 7-12th Grade ESOL
- Jennifer Lewis-Thornton: Western Hills University High School - 11-12th Grade Social Studies
- Kari Lammers: Westwood School - K-3rd Grade Reading Specialist
- Christopher Grant: Westwood School - K-6th Grade Principal
- Aquila Beach: Westwood School - K-6th Grade Social Worker
- Pam Cocklin: William H. Taft School - K-6th Grade Reading Specialist
- Robin Day: Winton Hills Academy - 4-6th Grade Math
- Mary Webb: Withrow University High School - 7-8th Grade Math
- Beverly Mallory: Withrow University High School - 9-12th Grade ELL
- Lauren Hope: Withrow University High School - 10-12th Grade Health
- Katrina Reyes Bakas: Woodford Academy - K-6th Grade Speech Language Pathologist
- Akilah Rodgers: Woodward Career Technical High School - 7-12th Grade Interv. Specialist/MD Unit
Congratulations to this year’s nominees and thank you for working diligently to uphold CPS core values and improve outcomes for children!
