The State Support Team Region 15 is proud to announce this year’s Horn-Walter Outstanding Achievement Awards, which recognize an outstanding educator or team and a student from the counties served by State Support Team Region 15.
About the Awards:
- The R. A. Horn Outstanding Achievement Award is named in honor of the late Dr. Raymond Horn who devoted more than 60 years of service to improving the quality of life and learning for students with disabilities. This award honors a student who has shown outstanding achievement in any of the following categories: Academics, Arts, Athletics, Community Service, Employment, Extracurricular Activity, or Independent Living Skills.
- The Franklin B. Walter Outstanding Educator Award is named in honor of Dr. Franklin B. Walter, former superintendent of Ohio’s public instruction, who devoted over 50 years of service developing quality educational initiatives and programs, including the nation’s first statewide plan for children with disabilities. This award honors a teacher or educational team who has shown outstanding achievement when educating students with disabilities.
2020-2021 Award Winners:
R.A Horn Outstanding Achievement Award Recipient: Hunter Brown
Hunter Brown is a senior at Portsmouth West High School and was nominated by his coaches, teachers, intervention specialist, and the administrative staff at PWHS. Despite Hunter’s disability, he has received numerous athletic awards and has signed on to play football for Marietta College this upcoming fall.
All these athletic accomplishments are less than half the story of Hunter Brown. The most impressive thing about him is his character. His football teammates voted him “2020 Most Inspirational Player” for his positive attitude and dedication to the team.
During the COVID-related shut down, Hunter demonstrated adaptability and self-discipline, maintaining his excellent grades by completing his assignments well and on-time, even while receiving less interaction with his teachers and peers. Just as he has done since elementary school, he has continually rose to meet and conquer the challenges presented to him. Hunter exemplifies the spirit of the R.A. Horn Award.
Franklin B. Walter Outstanding Educator Award Recipient: Mrs. Kathy Ross
Mrs. Kathy Ross has been a Math Intervention Specialist at Portsmouth West High School since 2016 where she is known for her kindness, compassion, and absolute focus on improving student learning. Kathy has 19 years teaching experience in public and private schools and 30 years-experience as a math and reading tutor.
Mrs. Ross is a life-long learner and never hesitates to continually gain knowledge in the field of Special Education. As a testimony to her competence in the classroom, she was awarded the 2020 Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics in South District High School Teacher Award. This prestigious honor recognizes teachers, professors, emerging leaders, and friends of Mathematics.
Beyond her clear academic qualifications and recognitions, the one thing that makes Kathy “uniquely qualified” is she is in the field she was born to work in. Of the 16 Special Education teachers in the Washington-Nile School District, Mrs. Ross is in the top 10%.
Quite simply, Kathy is a great human being that does her job correctly while genuinely caring about the students she serves.
On behalf of State Support Team Region 15 and our ESC Partners, “Congratulations to our award winners on their outstanding achievements and accomplishments!”