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Is there an educator who has had a special impact on your child? Who displays contagious enthusiasm for classroom instruction? Who brings out the best in all their students? Help us recognize them with a nomination for the Oakwood Schools Foundation’s Parker Love of Teaching and Lifelong Learning Award.

Beverly Parker, a former longtime Oakwood teacher, created the award in 2010 in memory of her late husband, Robert Parker. Each year since the award’s founding, deserving teachers have received the annual award, consisting of a $1,200 prize, which is divided between the recipient and the teacher’s school. The recipients receive a special award of framed artwork designed by an Oakwood High School art student.

Past winners include: Janet Block (Lange), Kathy Allan (OJHS), Tony Rainsberger (OHS), Ron Nelson (All buildings), Susan Kuntz (Harman), John Edwards (Harman), Nate Thompson (Smith), Lynne Irwin (Smith), Lori Morris (OHS), Leslie Blythe (OJH/OHS), and Tim Fleck (Harman), Mary Haucke-Davis(OJH/OHS), Heidi Edwards (OHS), and Brianna Villareal (OJH).

Nominations are open to all—parents, students, community members, teachers, etc.—and are being accepted through March 15 on the Oakwood Schools Foundation’s website.

Planning ahead is key! At the February meeting, the Board of Education officially approved the calendar for the 2027–2028 school year. They also approved an important adjustment to the 2026–2027 calendar to help improve the spring semester flow.

The spring Professional Development Day, initially set for late April 2027, has been moved to March 29, 2027. This change was made because the previous date conflicted with the state testing window. By moving the date, we ensure a consistent, uninterrupted testing environment for our students and teachers. As a bonus, this new professional development date falls right after Spring Break, giving families and students an extra day of rest before returning to school.

Visit oakwoodschools.org/district/district-calendar to view the calendars.

For the third year in a row, Oakwood High School has been named to the Advanced Placement® (AP) School Honor Roll, earning a prestigious Gold distinction.

This award is not just about test scores; it is about culture. The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools that demonstrate a clear commitment to three goals:

• Building a culture where students aspire to higher education.
• Helping students earn college credit while still in high school.
• Ensuring students are ready for the rigor of the next level.

To earn Gold, a school must show strong results in all three categories. We are thrilled to report that Oakwood High School has seen steady increases in every single area over the past three years.

"One of my favorite things about walking the halls of Oakwood High School is seeing the ambition of our students in action," said Superintendent Dr. Neil Gupta. "Whether they are solving an equation, conjugating a verb, or discussing a current event, our students rarely settle for 'good enough.' They are constantly pushing their own boundaries."

We currently offer 18 AP courses, but this recognition is about more than course catalogs. It is a testament to the support systems we have in place—from the teachers who provide extra help to the counselors who guide students toward challenging pathways.

Congratulations to our students and staff on keeping this streak alive and continuing to "unlock greatness" in our classrooms!