On Monday, August 19, Xenia Community Schools held our annual all-staff Convocation. The morning -- which featured two guest speakers! -- kicked off with the help of our XHS Marching Buccaneers and XHS Cheerleaders before we welcomed new staff members, recognized our 30-year teachers, and awarded our 2024 Educator of the Year and Staff Person of the Year Awards.
Guest speakers for Convocation 2024 were:
-
Gerry Brooks, a nationally-known speaker and encourager of educators whose unique blend of humor, compassion, and authenticity made him the perfect person to get our staff fired up for the coming school year.
-
Sara Stockwell, Senior Director at Battelle for Kids, introduced staff to the "Science of Hope" to lay the foundation for work that will be happening throughout this school year as we plan for the future.
2024 Educator of the Year & Staff Member of the Year
2024 Educator of the Year:
Angelo Ifandis, Math Teacher at Warner Middle School
2024 Staff Person of the Year:
Franklin Foster, Warner Middle School Custodian
Throughout the morning, we also welcomed nearly three dozen new staff for the 2024-2025 school year, and honored those who have reached their 30 years of service this morning at Convocation, too!
The following staff members were recognized for reaching their 30-Year anniversary in 2024:
Rebecca Gagliano, Lisa Gerrard*, Sandra Jacobs, Linda Long, Chris Manor, and Brian Newell.
*not pictured