OEF Celebrates First Recipients of New Teacher Appreciation Award

Three Olentangy educators surprised with classroom scholarships through partnership with Standardized Brewing

The Olentangy Education Foundation (OEF) recently surprised three outstanding Olentangy educators with its inaugural Teacher Appreciation Award, a new program recognizing teachers who make an exceptional difference in the lives of their students. This is a new recognition program that allows community members the opportunity to nominate outstanding educators across the district.

OEF Executive Director Mary Lorenz and Trustee Colleen Restivo visited classrooms to present the awards in front of students, making the recognition even more memorable.

The first Teacher Appreciation Award recipients are:

• Jared Mills, 8th Grade American History Teacher, Liberty Middle School

• Stephanie Krammes-Parsons, German Teacher, Olentangy High School

• Marcia Lower, 5th Grade Teacher, Glenn Oak Elementary School

Jared Mills, 8th Grade at LMS

Angela Mills, Lydia Mills, Jared, and Mary Lorenz

Stephanie Krammes-Parsons, German at OHS

Colleen Restivo, Frau Parsons, and Mary Lorenz

Marcia Lower, 5th grade at Glenn Oak ES

Marcia Lower and her "Towers Tipple-Lower Class"

Each recipient received a $250 classroom scholarship to purchase educational resources and a $20 gift card to Standardized Brewing. OEF extends special thanks to the school principals and leadership teams who helped coordinate the surprise presentations. And we can’t forget the amazing community members who submitted a nomination for outstanding teachers! OEF received over 64 nominations from across the district. Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination and took the time to tell your teacher how special they are to you!

The new award program was made possible through a generous partnership with Amy and Mark Robinson, owners of Standardized Brewing, who share OEF's commitment to supporting and celebrating Olentangy educators.

Mark & Amy Robinson, owners of Standardized Brewing with Mary Lorenz, OEF Executive Director.

"Our teachers do extraordinary things every day, and this program gives our community a meaningful way to recognize their impact," said Lorenz. "Thanks to Amy and Mark Robinson, we're not only celebrating outstanding teachers but also providing additional resources to benefit their students."

Through OEF's Staff Shout-Out program, parents, students, colleagues, and community members can nominate deserving educators. Three teachers are selected quarterly to receive the award.

The next awards will be presented in January 2027, and nominations are now open! Community members are encouraged to recognize their favorite Olentangy teachers by submitting an OEF Staff Shout-Out.

The community can also help sustain the program by supporting Standardized Brewing, where a portion of proceeds from every Blue Ribbon Brew sold benefits the Teacher Appreciation Fund.

OEF thanks Standardized Brewing, participating school leaders, and everyone who submitted nominations for helping launch this exciting new tradition of celebrating Olentangy's exceptional educators.

To learn more or nominate a teacher, visit TEACHER APPRECIATION AWARD.

OEF does not promote alcohol consumption. Blue Ribbon Brew is available only to adults ages 21 and older. Community members may also support the program through nominations and direct donations to OEF.

Where Creativity Comes to Life: Jim Meta's Classroom at Hyatts Middle School

If you spend a little time in Jim Meta’s Technology and Media classroom at Olentangy Hyatts Middle School, one thing becomes clear pretty quickly—creativity is everywhere!

Over his many years with Olentangy Schools, Mr. Meta has been many things to many students. A self-taught technology guru, he created and led 8th Grade Eagle News, teaching students media production and storytelling, and organized the annual Hyatts Film Festival, showcasing student-produced short films and memorable student lip-dub projects. And his impact extends well beyond the technology classroom! Mr. Meta has volunteered his time to direct and produce Hyatts’ middle school plays and musicals, giving students another creative outlet to discover their talents. Now, he’s adding something new to the list—a Marketing Club that will give students even more opportunities to explore their interests and develop real-world skills.

Today, his classroom focus has evolved to modern technology that challenges students to solve problems, think creatively, and turn their ideas into something real.

Mr. Meta recently invited OEF into his classroom to check out his new “Make It Real” fabrication studio, made possible through an OEF Grant generously sponsored by Fanning Howey. The studio features a new color laser printer and CO2 laser cutter/engraver that allow students to take a project from digital design all the way to a finished product.

Students are already creating school merchandise, graphics, stickers, awards, keepsakes and other unique items while developing skills in design thinking, media production, entrepreneurship, marketing and project management. Mr. Meta even shared some student-created designs they hope to sell to help purchase additional materials for future projects.

When asked about the ultimate goal behind all of this technology, Mr. Meta’s answer was simple: “I want every kid who walks into this room to leave believing they can make things.”

That philosophy seems to be at the heart of everything Mr. Meta does. Whether he’s helping students produce a newscast, create a film, perform on stage, develop a marketing idea or turn a digital design into a finished product, Mr. Meta is always finding new ways for students to create, explore and discover what they can do.

If you’re at Hyatts, make sure you swing by Mr. Meta’s classroom and check out what his students are creating!

A special thank you to Fanning Howey for generously supporting this OEF Grant and helping Olentangy students turn their ideas into reality!

A Special Lunch with Superintendent Meyer

OEF recently had the pleasure of hosting three very special guests for a memorable Lunch with Superintendent Todd Meyer! Oak Creek Elementary first graders Vera L., Kairi K., and Morgan G. joined Mr. Meyer for lunch in his office, along with Vera’s mother, Charlotte, and little brother, Julian.

Charlotte won the special lunch experience at OEF’s annual fundraiser, ZOOlentangy, on August 14. During their visit, the students chatted with Mr. Meyer about their favorite parts of school—including recess and math—and shared what they hope to be when they grow up: an artist, a banker, and a teacher!

OEF extends a special thank you to Superintendent Meyer and OLSD Chief Communications Officer Krista Davis for helping make this a fun and memorable experience for our young guests.

Experiences like this are one of the many ways ZOOlentangy brings our community together while raising important funds to support innovative learning opportunities throughout Olentangy Schools.

Help Shape the Future of OEF - Join Our Board!

The Olentangy Education Foundation (OEF) is looking for passionate community members who want to make a meaningful difference for students and educators across Olentangy Schools. OEF connects the generosity of our community with opportunities that enhance education, including funding innovative classroom grants, recognizing outstanding educators, and building partnerships that bring new resources and experiences to our schools.

As OEF continues to grow its impact, we are looking to add new voices, perspectives, and expertise to our Board of Trustees. We are especially interested in individuals with backgrounds in finance/accounting and communications/social media, as well as Olentangy alumni interested in strengthening OEF’s connection with the Olentangy Alumni Association. See descriptions below for areas we are actively recruiting.

Finance & Investment

OEF is seeking a Board Member with a finance, accounting, banking, or investment background to serve on our Finance Committee. This individual will help provide financial insight and oversight to support OEF’s long-term sustainability, responsible stewardship of funds, and continued growth.

Communications & Social Media

OEF is seeking a Board Member with experience in communications, marketing, public relations, or social media to help strengthen OEF’s visibility and community engagement. This individual will help guide messaging, share OEF’s impact, and identify creative ways to connect with Olentangy families, staff, alumni, and community partners.

Olentangy Alumni Liaison

OEF is seeking an Olentangy alumnus/alumna who is passionate about staying connected to Olentangy and helping build a stronger alumni community. This Board Member will serve as a liaison between OEF and the Olentangy Alumni Association, helping develop alumni engagement opportunities, strengthen connections with graduates, and explore ways alumni can give back to current and future Olentangy students.

Board members serve as ambassadors for OEF, help guide the organization’s future, and use their individual talents and connections to advance our mission. Whether you are a parent, alumnus, local professional, community leader, or simply someone who believes in supporting great opportunities for Olentangy students, we’d love to hear from you!

Ready to make an impact? Apply HERE to join the OEF Board of Trustees and help us continue building a stronger future for Olentangy students and educators.

Please contact Mary Lorenz with any questions.