Winton Woods City Schools recent Community Leadership Meeting was an opportunity for leaders from Greenhills, Forest Park and Springfield Township to learn what’s happening within the school district while sharing important information and events about their own parts of the district. “It’s a way to keep in touch with your communities and let you know all the good things going on here,” Winton Woods Superintendent Dr. Camille Nasbe told those who attended.

The community meetings began four years ago as a way to “engage the leaders of Greenhills, Forest Park and Springfield Township in meaningful dialogue and show them the educational opportunities our students are being offered,” said Winton Woods Communications Specialist Gina Burnett. “Our community leaders have many opportunities to talk with district residents, and it’s our hope that they will share what they learn at these meetings.”   

At the most recent meeting, students Brianna Davis and Ellie Nightingale, 2008 Superintendent’s Scholars for graduating in the top 16 in their class, talked about their experiences in the district and their plans for the future. As KEY Club President and captain of the girls’ volleyball team, Nightingale stressed the leadership qualities she learned during high school. Davis, who is a member of National Honor Society and the high school’s student-led gospel group Gospel Keys, said she learned “to be a person who shows pride in the things they do but to be humble about it.” Both young women will be attending Xavier University next year.

Senior Steven Cleary, who is president of the Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble, discussed the group’s recent trip to China to perform at a pre-Olympic music festival and how it allowed him to see that “it really is a global marketplace.” He also talked about the group’s performance with the Cincinnati Pops, along with the Lakota East High School Eastside Voices. He said the opportunity to interact with the other high school students was yet another opportunity to put Winton Woods’ name out in the community in a positive way. “Being able to knock down those walls and preconceived notions (about Winton Woods students) is the most empowering thing I’ve done since I’ve been in high school,” said Cleary.

Winton Woods High School Senior Counselor Kevin Jones talked about the high school’s recent trip to Spain and thanked the communities for their involvement with the recent Job Fair where Winton Woods High School students had 170 interviews with 11 area companies. “We know this was a community effort,” said Jones.

Winton Woods Character Education Coach Mimi Gilmer spoke about the upcoming Global Leadership Camp that the district will be hosting at Winton Woods Intermediate School in August and about the grant the district received to promote character education. “We’re trying to make character education a way of life not a poster on the wall,” said Gilmer.

Board of Education member Tim Cleary talked about the district’s upcoming levy. “Education is expensive. That’s the reality of it,” said Cleary as he held up a large rock that he keeps by his seat on the Board. “But we are looking under every rock to save every dollar.”

At the meeting, Greenhills Municipal Manager Jane Berry discussed how her village is “gearing up for summer time,” while Forest Park City Manager Ray Hodges said his city doesn’t have one large project in the works but has “a number of projects in the city.”

“These meetings have become a mutually-beneficial networking opportunity for our district and community leaders,” said Burnett.   

Those attending the Community Leadership Meeting were: Greenhills Muncipal Manager Jane Berry, Greenhills Council members Chris Visnich and Greg Hermes, Greenhills Police Chief Tom Doyle, Greenhills Village Voices member Bobbe Kugele, Greenhills Alumni Association member Jackie Noble, Forest Park City Manager Ray Hodges, Forest Park Mayor Chuck Johnson, Forest Park Steppers member Pearl Lewis, Forest Park Assistant Fire Chief Mike Rupp, Forest Park Council member Diana Herbe, Forest Park Chamber of Commerce Board member Barrie Owen, Forest Park Recreation Coordinator Kenisha Crum, Messiah Lutheran Youth Pastor Steve Wilson, Winton Woods Superintendent Dr. Camille Nasbe, Business Manager Steve Mathews, Treasurer Tom Golinar, Board member Tim Cleary, Technology Director Rhonda Hobbs, Senior Counselor Kevin Jones, students Brianna Davis, Ellie Nightingale and Steven Cleary, Communications Specialist Gina Burnett, Character Education Coach Mimi Gilmer, and Winton Woods High School Principal Anita Williams.