District Newsletter: 04/09/2026

Middle School Teacher Named Finalist for Global Teacher of the Year Award

Congratulations to Bexley French teacher Julie Aldrich, who was named a finalist for the 2026 AFS-USA Global Educator of the Year Award! The organization cited her “dedication to bringing intercultural learning moments to her students” in their recognition.

Ms. Aldrich, who teaches French at both the middle school and high school, was honored yesterday evening by the Board of Education and a representative of AFS-USA. “The eight member AFS School Outreach Committee shared with us that Julie’s application submission and clear dedication to her students were inspiring,” Superintendent Dr. Jason Fine told the Board. “We are so thankful for your efforts encouraging active global citizenship.”

Pictured, from left: Board President Joanne Pickrell; Dr. Jason Fine; Vivian Gockstetter, BHS sophomore; Julie Aldrich; Dr. Jonathan Baker, Board member; exchange student Zoe Lowenbach; AFS-USA representative Linda Knicely; Board Vice President Patrick King; and Victoria Powers, Board member.

Local AFS representative, Linda Knicely, attended the Board meeting to honor Ms. Aldrich. Also in attendance were Zoe Lowenbach, a BHS junior who is an AFS exchange student from France, and sophomore Vivian Gockstetter, who is a member of Zoe’s host family and one of Ms. Aldrich’s French III students.

AFS-USA is an international secondary school exchange organization that works to promote intercultural learning by working to place secondary school exchange students in schools in the U.S. and place American high school students with families abroad. Its mission is “to help build a more peaceful world by promoting understanding among cultures.”

According to Ms. Knicely, AFS-USA has placed 12 exchange students with Bexley Schools since 2000, as well as five Bexley students who have studied abroad.

Don’t Miss Next Week’s Champion Chat, ‘Neurodiversity: Building Understanding’

Next Wednesday, April 15th, is the district’s next Champion Chat, the last of this school year. We will welcome six neurodiversity and child psychology professionals to Bexley for “Neurodiversity: Building Understanding.” The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Bexley Public Library Auditorium. The event will also be livestreamed via Zoom. 

Panel members will discuss understanding neurodiverse student behavior, including signs of neurodivergence. The group also will address challenges and strategies; self-regulation; executive functioning; and neurocognitive skills.  

Submit your topic request online at bex.fyi/championchat or scan the QR code in the flier. Topics should be general in nature and not specific to a particular person or child. 

Board Approves Three Changes to the 2026-2027 School Year Calendar

The Board of Education approved three amendments to the 2026-2027 School Year Calendar during yesterday’s Board meeting. 

• Tuesday, Sept. 22 was added as a professional development day for teachers and staff; there will be no classes for students. (Monday, Sept. 21 was already scheduled as a day off from classes for students and teachers.)
• Monday, Nov. 2 was added as a day off from classes for students and teachers. (Tuesday, Nov. 3 was previously listed as a teacher workday; that day is now a professional development day for teachers and staff.)
• Thursday, May 27 is now the last day of classes for students and teachers. (Previously, the last day of classes was May 28.)

You can view and download the updated 2026-2027 School Year Calendar from the district’s website.

Board Approves Calendar for 2027-2028 School Year

The 2027-2028 school year will start a week later than in past years, and will have a staggered start similar to the past few years. This was approved by the Board of Education yesterday evening when it approved the 2027-2028 School Year Calendar.

2027-2028 Calendar Highlights:

Aug. 19 & 20 – Staggered Start to Begin the School Year

Dec. 17 – Last Day of Classes Before Winter Break

Jan. 4 – Students Return to School after Winter Break

March 20-24 – Spring Break

May 28 – Class of 2028 Graduation

June 1 – Last Day of Classes for Students & Teachers

See the full calendar on the district website.

Local Professionals Needed for Next Week’s BHS ‘Industry Insight’ Event

Calling all local professionals who can participate in Bexley High School’s “Industry Insight” event next Thursday, April 16, from 8:45 – 10:20 a.m.! The event takes place in the high school gymnasium.

English 12 students, with instruction by faculty member Rachel Lilly, have spent weeks researching the “State of the Industry” for their chosen career paths. Now, they need a professional reality check! We are looking for community experts to join us for a high-energy morning of presentations and networking.

The Morning Agenda

8:35 - 9:30 a.m. - The Industry Showcase: You will be matched with 1-5 students pursuing your specific field. They will present their formal research on your industry’s trends, requirements, and future.

Your Role: Provide feedback. What did they get right? What is one thing no textbook can teach them?

9:30 - 10:20 a.m.: Networking & Finance Reception: Enjoy coffee and a light breakfast made by Marybeth Motasem’s Healthy Cuisine class while mingling with students from Mrs. Motasem’s Personal Finance class.

Your Role: Casual conversation. These students are learning about wealth building, salaries, and the cost of living. They want to hear from you about the financial journey of a professional. This is also an opportunity for participating BHS students to engage with adults outside of their comfort circle, giving them a chance to practice public speaking skills.

Professionals are needed in the following industries:

• Medical & Healthcare: dentist; physician assistant; medical support/tech (i.e., radiology, lab, ultrasound); and mental health professional (i.e.,, psychologist or social worker)
• Finance & Business: financial analyst; investment banker/wealth manager; accountant/CPA (Group 13); IT/tech professional
• Media: Film/TV producer or director
• Law, Science & Education: military pilot; politician/public official; diplomat; educator (2 needed – librarian, professor, or music); environmental scientist; forensic scientist

If you’re able to help provide feedback to students interested in your profession, and possibly influencing their professional trajectory, contact Chad Hemmelgarn, Bexley Schools’ Leader of Experiential Learning, as soon as possible.

Studying Social Justice: A Day of “Upstanders” and “Barrier Breakers”

By Chad Hemmelgarn, Leader of Experiential Learning

Our district recently celebrated Social Justice Day, an immersive event that brought the Wit and Wisdom ELA curriculum to life for 2nd- and 5th-grade students. By connecting with local “Upstanders” and “Barrier Breakers,” learners moved beyond classroom theory to engage with firsthand accounts of advocacy and resilience. 

The day was highlighted by a keynote address from Bexley Chief of Police Gary Lewis, who shared his “service-first” mindset and his work in community-oriented policing. Students participated in rapid-fire rotations, during which the interactions challenged our younger students to reflect on empathy while inspiring our 5th graders to think critically about systemic fairness and their own power to lead school-wide change.

This event successfully fostered a new generation of engaged citizens committed to social justice. By bridging the gap between listening and leading, our learners are now better equipped to turn big ideas into meaningful civic action. We are incredibly proud of our students for their curiosity and grateful to the community members who shared their stories to help nurture a school culture where everyone truly belongs.

Our 2026 Social Justice Day featured an inspiring lineup of “Upstanders” and “Barrier Breakers” from across the legal, medical, and educational fields:

Keynote Speaker

Chief Gary Lewis: The Bexley Chief of Police who champions “service-first” policing and building strong community bridges through empathy and transparency.

Featured Speakers & Advocates

Dr. Keith Bell: An award-winning educational leader dedicated to dismantling systemic barriers that limit higher education access for Black male students who taught the students about facing fear.

Maude Hill: President of the CAREX Foundation who works to break healthcare barriers in rural communities through telehealth access.

Mark Weiker: An education attorney who protects student rights by advocating for supplemental learning and alternatives to classroom removal who taught about the importance of first impressions.

Jordan Berman: An assistant federal public defender who uses the “power of persuasion” to fight legal injustice.

Becky Liefeld: A retired Bexley teacher and lifelong advocate who focused on her mother and sister Holly being “barrier breakers” to ensure educational access for all.

Chelsea Mahaffey: An ADA specialist who works to shift educational systems toward a “fair for everyone” model for students with disabilities.

Jeanie Schuerman: An OhioHealth midwife and advocate for healthcare access and paid parental leave.

Educator of the Year Nominations Due Tomorrow

Nominations for the 2026 Bexley Educator of the Year Award are due tomorrow, April 10. Nominators must submit information regarding their award nominee online and include a narrative (limited to 500 words) on how the nominee has made a significant difference in children’s lives. 

Kindergarten Orientation for Parents/Guardians Is Next Week

Events, Resources & More Available in Newest Parent Mentor Newsletter

Get news about special education, including upcoming events like What’s Next Bexley on May 5th, in the Spring edition of the Parent Mentor newsletter. The latest piece includes information on summer resources in Bexley and throughout the area. See the newsletter online.

Middle School Recognizes Student, Staff Core Value Winners for March

Congratulations to 6th grader Keagan Slagle, 7th grader Bennett Fitzgerald, and 8th grader Eric Redding and to Middle School building sub Nikki Barden, who were all recognized by the Middle School PBIS Committee recently.

The awards recognize three students who stood out for embodying Well-being – “caring for your physical and mental health and encouraging others to do the same.”

Pictured, from left: Bennett Fitzgerald, Eric Redding, Mrs. Barden, and Keagan Slagle

Well-being is one of the district’s seven core values, which also include Empathy, Equity, Inclusion, Integrity, Respect, and Responsibility.

The monthly awards also recognize a staff member, who is nominated by students to recognize an adult who has made a difference in their lives and embodies well-being.

Important Dates

April 14 (Tues.) – Montrose PTO Meeting, 7 p.m., School Library

April 15 (Wed.) – Champion Chat “Neurodiversity: Building Understanding,” 6:30 p.m., Bexley Public Library AND Livestream

April 16 (Thurs.) – DLPTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Location is 34 S. Cassady Ave. or by Zoom

April 16 (Thurs.) – Middle School Musical, Footloose Youth Edition, 7 p.m., Schottenstein Theatre; Tickets

April 17 (Fri.) – Middle School Musical, Footloose Youth Edition, 7:30 p.m., Schottenstein Theatre; Tickets

April 18 (Sat.) – Middle School Musical, Footloose Youth Edition, 2 p.m. AND 7:30 p.m., Schottenstein Theatre; Tickets

April 21 (Tues.) – Maryland PTO Meeting, 7 p.m., School Library

April 23 (Thurs.) – Kindergarten Orientation, 6 p.m., Each Elementary School

April 24 (Fri.) – Cassingham PTO Meeting, 8:35 a.m.; Check in at office

April 24 (Fri.) – High School Improv Show, 7:30 p.m., Cassingham Theatre

April 25 (Sat.) – High School One-Act Play, Play in a Day, 7:30 p.m., Cassingham Theatre

April 26 (Sun.) – Circle of Excellence, Bexley Minority Parent Alliance, 3:30 p.m., Bexley Public Library Auditorium

April 28 (Tues.) – High School Jazz Band Concert, 7 p.m., Schottenstein Theatre

April 29 (Wed.) – Orchestra Concert, Grades 4-12, 7 p.m., High School Gymnasium

April 30 (Thurs.) – Band Concert, Grades 5-12, 7 p.m., High School Gymnasium

April 30 (Thurs.) – Board of Education Special Meeting, 6 p.m., Bexley High School Library (No public participation at Special Meetings)