Photo by Joselyn King Ohio County Schools bus driver Cassandra Beiswenger, second from right, is congratulated after being announced as the Ohio County School’s “service personnel of the year” Monday night. Pictured are Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones, left, Superintendent Kim Miller, Beiswenger and board of education president David Croft.

WHEELING — Ohio County Schools named its top teacher and service personnel employees during Monday night’s Board of Education meeting.

Stefanie Cirilli, a reading specialist at Elm Grove Elementary, was announced as Teacher of the Year. Last week, she was among those receiving that same designation from the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce.

She also serves as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling University.

Meanwhile, bus driver Cassandra Beiswenger was recognized as Service Personnel of the Year. She has been an employee of Ohio County Schools since 2008.

“What sets Cassy apart is her genuine care for her students,” said David Crumm, director of operations for Ohio County Schools. “Cassy celebrates the students that ride her bus by attending their graduations, setting up celebrations like roller derby, working with their parents for special outings and driving trips that her students attend for sports and extracurricular activities.”

Cirilli has been affiliated with Ohio County Schools since 2014. She is now a reading specialist, but she began her career as a special education teacher. Her entire teaching career in Ohio County has been at Elm Grove Elementary.

Before coming to the school district, Cirilli was a special education teacher at Hedgesville Elementary School in the Eastern Panhandle.

“Dr. Cirilli makes learning to read fun for her students,” said Elm Grove Elementary Principal Richard Dunlevy. “They are excited to go to her classroom, and you can see their reading confidence grow while she’s teaching. She knows each of her students’ individual needs and does what is best to build their love of reading.”

Teachers and service personnel, respectively, nominated for the awards from each school are as follows:

– Bethlehem Elementary: Shannon Marsh and Terri Holliday

– Elm Grove Elementary: Cirilli and Heather Cox

– Madison Elementary: Matthew Gruber and Amy Klages

– Ritchie Elementary: Jess Bartemes and Susan Ratcliffe

– Steenrod Elementary: Allison Craig and Darla Garrett

– Warwood Elementary: Liza Milton and Heather Blakely

– West Liberty Elementary: Stephanie Ferguson and Amy Speaker

– Woodsdale Elementary: Rebecca Lief and Kristen McConn

– Bridge Street Middle: Sarah Jones and Kyle Gibson

– Triadelphia Middle: Cindy Stahanczyk and Kyle Gibson

– Warwood Middle: Maria Murphy and Jaime Cunningham

– Wheeling Middle: Abigail Caldwell and James Tukesbrey

– Wheeling Park High School: Ashlee Kuca and Linda Fonner

– Central Office (service personnel): Lexy Frangos

– Maintenance (service personnel): Chris Pelluchette

– Transportation (service personnel): Beiswenger

Beiswenger and Cirilli will next compete for respective state Teacher and Service Personnel of the Year awards, which will be announced in September.

“Both of these women embody everything it means to be all in for kids,” said Dr. Miller, Ohio County Schools superintendent.

New this year from the West Virginia Department of Education are “Principal of the Year” and “Counselor of the Year” honors for school employees.

Ohio County Board of Education members Monday night also honored Steenrod Elementary Principal Michelle Dietrich as the school district’s Principal of the Year and Bridge Street Middle School counselor Brittany Rose as Counselor of the Year.

The board meeting took place at Wheeling Park High School’s Beneke Theater rather than the smaller board office to accommodate all the honorees and their family members expected to attend.

Also Monday night, board members approved the hiring of Nick Irvin as the new principal at Madison Elementary effective Aug. 6. He will succeed current principal Andrea Trio, who will move to the central office to become student services director.

The board will next meet at 6 p.m. May 11 in the board office, 2203 National Road, Elm Grove.