Category: News

Hilliard City Schools is taking important steps to prepare for the future. Below is a conceptual design of the new elementary schools that will be built if Issue 39 passes. We are planning now so that, if successful, work can begin as soon as possible. Please note, these designs are preliminary, and many details are still being finalized. Here are a few items to highlight:

New Brown Elementary School

· 4 dedicated kindergarten classrooms

· 20 dedicated grade 1 through 5 classrooms

· One each of art, music, gymnasium, and innovation & discovery center areas

Rebuilt Ridgewood and Beacon Elementary Schools

· 2 additional dedicated kindergarten classrooms with restrooms, 4 total

· 6 dedicated rooms for special education, EL, and gifted programs

· 2 extended learning areas and 4 small group areas

· Dedicated makerspace adjacent to the Innovation and Discovery Center

· Enhanced administrative offices with integral security vestibule

· Enclosed mechanical equipment mezzanine

We appreciate your interest as we continue to address the district’s facility needs.

Congratulations to this month’s Embrace, Empower & Inspire Award winners, Gina Schmidt (Secretary) and Brianna Paige (Behavior Analyst).

Gina consistently goes above and beyond by providing exceptional support to her colleagues, ensuring that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. Her attention to detail and positive attitude help create a welcoming and organized environment for everyone.

Brianna works tirelessly to support students with behavioral needs, showing extraordinary dedication and compassion. Her innovative approaches and commitment to each student’s success truly make a lasting impact across the district.

These staff members go above and beyond the expectations of the Hilliard Way and truly make a difference in our district. If you know a staff member who goes above and beyond their way to make a difference, you can nominate them for next month’s award by clicking HERE!

A 2008 graduate of Hilliard Davidson, Morgan Drake has always had a passion for dance.

After dancing competitively throughout her childhood, she attended musical theater school in New York after high school before joining a contemporary modern dance company in central Ohio. She started teaching dance in local studios, leading her to make her dream of opening her own studio a reality.

Now in its seventh year, Drake Dance Academy features a recreational dance program for ages 2-18 as well as a competitive team made up of nearly 70 dancers, primarily from the Hilliard and Dublin areas, who have accumulated several national titles. Drake Dance Academy dancers often showcase their talents at Old Hilliard Fest. 

“I created DDA to create a safe space for kids; an outlet from the stressors of the world,” said Drake. “My studio is an environment filled with positivity where dancers can make mistakes knowing they are free from judgment.”

She said she still has great connections with many of the educators at Hilliard Schools and appreciates their support of her dreams while she was a student there. Learn more about Drake Dance Academy at dancedda.com.   

If you have an alumnus you would like to see spotlighted, click here to send us an email!

We are proud to announce that the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce has released the 2023-24 Ohio School Report Cards, and Hilliard City Schools has much to celebrate.

Our district earned 4.5 out of 5 stars, signifying that we exceeded state standards. Even more exciting, the Hilliard City Schools was ranked #1 out of 606 public school districts in Ohio for overall value-added composite (value-added score), according to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.  This is the second year in a row that the Hilliard City Schools has been ranked #1 in the state of Ohio on this critically important measure.

The value-added score, a pivotal measure of our students’ academic growth, goes beyond mere test scores. It zeroes in on the progress each student makes over the school year despite their starting point. This underscores the unwavering commitment of our teachers and staff to ensure every student is making strides and growing academically.

The Progress Component, based entirely on value-added data, compares students’ growth to what was expected based on their previous state test performance. This approach helps ensure we’re focusing on the individual progress of every student and their readiness for future success.

I want to extend my congratulations and gratitude to our incredible staff and students for their hard work and commitment to excellence. This achievement is a testament to our shared dedication to preparing every student for success today and in the future.

Thank you for your continued support as we remain committed to being Ready for Tomorrow!

Superintendent – David Stewart

Congratulations to this month’s Embrace, Empower & Inspire Award winner, Kate Miller (Brown Elementary Principal).

“Kate handles everything with such grace and dignity. She knows the staff and students in her building and builds them up at all times. The energy, positivity, and JOY that she exudes is contagious. We know this type of leadership has such a dynamic ripple effect as it trickles down and makes our school community an amazing place!”

“Kate is so kind! She always has a smile on her face no matter what she is going through. Her ambition and strength never stops! She definitely is my role model! We love her at Brown!”

“Through example, Kate develops staff who desire to serve others in whatever way our students and coworkers need. She is understanding, yet pushes us to be our best for our students and for personal growth.”

These staff members go above and beyond the expectations of the Hilliard Way and truly make a difference in our district. If you know a staff member who goes above and beyond their way to make a difference, you can nominate them for next month’s award by clicking HERE!

Alumni Spotlight – Ben Gettinger

There are two things Ben Gettinger credits for his success today from his time at Hilliard Schools. First, being part of the lacrosse team, which he said helped him grow and mature as a human, and second, being a staff member of the school newspaper.

“Working on the school paper helped me build leadership skills and gain visibility to other people within the school,” he said. 

A 1997 graduate of Davidson High School, Gettinger earned a degree in MIS and marketing from Miami University before heading off to the Windy City. Today, he lives in Denver, Colorado, with his family, where he works in business development for Accenture, a leading global professional services company that helps businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core.  

He is thankful to have gotten his educational foundation in what he calls a “great community with a lot of caring individuals.”

Alumni Spotlight – Jared Gettinger

Jared Gettinger is a 2001 graduate of Hilliard Davidson High School. Upon graduating, he attended Miami University where he received a bachelor’s in Management Information Systems. After spending a brief period back in Columbus, he relocated to Chicago to start his career. 

Today he is the Vice President, Commercial Strategy and Growth Americas Region for LenelS2, a global leader in advanced security solutions. In his role at LenelS2, Jared focuses on business development, new customer acquisition and technology partnerships. 

Jared attributes his current success to the invaluable experience of being a part of a community like Hilliard. Reflecting on his time at Hilliard Schools, he cherishes the formation of strong friendships. Participation in various athletic teams played a pivotal role in cultivating a profound sense of teamwork and imparting leadership skills that contribute to his success today.

Jared continues to reside in Chicago with his wife, daughter, son and dog.  The family enjoys spending time together, engaging in activities such as biking and swimming in Lake Michigan. 

If you have alumni you would like to see spotlighted, click here to send us an email!