Western & Southern Financial Group announced today that Katheryn Hunsberger, preschool teacher at Gamble Montessori Elementary School, has been named the 2022 Dr. Lawrence C. Hawkins Educator of the Year.
Hunsberger was chosen by Western & Southern from finalists who were nominated by their peers in Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) for the award. She was recognized today with a plaque at a ceremony held at the Masonic Center downtown and will receive a personal check for $10,000. At the ceremony, WLWT-TV anchor Courtis Fuller served as emcee, and John F. Barrett, Western & Southern’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, and Iranetta Wright, new superintendent of CPS, congratulated the finalists.
“We are very pleased to recognize Katheryn for her dedication to her students and serving as an exemplary role model,” Barrett said. “Recognizing educators like Katheryn and preparing young people for the future is a focus of Western & Southern in its efforts to help make Cincinnati the best place to live, work and celebrate life.”
“The way Katheryn has gone above and beyond to help her students is truly impressive,” Wright said. “We thank Western & Southern for honoring Katheryn and commend all of the educators who were nominated.”
Western & Southern established the Dr. Lawrence C. Hawkins Educator of the Year Award in 2007 to inspire and reward excellence among CPS educators. This distinguished award honors one educator each year who has elevated the educational process in public schools to an exceptional level through personal commitment, dedicated focus and outstanding results. The namesake of the award, Dr. Lawrence C. Hawkins, was a member of the elite Tuskegee Airmen, a well-respected Cincinnati educator, former executive vice president of administration at the University of Cincinnati and former Western & Southern board member. He passed away in 2009.
For more information on the Dr. Lawrence C. Hawkins Educator of the Year Award, visit www.westernsouthern.com/hawkinsaward.
About Cincinnati Public Schools
At Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS), we are preparing students for life by creating more choices and more opportunities for our 35,000 students and their families. It starts with preschool where over 93% of our classrooms have earned a 5-star rating from the Ohio Department of Education. Our high school students have a variety of choices for career-focused programming, ensuring that our graduates are enrolled in college, enlisted in the military or employed. Our strategic initiatives will ensure that CPS is a place where students can thrive, shine and succeed.
