‘Ultimate Tigers fan’ Steve Parker posthumously honored for years of support
Mary Jane Parker, wife of the late Steve Parker, is pictured with grandchildren Christopher and Riley Lanning and daughter Stephanie Lanning at the June 26 school board meeting where Steve Parker was posthumously awarded the OHSAA Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity award. Also pictured (l-r) are school board members Rachel Fraley, Eric Wise, Eric Zint, Marilyn Mitchell and Sandy Free. (Photos by Angela Shepherd)
Steve Parker, a well-known and much-loved member of the Greenfield community, has posthumously been recognized with an award from the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
His wife, Mary Jane Parker, daughter Stephanie Lanning and grandchildren Christopher and Riley Lanning were on hand Monday to accept the award during the regular meeting of the Greenfield Exempted Village Schools District Board of Education.
Superintendent Quincey Gray presented the OHSAA Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity award to Mary Jane Parker on Monday, with Gray saying, “I believe I speak for everyone when I say that Steve was the ultimate Tigers fan.”
Mary Jane Parker, her voice heavy with emotion, spoke of her husband’s involvement through the years with sports throughout the district, his assistance to coaching staff and his utter joy of all the sports. “He just loved McClain athletics. He really did.”
The OHSAA Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity award is presented annually, according to the athletic association’s website, and is the “highest honor” the organization can bestow on an Ohioan, one who shows “outstanding traits of ethical behavior and integrity in the performance of duties and responsibilities and is a role model for others.”
In other business, district treasurer Joe Pat Smith provided the 2023-24 appropriations, which will be submitted to the county auditor. The school board approved those appropriations within the consent agenda.
Other items on the consent agenda included the resignation of Rainsboro Elementary teacher Heidi Tite and the resignation of Carole Martin, nurse at Rainsboro Elementary.
In her report, Gray noted that Summer Tiger Bites, the district’s summer feeding program, is serving around 400 meals per day. Meals are served throughout the week from all three elementaries. The food service program was created to help with food insecurity in the area. Any child 18 and under is eligible to receive meals. The program is also eligible for federal reimbursement through the USDA for each meal served.
Student athletes were recognized on Monday from baseball, softball and track and field. Those students are: baseball – Kaden Penwell - All-Frontier Athletic Conference and first-team All-District; Andrew Potts - second-team All-District; Jayden Allison - honorable mention All-District; Haydon Hice - special mention All-District; and Gavin Warren - special mention All-District. Softball – Leah Lovett - first-team All-District; Kenzie Wise - honorable mention All-District; Harley Peabody - honorable mention All-District; and Brieann Cummins - honorable mention All-District. Girls track and field – Lily Barnes - FAC champion in shot put and discus, district champion in discus, regional qualifier in shot put and state qualifier in discus; Mylie Lovett - FAC champion and regional qualifier in high jump; Becca Bergstrom - FAC champion and regional qualifier in pole vault; Brenna Wright - district champion in 100 and 300 hurdles and state qualifier in 100 hurdles; Luca Matesic - long jump regional qualifier; Ryan Butterbaugh - 300 hurdles regional qualifier; Leah Lovett - discus regional qualifier; 4x100 team of Butterbaugh, Wright, Katie Cook and Matesic - district champions and state qualifiers; 4x400 team of Kaitlyn Jett, Matesic, Butterbaugh and Bergstrom - regional qualifier; and 4x200 team of Cook, Anna Eikenberry, Addison Olaker and Lovett - regional qualifiers. Boys track and field – Michael Stevenson - FAC discus champion; and TD Matesic - 400 meter regional qualifier.
In JVS Delegate Greg Barr’s report, which was presented by Gray, Barr noted that he attended a packed Patriot Center at Southern State Community College on May 23 for Laurel Oaks’ Senior Ceremony. He said every year a few students are requested to assist with the program, and that it is rare that those students are from the same school, but this year two McClain students took part in the ceremony with Katherine Alvarez introducing guests and Savannah Switzer presenting the class reflections.
The all-class reunion is coming up on July 15 and will begin with the Edward Lee McClain Day ceremony in front of the high school. Gray said following that ceremony, everyone will enter the high school through the front doors as students used to do.
The day will be full of opportunities like meeting up with old classmates, touring the school, taking a dip in the pool during open swim time and enjoying a reservation-only dinner in the cafeteria. The activities of the day will end with a dance in the new gym. For information, you may contact John Wilson by email at MSgt.wilson@yahoo.com.
Employment recommendations approved by the board of education, both from Monday, June 26 and a special meeting on June 12, are: Lindsay McNeal - Greenfield Elementary Principal; Shelby Guthrie - middle school vo-ag teacher; Beth Newsome - speech language pathologist; Sally Schafer - Greenfield Elementary second grade teacher; Stacie Smith - middle school math; Haley Jett - aide; Heidi Lemaster - classroom aide; Evan McGlone - classroom aide; Tiffany Saunders - aide; Courtney Speakman - aide; Kayla Warfield - aide; Lacey Hawkins - substitute van driver; Carolyn Arthurs - sophomore class adviser; Angie Barber - National Honor Society and math department lead; Mark Bihl - senior class adviser; Audrey Case - language arts department lead and student council adviser; Jeana Copas McNeal - Greenfield Elementary technology aide; Rick Duffus - band director; Loretta Flora - dramatics and high school vocal music; Mary Beth Goolsby - Rainsboro technology aide; Kassie Hutchinson - annual staff adviser; Ashley Kesler - science department lead and freshman class adviser; Nathan Luke - vocational department lead, live streaming, high school technology aide and high school robotics; Schylar Maag - band assistant; Jenny Mustard - student council adviser; Ashley Rowland - junior class adviser; Rachel Tarlton Soards - National Art adviser and high school quick recall; Lori Tuttle - Drug-Free Clubs of America adviser; David Weaks - band assistant; Tati Weaks - Tigerettes; John Wilson - Honor Guard; Evan McGlone - football assistant; Karen Mullikin - Buckskin technology aide; Scott Hurtt - football assistant; Caden Wisecup - eSports; Brad Campbell - seventh grade football; Adam Coonrod - boys bowling; Ashley Karnes - junior high cheerleader adviser for basketball and football, majorette adviser; Bradley Rowland - live streaming; Darrell Upp - football assistant; Bob Bergstrom - assistant for football and track; Braden Wright - football assistant; Paige Basford - middle school English language arts; Kayla Marlowe - Greenfield Elementary preschool; Kim Beatty - cafeteria; Stacey Beachey - certified substitute; Caden Wisecup - certified substitute; Kyle Beachy - boys golf; Kaleigh Easter - seventh grade volleyball; Mark Newkirk - girls soccer assistant; and Brianna Weller - girls golf assistant.
The next regular meeting of the Greenfield Exempted Village School District Board of Education is July 17 at 7 p.m. at the central office boardroom. For information and updates, go to the district website at greenfield.k12.oh.us or go to the district’s social media pages. The individual buildings also have Facebook pages. The district’s central office may be reached by calling (937) 981-2152.
