North Ridgeville City Schools honors Stop the Hate winners and students of the month

At its April 21 meeting, the North Ridgeville City Schools Board of Education and district staff highlighted student and staff achievements, recognizing regional Stop the Hate contest winners, students of the month at multiple schools and two outstanding staff members.

A presenter told the board the Malt Museum’s Stop the Hate contest drew more than 3,600 student entries from over 150 schools; the district’s middle-school songwriting winners received a $3,000 grant for the academic center. "Their work earned a $3,000 grant for the academic center," the presenter said, and the board invited participating students to the front of the room.

Students who were recognized introduced themselves and thanked the board in brief remarks (Joyce Idling; Reagan; Annabelle Lloyd; Allison Coates; Donna Sai and others). Teachers and nominating staff described students’ classroom leadership, inclusivity and persistence. Introducing several nominees, Mister Sullivan (introduced during the program) said of one honoree, "Noah is deserving a deserving choice for student of the month due to his tremendous growth, effort, and heart he has shown this year." The board also named student-of-the-month recipients at RHTA and the high school, and noted extracurricular involvement and postsecondary aspirations for honorees.

Two staff members were singled out: Bridget Di Loretto, a paraprofessional instructional aide at Liberty Elementary rehired after prior employment, and Anthony Smith, a computer technician who joined the district in April 2023. On Smith, the presenter said, "He works hard to fix Chromebooks and helps with any tech issues, always with kindness and patience."

The board recessed briefly for group photos and then continued with routine agenda items. The recognitions portion of the meeting highlighted student creativity, staff nominations and a regional award that provided a small grant to the district’s academic program.