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Board Awards

Each year, Connecting for Kids recognizes individuals who embody our mission and values by providing resources, support and community to families.

Our Board Awards honor outstanding parents, educators, professionals and board members who make a difference for families in our community.

Glass Connecting for Kids Board Award

Award Categories

Parent of the Year

Recognizes a caregiver who goes above and beyond to provide resources, support or community to other families.

Professional of the Year

Recognizes a professional who goes above and beyond to provide resources, support or community to families.

Educator of the Year

Recognizes an educator who goes above and beyond to provide resources, support or community to families.

Kathleen Louise Nash Board Member of the Year

Recognizes a board member selected by their peers for exemplary service. This award honors CFK's founding board president.

Board Award Nominations Are Open

Know a parent, educator or professional who goes above and beyond to support families? Nominate them for a Connecting for Kids Board Award!

Nominations close Thursday, Nov. 12

Nominate Someone

Past Award Winners

2026

Parent of the Year
Jennifer Layton
Professional of the Year
Tom Heines
Empower Sports
Educator of the Year
Patricia Wagner
Beach School
Rocky River
Kathleen Louise Nash Board Member of the Year
Julia Pritchard

2025

Parent of the Year
Ashley Kingsboro
Professional of the Year
Bradley Wyner, NADD-DDS
Milestones Autism Resources
Educator of the Year
Christina Barta, MEd
Cleveland Clinic Children’s
Lerner School for Autism
Kathleen Louise Nash Board Member of the Year
Kristi Stolarski

2024

Parent of the Year
Yin Mei Lim
Professional of the Year
Dr. Katelyn Colborn
Cleveland Clinic
Educator of the Year
Amy McElwain
The Bridge Avenue School
Kathleen Louise Nash Board Member of the Year
Dr. Alaka Chandurkar

2023

Parent of the Year
Patricia Parker
Professional of the Year
Lisa Ruman, LISW, CHt
The Child & Family Counseling Center of Westlake
Educator of the Year
Heather Lahoski, MEd
Keystone Schools
Kathleen Louise Nash Board Member of the Year
Stephanie McNamara, JD

2022

Parent of the Year
Salina Miller
Professionals of the Year
Jeremy Meduri, BCBA & Sara Rausch, MA
Insight Academy
Educator of the Year
David Schindler
Avon Lake City Schools
Kathleen Louise Nash Board Member of the Year
Christine Chambers, MEd, OTR/L

2021

Kathleen Louise Nash Board Member of the Year
Tish Henry, MEd

2020

Parent of the Year
Jean Dombrosky
Professional/Educator of the Year
Robert Wohleber
Albert Einstein Academy
Kathleen Louise Nash Board Member of the Year
Kathryn Bryan, PhD

2019

Parent of the Year
Paula Nwankwo
Professional/Educator of the Year
Christina Meecha, MEd
Westlake City Schools
Board Member of the Year
Rebecca Baker, CPA

2018

Parents of the Year
Chris & Maureen Box
Professional/Educator of the Year
Natalie Tesar, MA Ed
Avon Lake City Schools
Board Member of the Year
Kimberly V. Riley, Esq.

2017

Parent of the Year
Mariel Krakowiak
Professional/Educator of the Year
Ellen Spear, MA, CCC-SLP
Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.
Board Member of the Year
Meghan Barlow, PhD

2016

Parent of the Year
Stacy Miner
Professional/Educator of the Year
Amy Lee, PhD
Cleveland Clinic
Media Person of the Year
Kevin Kelley
West Life
Board Member of the Year
Andrew Mangels

2015

Parent of the Year
Julie Norris
Professional/Educator of the Year
Natalie Matthews, MA
Avon Lake City Schools
Media Person of the Year
Todd Meany
FOX 8 Cleveland
Board Member of the Year
Niccole McEwen
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