SST9 is honored to open nominations for the Karen M. Williams Leadership Award, RA Horn Outstanding Student Achievement Award, and the Franklin B. Walter Outstanding Educator Award.  This year's student and educator nominees will be invited to a regional awards celebration on Saturday, April 18th, at RG Drage Career Technical Center.  One student and one educator/educator team will also be honored by the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD) in June 2026.  

Karen M. Williams Leadership Award

The award honors a leader whose efforts have improved the quality of education and opportunities for students. Nominees should exemplify the values that Dr. Williams espoused: kindness, courage, empathy, passion, integrity, humor, and more.  Consider nominating an educational leader who you believe fits these values.

Karen M. Williams Award Information

SST9 Karen M Williams Leadership Award Nomination Form

RA Horn Outstanding Student Achievement Award

This award is for students who have been identified with a disability and are served by an IEP.  Schools are welcome to nominate multiple deserving students.  Each nominee is considered by an appointed SST-9 committee, which selects one "regional winner" to be recognized by the OCECD.   The OCECD will provide an individual award and post all winners from across Ohio on their website. 

RA Horn Student Nomination Form

Franklin B. Walter Outstanding Educator Award 

This award is for school districts to recognize excellence in teaching.  Each nominee is considered by an appointed SST-9 committee who selects one individual educator or team of educators as the “regional winner” to be recognized by the OCECD.  The OCECD will provide an individual award and post all winners from across Ohio on its website. 

Franklin B. Walter Outstanding Educator Nomination Form 

The due date for all nominations is March 13, 2026.

Please note - nominations can only be accepted from schools served in the SST9 region of Holmes, Stark and Wayne counties.  

Contact Holly Kemp at holly.kemp@sst9.org, Barb Cockroft at barb.cockroft@sst9.org or leeann.weigman@sst9.org if you have any questions.