November News and Updates

School Spotlights & Updates

Our Great K-8s

History in the Making

Miami Valley Academies — This year, MVA launched its very first girls’ volleyball program, the school’s first-ever competitive sports team. Composed of dedicated 6th, 7th and 8th graders, the middle school squad finished an impressive inaugural season with an 8–2 record.

MVA created the program to expand extracurricular activities and support overall student development alongside academics. The new team sparked school pride, fostered mentorship across grade levels and drew enthusiastic support from parents, staff and the community.

Principal Stephanie Webb highlighted the significance of the season.

“This team is making history. These young women will always be remembered as the first volleyball players to represent Miami Valley Academies, and their season ending record of 8 wins and 2 losses certainly shows their improvement, dedication and teamwork throughout the season. While this season is about volleyball, it’s also about creating opportunities, building school pride, and showing our students that they can achieve great things when they work together. We are incredibly proud of everything this team has accomplished and excited for the future of MVA volleyball.”

– Principal Stephanie Webb

High School Happenings

A Major Milestone

Akron Career Tech High School – ACT has officially been named one of the nation’s top public high schools by U.S. News & World Report in its prestigious annual Best High Schools rankings. To mark the milestone, Principal Williams was presented with a commemorative plaque celebrating the national honor.

We are immensely grateful for the dedication of Principal Williams, our students, families and staff who make ACT such a special place to learn and grow. The U.S. News & World Report rankings evaluate thousands of public high schools across all 50 states using key metrics including state assessment performance, graduation rates, performance of underserved student demographics and college and career readiness. 

ACT’s recognition underscores the school’s success in preparing students for post-secondary education and workforce achievement.

School officials, community members, prospective families and local partners are invited to share the news, as ACT continues its mission of providing specialized, career-focused education in Akron.

Cultivating Tomorrow

Stark High School — Stark has launched a new indoor hydroponics program funded by the Youth Innovators Empowering Agriculture Across America (YEA) initiative through The Ohio State University (OSU) Extension. Using a high-tech Nutraponics™ Automated Pro Shelf System equipped with LED lighting, automated watering and nutrient sensors, the compact unit grows 72 plants and 85 seedlings simultaneously. The school plans to expand from one unit to three as the program grows.



Located in a central hallway alongside a worm-composting setup, the high-tech garden has become a popular feature among students. The program connects directly with Stark High’s culinary arts classes and high school STEM curriculum, meeting all three goals of the Ohio Farm to School initiative: providing local food, maintaining a school garden and offering hands-on lessons in agricultural science and nutrition.

The initiative is part of a broader five-year regional project funded by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Dr. Barry L. Tadlock, Grant Coordinator at OSU, explained the scope:



“The Empowering the Next Generation Ag & Food Systems project is a five-year, multi-state initiative, funded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The project, headquartered at The Ohio State University, includes seven other midwestern land grant institutions. Its goal is to inspire and equip young people to become leaders in food and agriculture systems by making them aware of career opportunities, helping them develop career-relevant skills and competencies, and exposing them to educational and industry pathways that lead to those careers.”

Groundwork for the program relies on hands-on skill-building, mentorship and culturally responsive instruction. 

“We are excited to offer students a new experience; one that opens their mindset and creates new opportunities for their future.” — Principal Hart

“Gaining the knowledge to grow your own food can be life changing. I am excited to integrate more Culinary Science into our program!” — Mr. Joe

The Safe Zone

At EEG, ensuring the well-being of our students, staff and visitors remains an unwavering priority. Led by Troy Powell, Director of School Safety, we continue to equip our personnel with rigorous training in Crisis Prevention Intervention, ALICE protocols, and comprehensive emergency management. We commend our school teams for their dedicated participation and proactive approach to campus security.

To complement our training, the EEG Facilities team regularly audits and maintains key safety systems across all sites:

• Emergency Response Readiness – Auditing all building AED units to confirm operational readiness.
• Facilities Management – Training administrators on location-specific public utility emergency shutoffs.
• System Diagnostics – Conducting monthly testing of threat horns, visual strobe alerts, and automated multi-channel messaging (SMS and email).

Multi-channel communication is fundamental to effective crisis management. Thank you to our entire team for their vigilance and dedication to maintaining safe learning environments.

Elevating Everyday Wellness

Catch up on your rest and keep your heart strong this November!

Did you know it’s National Sleep Comfort Month? Prioritizing 7–9 hours of sleep per night protects against heart disease and regulates blood sugar. Recovery from just one lost hour can take up to four days. Plus, discover how adding fresh fruit to your diet can lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation and protect your heart.



Dive into our latest Health Newsletter below for the full guide to better rest and heart-healthy eating!