View text-based website

Serving Lake &
Geauga Counties

Walter Horn Awards

Walter Horn Award Nominations for 2025-26


Janet Sapp - Chardon Local School District	Dani Taraba - Berkshire Local School District

Special congratulations to educator Janet Sapp of Chardon Local School District, recipient of the Franklin B. Walter Award, and student Dani Taraba of Berkshire Local School District, recipient of the R.A. Horn Award. Both nominees will be recognized, in June, by the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, along with nominees from other regions.

Congratulations to all educator and student nominations for the 2025-26 Walter Horn Awards!

F.B. Walter Award - Outstanding Educator Nominations:

Brianne Valenti	Berkshire Local School District
Ed Blasier	Berkshire Local School District
Elizabeth Turcovsky	Broadmoor School
Dakota Ward	Cardinal Local School District
Janet Sapp	Chardon Local School District
Metzenbaum Preschool	ESC of the Western Reserve
Gaitway Team	Gateway School
Christina Hehmeyer	Madison Local School District
Katie Romo	Mentor Public Schools
Lauren Howard	Riverside Local School District
Sara Salsbury	West Geauga Local School District
Jamie Trivisonno	Wickliffe City School District
Heather Dodd	Willoughby-Eastlake City School District

R.A. Horn Award - Outstanding Student Nominations:

Daniella Taraba	Berkshire Local School District
Mason Montz	Broadmoor School
Gabe Noce	Cardinal Local School District
Emily Doolittle	Chardon Local School District
Ethan Daly	Madison Local School District
Beckett Buccerri	Mentor Public Schools
Parker Tarrant	Riverside Local School District
Parker Degrazio	Wickliffe City School District

The History of the Walter Horn Awards

Raymond A. Horn
Outstanding Achievement Award

Named in honor of the late Dr. Raymond A. Horn, Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction Emeritus, this prestigious award recognizes students’ remarkable performance. Acknowledged as a national leader in the field of special education, Dr. Horn devoted more than 60 years of service to improving the quality of life and learning for students with disabilities. Dr. Horn left behind a legacy and a challenge to all to ensure that every student with a disability be given the respect and the opportunities to which they are entitled.

Franklin B. Walter
Outstanding Educator Award

Named in honor of the late Dr. Franklin B. Walter, Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1977 until 1991, a post held longer than any other state superintendent in Ohio’s history. With over 50 years of service as a teacher and administrator, Dr. Walter’s leadership is evident in many of Ohio’s quality educational initiatives and programs. Among these is the development of the nation’s first statewide plan for children with disabilities.