XENIA — Xenia Community Schools honored recently honored the educator and staff of the year.

Awardees each received a certificate of recognition and a $1,000 stipend.

The wards recognized staff who embody the best of the Buccaneer spirit, and nominations focused on the employee’s dedication to their job; skills, knowledge, and abilities; a willingness to help others, and leadership skills that made the nominee stand out from the crowd said school officials.

“Without staff members like these, our schools are just a collection of building,” said Dr. Gabe Lofton, superintendent of XCS. “It is the dedication of our faculty and staff that helps our students each and every day — and that spirit is what we honor with annual awards.”

Xenia High School theater and choir teacher Travis Matson was 2023 educator of the year. A 2007 graduate of Xenia High School, Matson began his career at Warner Middle School in 2014 and transferred to XHS in 2019.

His nominators noted his consistent display of inspiration to students, staff, and leaders.

“He does this by living and teaching in a way that reflects his work ethics, his high moral standards, and his passion for growing and developing young people” said one nominator. In addition, his nominators noted his creativity, dedication, as well as his ability to help foster a desire in his students to learn, grow, and achieve in all areas — not just in music or the performing arts.

Kelly Earwood, HR specialist, was honored as co-staff person of the year. Earwood’s nomination states: “In her role as an HR Specialist for the XCS Human Resource Department, Kelly demonstrates a positive attitude and is a hardworking professional. Kelly goes above and beyond to assist other colleagues, and has surmounted many challenges in her role. Her success is due in large part, to meeting those challenges head-on. She is a dedicated and enthusiastic individual, and her efforts have guaranteed the effectiveness of numerous projects.”

The XHS Custodian Team was nominated as a group for co-staff person of the year.

The nominator wrote: “The team is dedicated to the staff and students at Xenia High School. They go above and beyond to make sure that the building both looks good and functions well. They work as a team and are willing to pitch in wherever needed. Whether it means coming early or working weekends, this dedicated team works to make sure that XHS is ready to welcome students through the door each day as well as guests for after-hours events.”

Reach Karen Rase at 937-502-4534.