Springboro Schools recently named Katy Andersen, a reporter with WHIO-TV (Ch. 7 – Dayton, OH) and Helen Tracey-Noren, a producer with WCPO-TV (Ch. 9 – Cincinnati, OH) to the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) 2020 Media Honor Roll. The Media Honor Roll recognizes media personnel statewide for fair and balanced reporting of news about public schools.
Katy Andersen was selected by Springboro Schools specifically for her work in reporting on the “Logan’s Bark Park” story, which featured how Five Points Elementary students in Geri Dey’s second grade class put their persuasive writing lessons to good use. The students requested Springboro City Council to name the Hazel Woods Dog Park in honor of Logan Turner, a Springboro High School graduate (’08) who lost his life in the August 2019 Oregon District shooting.
Communications Coordinator for Springboro Schools Scott Marshall said, “Through her reporting, Katy Andersen has brought to light the positive efforts of Springboro Schools and the Springboro community. Mrs. Andersen’s commitment to showcasing the work our students, staff, and community members have done further highlights her great work as a reporter for WHIO-TV. The Logan’s Bark Park segment generated such a positive spin on an otherwise tragic story. We appreciate Katy’s collaboration, accuracy, and joyful personality in working with our staff to represent Springboro Schools to our community.”
Helen Tracey-Noren was also selected by Springboro Schools for her work in producing two district stories on WCPO’s Morning Show, “Cincy Lifestyle.” One story featured Ryan Hickey, a 5th Grader at Five Points Elementary, participating in a live "GeoBee" against the hosts of "Cincy Lifestyle," Allie Martin and Clyde Gray. Ryan was invited to be on the show after winning the Five Points Elementary GeoBee for the second consecutive year. Mrs. Tracey-Noren also produced a story featuring Cincy Lifestyle’s Host Mona Morrow speaking with 5th Grade Dennis Elementary students Taylor Meyer and Aubrey Stiens, as well as Gifted Intervention Specialist Deb Covey. The group were interviewed on the recently published work of several Dennis and Springboro Intermediate students in the book, "Spooky Sagas - Ohio Tales."
“Mrs. Tracey-Noren’s efforts in elevating the great stories of Springboro Schools to new heights has been such a delight. For our students and staff to be featured on a live morning show, it puts the spotlight on the great things happening here in Springboro. Helen’s collaborative efforts and hard work in making these segments so creative and informative has been nothing short of exceptional,” said Scott Marshall.
A plaque for the OSBA 2020 Media Honor Roll was presented at the Springboro Schools’ Board of Education meeting on February 24. Katy Andersen and Helen Tracey-Noren were both present at the meeting to accept their award.
Criteria for selection by the local school districts include the media representative’s efforts to report school news in a fair, accurate and balanced manner; give a high profile to positive news about schools; visit the schools; and maintain a policy of “no surprises.”
“OSBA is pleased that so many school districts around the state participated in the 2020 Media Honor Roll program,” said OSBA Chief Executive Officer Richard Lewis. “OSBA joins those districts in congratulating the honorees and thanking them for fairly and accurately reporting on the successes of students, teachers and school boards, as well as conveying the many challenges they face.”
OSBA sends personalized certificates to school boards to help them honor reporters, editors and news outlets. OSBA also recognizes the honorees in its Journal magazine and on its website.