Employees Honored at 2025 District #7 Awards Banquet

Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 honored several of its outstanding employees, recognized the contributions of those employees with 25 years of service, and bid farewell with a salute to its retirees on Thursday night during its District Awards Banquet. The event was held at the SIUE Meridian Ballroom.  

17 employees were recognized for 25 years, while eight employees were honored for their upcoming retirement.  

Honorees included teachers, principals, custodians, cooks, paraprofessionals, and so many others who help make District #7 an outstanding place for adults to work and students to learn. 

Individual award winners included:  

• Tim Heffington (Liberty Middle School, Language Arts Teacher), Rookie of the Year | Video 

• Nancy Stahlhut (Columbus Elementary Head Custodian), Educator of the Year (classified staff) | Video 

• Tricia Kierbach (Woodland Elementary, 5th Grade Teacher), Educator of the Year (certified staff) | Video 

• Katie Bevis-O'Neal (Albert Cassens Elementary principal), Administrator of the Year | Video

 

25-Year Honorees 

• Gene Birdsell, Asst. Director of Information Systems/Services, Central Office 

• Hope Blythe, Science Teacher, Lincoln Middle School 

• Stacy Brase, 2nd Grade Teacher, Midway Elementary 

• Karla Brinkman, 1st Grade Teacher, Goshen Elementary 

• Mark Collins, Network Technician, Central Office 

• Julia Doll, Science Teacher/Instructional Coach, Edwardsville High School 

• Thomas Gill, Custodian, Edwardsville High School 

• Erica Goclan, RTI Teacher, Woodland Elementary 

• Mary Hughes, Special Education Teacher, Liberty Middle School 

• Mary Leone, Administrative Assistant/Special Education Department, Central Office 

• Karen McDonald, Preschool Academy Teacher, Glen Carbon Elementary 

• Amy Noascono, RTI Teacher, Glen Carbon Elementary 

• Bill Ogden Jr., Social Studies Teacher, Lincoln Middle School 

• Cynthia Robertson, Language Arts Teacher, Lincoln Middle School 

• Dawn Steinbeck, School Psychologist, Edwardsville High School 

• Steve Stuart, EGHM Foundation Executive Director, Central Office 

• Beth Swalwell, Secretary/Facilities & Maintenance, Central Office 

 

Retiree Honorees 

• Lisa Bohnenstiehl, School Nurse, Lincoln Middle School 

• Amy Ferguson, RTI Teacher, Hamel Elementary & Midway Elementary 

• Jeff Gall, Social Sciences Teacher, Edwardsville High School 

• Ana Harris, Foreign Language Teacher, Edwardsville High School 

• Beth Langendorf, 3rd Grade Teacher, Worden Elementary 

• Shelly Langston, Accounts Payable, Central Office 

• Curt Schumacher, Principal, Goshen Elementary 

• Nancy Stahlhut, Head Custodian, Columbus Elementary 
   

Building Educators of the Year (Classified) 

• Albert Cassens Elementary: Emily Bell, Program Assistant 

• Columbus Elementary: Nancy Stahlhut, Head Custodian 

• Edwardsville High School: Brenda Ohm, Secretary 

• Glen Carbon Elementary: Lucas Barrett, RBT 

• Goshen Elementary: Leah Gibbs, Head Cook 

• Hamel Elementary: Jodi Krause, Monitor/Secretary 

• Leclaire Elementary: Dave Clark, School Security Officer 

• Liberty Middle School: Jon Henke, Head Custodian 

• Lincoln Middle School: Dana Luckett, RBT 

• Midway Elementary: Jessica Baumgartner, Secretary 

• Nelson Elementary: Chris Kane, School Security Officer 

• Woodland Elementary: Bobby Messina, Head Custodian 

• Worden Elementary: Ana Goss, Secretary 

 

Educator of the Year (Certified) 

• Albert Cassens Elementary: Bre Leach, 5th Grade Teacher 

• Columbus Elementary: Grace Lane, 4th Grade Teacher 

• Edwardsville High School: Dawn Steinbeck, School Psychologist 

• Glen Carbon Elementary: Amy Noascono, RTI Teacher 

• Goshen Elementary: Ashley Halcom, Early Childhood Teacher 

• Hamel Elementary: Kris Landry, 2nd Grade Teacher 

• Leclaire Elementary: Lauren Mayes, School Psychologist 

• Liberty Middle School: Kelli Bruce, Social Studies Teacher 

• Lincoln Middle School: Cynthia Robertson, Language Arts Teacher 

• Midway Elementary: Carlyn Underwood, 1st Grade Teacher 

• Nelson Elementary: Cathy Heimos, 2nd Grade teacher 

• Woodland Elementary: Tricia Kierbach, 5th Grade Teacher 

• Worden Elementary: Julie Luitjohan, 3rd Grade Teacher