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[NEWS] Seeds Sweeps Awards at Annual OAACE Conference

Pictured left to right: Chris Richards, Todd Seabrook, Alex Ippolito


CLEVELAND, OHIO – October 2024 – At this year’s annual Ohio Association for Adult and Continuing Education (OAACE) conference and awards ceremony, held over two days in Columbus, Seeds of Literacy celebrated remarkable achievements, earning top awards in every category they entered. The event, attended by adult educators, test vendors, researchers, and more, featured workshops and presentations on the latest advancements in educational practices.

Among the featured speakers was Chris Richards, Assistant Director of Programming at Seeds of Literacy, who delivered an impactful presentation titled “Where Learning Happens.” Richards’ session focused on how neuroscience can enhance teaching techniques, aiming to help educators create more effective learning environments. Richards, a familiar face at OAACE, was previously honored as Instructor of the Year at the 2021 conference.

At this year’s awards luncheon, the Seeds of Literacy team received widespread recognition:

  • The Sharon-Davis Stubbe Outstanding Teacher Award went to Todd Seabrook, Virtual Coordinator at Seeds of Literacy, for his dedication to continuous improvement of the Virtual Classroom
  • The Sharon-Davis Stubbe Outstanding Support Staff Award recognized Alex Ippolito, Seeds Data Coordinator, for his invaluable contributions.

Expressing her gratitude, Bonnie Entler, President & CEO of Seeds of Literacy, said, “OAACE’s continued acknowledgment of our team’s commitment is truly rewarding. We’ve been honored with OAACE awards consecutively since 2021,” added Entler, who herself received OAACE’s Outstanding Administrator Award in 2015.

The conference also highlighted Seeds of Literacy’s exceptional students. Three 2024 Seeds graduates were awarded scholarships:

  • Jeffrey Mathis Turner and Kristiann James received the Max Way Learner Scholarship.
  • Hassaanah Abdul-Wadwood was awarded the Charley Flaig Lifelong Learner Scholarship.

“Seeds of Literacy exists for the students, and as proud as I am of our staff, I am continually inspired by the determination of our students,” said Entler. “I’m thrilled that three of our recent graduates were recognized with scholarships to continue their studies.”

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PRIOR WINS

  • 2024 Outstanding Instructor – Todd Seabrook
  • 2024 Outstanding Support Staff – Alex Ippolito
  • 2023 Outstanding Instructor – Kara Krawiec
  • 2023 Outstanding Support Staff – former employee
  • 2023 Northeast Region Outstanding Adult Educator – Becca Huntington
  • 2023 Scholarshpi Recipients – Saide Anderson & Shakeiya Edwards
  • 2022 Outstanding Support Staff – former employee 
  • 2021 Outstanding Instructor- Chris Richards
  • 2021 Outstanding Administrator – former employee 
  • 2015 Outstanding Administrator – Bonnie Entler