Thank You, Mrs. Dawn Gasper!
Leaving a lasting impact!
This summer Dawn Gasper retired from Little Miami. BUT, if you know Mrs. Gasper you know she’s not going anywhere and will continue to make a tremendous impact on our community and schools. Until her final days at LMES Mrs. Gasper and some volunteers spruced up the front gardens and grounds around the sign and in front of the entrance.
Thanks to the help of Greenfield Plant Farm, Bill Newton, Tom Handra, Brady Neltner (LM Alum) and Wyatt Albers (LM Student) the front of the building looks fantastic. Dawn also got some help from retired LM teachers Deb Haisley, Robin Prewitt and Judy Todia. New flowers, plants and mulch will make the start of the year extra special for staff and families.
A brief Message from Mrs. Gasper
It has been such a pleasure and honor working at Little Miami for the past 22 years. I have made so many special memories with students, parents, colleagues, scout troops and community members. In my last few years, I had children of my former high school students pass through my doors. That is when you know you have come full circle.
Winston and I will continue to have relationships with many of you. Our paths will continue to cross at local events such as the Warren County Fair, music/theater productions at the high school, sporting events and who knows what else we will get ourselves into. Winston and I will volunteer on Wednesdays beginning mid-fall at LMES.
Thank you and I wish Little Miami Schools and the community nothing but success as you continue to grow.
In May, Mrs. Gasper was chosen as a LifeChanger Award winner for the 2022-23 school year. Mrs. Gasper was given the award during a surprise school assembly in front of 900 students and staff, who excitedly cheered her on! Mrs. Gasper received a $3,000 prize, half of which will be donated to LMES for improvements to the sensory courtyard.
Gasper was among 16 nominees selected for this honor out of nearly 600 nominees of K-12 teachers and school employees nationwide.
Gasper moves from classroom to classroom, spreading kindness throughout the school. She is well known for pulling students and staff together to help community members in need.
LifeChanger of the Year is a national program annually recognizing K-12 educators who make a difference in students' lives.
At the school, her Sensory Courtyard and Room will continue to allow children to thrive as the spaces allow students to learn, destress, and enjoy a calming time.
The LMES courtyard has been transformed into a space for meditation, outdoor activities, classroom learning and a place for students to exert pent-up energy. During the initial cleanup phase of the courtyard project, an Eagle Scout cleared the shrubs around the pond, installed a balance beam, fixed and painted the bridge connecting the courtyard to the Sensory Room, planted raised garden beds with plants donated by Greenfield Nursery, and hung a hummingbird feeder.
In the fall, fish will be added to the pond!
The Sensory Room has plenty of comfortable, flexible seating options, books and mindfulness activities to enjoy, sensory items (kinetic sand and games), and so much more! This room is truly a haven for students to use when needed! Students can be found in this space, reading together in the tent, drawing on the chalkboard, or even getting a much-needed cuddle from Winston.
These beautiful and relaxing spaces would not have been possible without the generosity of community members, local businesses, and LMES staff, who have poured their hearts into making LMES an even better place to learn and grow.
