MINERAL RIDGE — Seaborn Elementary School, which is part of the Weathersfield Local School District, has been selected as a 2025 Hall of Fame School by the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators. It is one of only 11 schools statewide to earn the distinction.

Leadership from OAESA is scheduled to attend the district’s Board of Education meeting Wednesday to celebrate this achievement with staff and community.

“I got the call Wednesday and it was like a Christmas Day moment. It was an unexpected and a cool surprise,” Seaborn Elementary Principal TJ Koniowsky said. “It brightened my whole day because our staff is extremely deserving of this recognition.”

The OAESA Hall of Fame School award recognizes schools that engage faculty, students and the community to provide a quality school experience through effective programming and instruction. Hall of Fame schools are characterized by an atmosphere of growth, achievement, pride and a dedication to excellence on the part of students and staff, according to a news release by OAESA.

For Seaborn’s nomination, Koniowsky submitted a detailed, 25-page application outlining the school’s curriculum, achievements, student supports, enrichment opportunities and culture of excellence. The school also hosted an in-person visit from Hall of Fame committee members in March.

“It was a great day to show the committee what makes Seaborn so special,” Koniowsky said. “They saw hands-on science labs, creative classroom activities, and even joined us in celebrating our students’ Pizza Joe’s flavor that won the Junior Achievement Innovation Challenge. It was a perfect snapshot of the Seaborn experience.”

This latest honor adds to a growing list of accolades for Seaborn Elementary. The school was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education in 2022, has earned 5-star ratings on its Ohio Department of Education and Workforce report card in 2022, 2024 and 2025, and was recognized as a Best Elementary School by U.S. News and World Report in 2022, 2024 and 2025.

“We’ve had four years of consistent success,” Koniowsky said. “That kind of longevity proves that our approach works — our teachers are exceptional, our students love coming to school.”

Weathersfield Local Schools Superintendent Damon Dohar also shared his pride in the achievement.

“Our teachers and staff at Seaborn, and across the district, work extremely hard every day to provide the very best experiences and opportunities for every student,” he said. “To be recognized as a Hall of Fame School is a testament to their dedication and to the wonderful partnership we have with our students and families. We are very proud.”

In addition to attending the Wednesday meeting, OAESA will recognize Seaborn as winners of the Hall of Fame School Award during OAESA’s awards celebration June 16 at the OAESA Professional Conference and Tradeshow in Columbus.