Lisa Cinadr, principal of St. Ambrose School in Brunswick, is the 2019 recipient of the Dr. Karen M. Ristau Innovations Award, presented by the National Catholic Educational Association.
Cinadr was recognized for the award at the NCEA presidents dinner during the association’s annual conference on April 22 in Chicago, Illinois. The presidents dinner honors individuals for their dedication to Catholic education across the nation during the opening night of the weeklong conference.
Tom Burnford, NCEA president and CEO, presented the award to Cinadr on stage in a room filled with her peers from across the country. More than 9,000 Catholic educators traveled to the conference that focused on learning and leading while embracing grace and Catholic teachings in the 21st century.
The Dr. Karen M. Ristau Innovations award is presented annually to an individual, school or program that has furthered the mission of Catholic education through an innovative program or approach.
Cinadr joined St. Ambrose School in 2016. Since then, she has led a dedicated team of faculty and staff to pursue the highest quality of researched educational practices. These best practices include 21st century teaching methods that integrate STEAM across all curriculums.
Cinadr shared her award by thanking St. Ambrose. “I would like to include and recognize our entire team of faculty, staff and partners who help us provide the very best in education for our students and their families. We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our parish community who enable Littlest Angels Preschool and St. Ambrose School to be the premier faith-based educational choice for all families,” she said.
Beth Szijarto, a St. Ambrose School STEAM partner, and other school staff members nominated Cinadr for the award.
St. Ambrose School was the first STEM-designated school in Medina County and among the first in 2017. The school added to its designation with its comprehensive fine arts program last year to become one of the only schools in Ohio to receive a STEAM designation from the Ohio Department of Education and Ohio Stem Learning Network in 2018.
In February, St. Ambrose joined a select circle of schools as one of only 18 schools across the country and the only elementary school in Ohio recognized for its outstanding practices in education as 21st Century Learning Exemplars.
