Kathleen Menegay is Honored as a Mahoning Valley Educator of the Year

On March 3rd, school districts and business leaders from across the Mahoning Valley joined together to honor 42 outstanding educators. West Branch was proud to have Kathleen Menegay, teacher at West Branch Preschool as our 2025-2026 honoree. Read below to see what makes Kathie so special!  

With 32 years of experience at West Branch Local Schools, Kathie Menegay has built a distinguished career centered on the belief that meaningful relationships are the foundation of early childhood development. Since 1994, she has served as a passionate advocate for Preschool and Kindergarten students, meticulously designing every part of the school day—from morning songs like "Spread a Little Sunshine" to intentional play on the playground—to ensure children are emotionally secure and "ready to be successful in Kindergarten". Her classroom is a dynamic environment where she tailors independent work to each child's strengths, integrates literacy into daily activities like snack time, and uses positive behavioral supports to help students develop self-regulation and sensory skills. By fostering deep trust with both her students and their parents, Kathie creates a supportive "village" that empowers children to become future leaders; in fact, she now experiences the unique joy of teaching the children of her former students, bringing her career-long commitment to the West Branch community full circle.  

Thank you Mrs. Menegay for making us Warrior proud!

Pictured (left to right)  Kathryn Whaley, Susanne Dickerhoof, Kelsey McFarland, Patti Flickinger, Stephaine Troyer, Kathie Menegay, John Ault, Samantha Hofmann, Sarah Scarazzo, Matthew Manley