West Clermont Local Schools hosted the inaugural Clermont Collaborative Learning Conference on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
Nearly 1,600 educators from districts across Clermont County came together at West Clermont High School for a shared day of learning, collaboration, and connection.
The event was designed to exchange ideas, celebrate innovation, and strengthen the collective impact educators have on students.
The event was organized by Clermont County Educational Service Center (ESC) and representatives from each district, including West Clermont Assistant Superintendent Ellie Preston.
“West Clermont is proud to have hosted the first ever Clermont Collaborative Learning Conference,” said Preston. “Collaboration makes us stronger and this conference created opportunities for educators to learn from one another, explore new approaches, and build relationships that extend beyond district lines.”
The Keynote Speaker was Willie Spears, an educator, former administrator, author, and motivational speaker. He talked about the importance of staying positive and building lasting relationships.
West Clermont Middle School sixth grader Thatcher Henderson introduced Willie Spears. He was chosen by middle school administrators because of his daily positivity and leadership.
During his motivational speech, Spears also honored long-time educator Patty Emery. The Summerside Elementary teacher has been teaching for 51 years, 48 of those at West Clermont.
“Teaching has given me more than I could ever give back,” said Emery. “I’ve had the joy of teaching three generations from the same families, and seeing former students grow up to bring their own children and even grandchildren through my classroom has been the greatest reward.”
After surviving three battles with cancer, Patty says her students inspired her resilience and gave her a reason to keep going every day.
“I always tell people, and my doctors, that by continuing to teach, I believe it has kept me alive after 3 different cancer diagnoses, because working with the children keeps you focused on them and not yourself,” said Emery.
After the keynote address, educators broke off into individual sessions. They could choose from a wide variety of topics.
West Clermont High School Physical Education teacher Amy Dyer led a session about Sports Management and bridging the gap between the high school experience and those who want to major in a similar degree in college. Her session included practical strategies for integrating sports career awareness into the curriculum.
“After getting my master’s degree in Sports Administration, I realized that more needed to happen at the high school level,” said Dyer. “So I started a Sports Management class at the high school for students who are interested in careers in the sports world. When I first surveyed students about careers in sports, they would only think about athletes, coaches, and recruiters. But there are so many other jobs out there.”
Dyer invited 2023 West Clermont graduate Nathan Taylor to be involved in her panel. Taylor is currently a sophomore at the University of Cincinnati where he plays baseball and is studying Sports Administration.
The first Clermont Collaborative Learning Conference wasn’t just about professional development; it was about building a stronger educational community. From seasoned teachers like Patty Emery to new educators just starting their journey, every participant shared a commitment to growing together for the success of Clermont County’s students.
