FH5K Ambassadors

Hello! My name is Kerry Fleming and I am a junior at Turpin High School. 

Through the Community Partnership Program, I was able to find my true passion, which was by helping to make the world a more positive place. I choose to be a FH5K ambassador because of the huge impact it has made on the community. The Forest Hills District comes together with bright smiles on their faces, enjoying delicious food, and participating in activities, all while supporting a great cause! Join with me on Saturday May 11th, for a day of fun!

I plan to channel my inner strength by listening to “Survivor” by Destiny Child, in order to push myself through the race without walking!

My name is Ben Hartong and I am a junior at Anderson High School. This is my second year as an FH5K race ambassador, and I am so excited to promote the importance of community-building! This year, I will be running in-person and announcing our after-party festivities! Being active is very important to me, and I plan to train for the race by finding new ways to be active. Practicing choreography for our spring musical helps keep me active and energetic!

Instagram: @ben_hart07

X: @ben_hartong

My name is Leslie Harback, I am a proud alum of Anderson, Nagel, and Maddux! I also am a teacher in the district, I  teach 5th grade ELA at Summit Elementary. I am also the Summit Running Club Coach! I chose to become a FH5K Ambassador because I love FHSD and promoting a healthy lifestyle. It is a privilege to get to train with Summit students and share my love for running with them. It is so important to encourage our kids to set goals for themselves, and to be active, running club and the FH5k promote both! My favorite part of the 5K,  is watching my runners cross that finish line and seeing how proud they are of themselves! It is such a fabulous opportunity for our kids and the community! 

Follow me on Twitter: @LeslieHarback

Hi!  My name is Shane Hartley, and I’m the Director of Secondary Teaching and Learning for the Forest Hills School District.

I chose to become a first-time FH5K Ambassador this year, because it involves the things I’m passionate about!  It’s a great way for our Forest Hills Community to join together to support our students, and it’s a great way to help encourage each other.  Exercise is a way that we can help ourselves and each other stay physically and mentally healthy!

I plan to run  in the race through some nice and easy training and getting some group practice runs together with other staff members of the Forest Hills. 

Training plan: Weekly group runs after work plus a little weekend sprint and hill work

Training Song: Welcome to the Jungle (Who Dey!)

Follow me at: @sehart00 on Twitter

Hello! My name is Mrs. Julie Dean and I teach 5th Grade Math & Science at Mercer.

I also have three sons who attend Wilson Elementary. I participate in their Running Club as well as Mercer’s Running Club. I chose to become a FH 5K Race Ambassador because running serves as both a physical and mental outlet for me and I want to inspire others to embrace this outlet for themselves. Running is my number one form of exercise! I also love basketball and watching my boys play football and soccer as well. The beach is my favorite place in the world, though I actually do not run at the beach. I love to stroll slowly while visiting my best spot!

I will be running the 5K and cheering on my kids and students at the same time. My favorite part of the 5K is how great I feel after running and seeing my children and students challenge themselves. I’m eager to train with my school and my kids’ school in Running Club while I continue to run often at home. My training song is “The Fighter” by Gym Class Heroes! 

Let’s get it!!!

Hi! My name is Maggie and I am a parent of two FHSD students - 1 at Nagel and 1 at Turpin. I have also mentored several FHSD high school students the past five years through a summer fitness and leadership program for young women called EmpowHer & Move.

I have been a FH5K Ambassador the past several years because the event embodies two things I care deeply about - this community and personal wellness! I have much love for FHSD for the education, experiences, friendships, and sports programs it has brought into my children’s lives over the past nine years. The FH5K is a fun and active way to support our students!

Training plan:I love to mix up my forms of exercise throughout the week! So I’ll be doing some running, swimming, barre, Peloton workouts, and walking my dogs!

Training Song: I love silence when I run. For all other workouts, anything 90’s hip hop is my fave!  

Follow me at:

Instagram:@Maggie.Frye

Facebook: Maggie Mulshine Frye

My name is Theresa Spisak and this is my 3rd year as a FH5K Race Ambassador.  I work at Ayer Elementary school. I choose to run each year because the FH5k IS FUN and it's a Community and Family Focused event.  

My daughters look forward to training and running in the event each year.  Additionally, funds raised go directly to the Forest Hills Foundation for Education (FHFE)  The FHFE helps support our FHSD students and teachers!  I am especially grateful for their grant funding opportunities and have witnessed firsthand the positive impact of these grants. Most recently, Decodable Books and Reading materials which were granted by the FHFE to help support our readers. 

The Forest Hills foundation for Education also funds: Destination Imagination, Nagel Afterschool Access and Tutoring, College and Career Prep and Teacher Grants. 

Please join my daughters and I as we run the Forest Hills 5k on May 11th, 2024. You will surely have a great time!

Hello! My name is Zach McCormick and I am an alum of Turpin High School (2014) where I met my future wife. We were High School sweethearts and just welcomed our first daughter this year! I am currently the Athletic Director at Nagel Middle School.

I chose to become a FH5K this year because in my opinion, it is one of the best events that our community puts on. It is so great to see all of the phenomenal families we have in FHSD come together and have a great time.

I am a sports fanatic and love to be around people. I love being in education and watching our young people succeed. We live in a great community and events like this show how great our community really is.

I will be in the stroller division with my daughter!

Twitter - @zachdmccormick
Facebook - Zach McCormick

Hello!  My name is Chris Bellar and I am a second grade teacher at Wilson.

Besides teaching, my passions are family and being active outdoors.  I have participated in every FH5K along with my family so this race has always fit into my life perfectly.  Kate teaches kindergarten at Sherwood and my daughters Audrey and Lucy have each participated since the time they were being pushed in strollers.

Aside from running, I plan to contribute to the FH5K by wearing all of my past year’s swag and using X (formerly Twitter) to help promote this year’s race again.

Hi! My name is Mattie and I am an alum of Anderson High School (2021), Nagel Middle School’s gymnastics team’s head coach and a volunteer assistant coach for Anderson High School’s varsity gymnastics team. I chose to become a FH5K ambassador for a second year because I saw the positive impact that the event had on the people in our community last, and I want to give back to the community that has given me so much!

I am a junior undergraduate student at Xavier University; my major is History and I have a minor in Professional Education. Upon my graduation in May of 2025, I plan to teach high school social students.

I plan to participate in the race through walking and working as an ambassador! I love the FH5K race and the after party because I love seeing our community come together to have fun! I plan on training by taking many walks through my neighborhoods and our wonderful parks in the township.

My training song is One Foot by WALK THE MOON.

Follow me on social media for updates on the FH5K! Instagram - @mattiebailey22

Twitter - @mattiebailey22

Facebook - Mattie Bailey

Hi! My name is Savannah Briley and I am the 6th-grade science teacher at Maddux Elementary! 

I started at Maddux two years ago and love being a part of the after-school programs to get to know my students on a more personal level! This year I was a coach for our “Girls on the Run” program and LOVED every second! From this experience, I knew I wanted to continue being a part of something as the year progressed. That’s when I decided to be a Race Ambassador! This will be my first time participating in the Forest Hills 5k and I can’t wait to experience it with all of my amazing runners!  I am so excited to get to know some of the other Mustangs at Maddux that I will have in the coming years through this program! :) 

My go-to training song would have to be “The Show Goes On” by Lupe Fiasco! It always gets me pumped up and ready to do anything I put my mind to!

Hi! My name is Michelle Olix and this is my 1st year as a FH5K Race Ambassador.  I work at Ayer Elementary as a 2nd grade teacher. I choose to run each year because the FH5K a great way for the community to come together for a great cause! I feel so accomplished after I run each year! This will be my 13th Fh5k. To stay active, I also like to play volleyball and tennis. Recently I have been learning to play pickleball, with other Ayer teachers after school!    

Each year, my 2nd grade son and I train for the 5k together. (He is much faster than me!)  The money raised from the 5k goes directly to the Forest Hills Foundation for Education.  The FHFE helps support our FHSD students and teachers!  I am especially grateful for their grant support, such as our 2nd grade Calm Spaces at Ayer 2nd grade. These spaces were fully funded by a great from FHFE! They help students get back to the “learning zone” to quickly refocus on learning!

Please join family and I as we run the Forest Hills 5k on May 11th, 2024. Let’s go!

Hi! I’m Lizzie Flora and I’m a seventh grader at Nagel Middle School. 

I chose to be a returning FH5K Ambassador because I love supporting everyone coming together for a great cause. This year I’ve been doing lots of running and soccer and I am excited to participate in the 5K. I am planning on running the race with my friends and beating my personal record 21:57.

What I love most about the FH5K is the afterparty. I think that all the activities and food after the race bring smiles to everyone’s faces.

I’m training by running track this spring and running in my neighborhood. My pump up song is “...Ready For it?” by Taylor Swift. Hope to see you at the starting line on May 11!

I chose to become an ambassador to support my community and the wonderful work the Foundation is doing. After 9 soccer related concussions and a diagnosis of Post Concussion Syndrome caused mental health issues, I know the Important role physical activity and supportive family/friends (community) play in daily management. 

I have two little girls attending Ayer, a wonderful husband and sweet 13-year old dog. I work full-time in clinical research and during my free time (and while not spending quality time with my family), I love running, hot yoga and volunteering. I am also known to run races in a bright pink tutu!

I will be completing my race virtually since I will be volunteering on race day!

After running this race last year for the first, I knew I wanted to be more involved. Seeing so many friends and community members coming together to positively impact the lives of our kids was amazing.

To train I will be the couch to 5K training plan since my running has been on pause due to injury.

Hello, my name is Emily Bamber and I am a dedicated educator and leader, currently serving as the Associate Principal at Anderson High School. Inspired by the positive influences of my own teachers, I’ve embarked on a journey to make a difference in the lives of students, striving to be as impactful for them as my mentors were for me.

Residing in Anderson Township, I’m deeply rooted in the community, where I am employed and two of my children attend Sherwood Elementary. I have witnessed firsthand the transformative opportunities provided by the Foundation for Forest Hills School District students, and this has fuelled my passion for educational equity and access.

Outside of my professional endeavors, I am an avid runner, hitting the pavement every day to stay active and centered. Recognizing the power of giving back, I plan to involve my young children in the FH5K, instilling in them the values of community service and philanthropy from a young age.

The FH5K has always been an opportunity for the community to come together, celebrate, compete, and show the strength of our school district.  I hope everyone is able to come out the morning of May 11th and take part in this amazing event.

Hi, My name is Debbie Nimmo and this year I have joined the Turpin Spartans team as a FH5K Ambassador, Health Teacher, and Sources of Strength Advisor.  I live in the district with my family who are also proud members of the Spartan team and Turpin Grads: Scott (‘87), Taylor (2015), Claire (2018) and Scottie (2022).  

As a teacher in the district, I get the privilege of hanging out and learning alongside amazing students and staff everyday.  This summer, I look forward to expanding this learning beyond the classroom by leading FHSD students and staff on an adventure of experiential learning through Puerto Rico.  Outside of the school day, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling to new places, and running, hiking and camping in the great outdoors!

I am proud to be a FH5k Ambassador again this year because I feel it’s an amazing way to build community and promote wellness within our district.  Each year, the FH5k creates such positive energy and excitement while bringing students, families and community members together in such a fun way to support each other in our wellness.  

This year, I will be participating in the race with my family while cheering on my students along the course.

#EveryMomentMatters   #WinTheDay   #WeAreFHSD

X: @debnimmo

Instagram: debbienimmo92

FB: Debbie Nimmo

Hi, my name is Gracie Helbig. I am currently an 8th grader at Nagel Middle School. I ran cross country in the fall and am currently running track. Next year, I will proudly attend Turpin High School. A little about me: I love being active and spending time in the great outdoors. I love running, hiking, surfing, rock climbing, and roller skating. Running is really good for the soul and has great health benefits.  I love having fun and being with friends and family. My dream is to run for a D1 college (Go Wolfpack and Go Gators!) I’m involved with Superhawks and Yearbook club at Nagel! This year I have been loving taking German class and this quarter peer helping! I chose to be a returning FH5K ambassador because it was such a good experience last year and I had a lot of fun! 

I love how the FH5K brings everyone together, promotes physical activity throughout the district, benefits the foundation, and after the race everyone can hang out and celebrate their accomplishments at the afterparty! 

This track season I’m going to try my best to make it to State, but unfortunately, State and the FH5K fall on the same day. If I don’t make it to State, I’ll be running the FH5K! 

Instagram- gracie.helbig28 

Strava- Gracie Helbig 

Hello!  My name is Jen Schrager and I am a parent of a Mercer 5th grader and a Nagel 7th grader.

This is my third year participating in the FH5K as an ambassador!  The mission of the Forest Hills Foundation for Education and my love for running keeps me coming back year after year to support this cause.  When we work together to enrich the educational opportunities for students, we grow as a community.  I plan to run this year and cross the finish line with my 7th grader!

I am a proud parent of 3 AHS/NMS/Maddux Alumni, former Sherwood teacher, and current Wilson school counselor

I chose to become an FH5K Ambassador because some of my best memories of FHSD have happened at the 5Ks, I LOVE seeing ALL community members at one event, celebrating our school district. One of my favorite parts is seeing FHSD's beloved custodian Joe cheering for all the participants, Joe always has a big smile every year.  

My favorite part is cheering for all the kiddos working hard, walking, running, and even skipping.  I plan to walk again this year (I really only run if someone is chasing me!)   

Spending time with my family is the most important thing I do with my time, I soak up every moment I can get with our family.  After that, time with friends and when I can get my hands in the dirt, growing our salsa and pickle gardens from seed is where you will find me in the spring and summer...any volunteers to help with my least favorite part... weeding??   Then when I need to take a break and be settled, I pray.  

Follow me at: Twitter @jbodesmiles

I am also going to participate in the Columbus Race for the Cure with family and sisters, so I will be training with them for both.  I love to walk in parks the most.  

Imagine Dragons On Top of the World, my favorite part is " And I know it's hard when you're falling down And it's a long way up when you hit the ground, Get up now, get up, get up now "   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzl416fjUSY