Cierra Jones

STEUBENVILLE — Alumni and community members who have made a difference will be recognized during the 33rd-annual Pathfinders Assembly at Steubenville High School Friday.

Festivities will take place in the school auditorium at 10 a.m. and include student performances and essays in addition to awards. SHS Assistant Principal Aaron Newman said recipients have been lauded in the realm of humanitarianism, business, education, government and citizenship and this year’s honorees include Cierra Jones, Jack Thornton Jr. and Marcus McGhee Sr. Jones and Thornton will be recognized as humanitarians, while McGhee is being touted for education.

“It’s our culminating Black History Month event and an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the achievements of graduates or district contributors,” Newman said. “We usually have at least three recipients and they primarily have been people of color, but we’ve had a few exceptions. All three honorees were on our list and we felt the time was right for them.”

Jones, a 2013 SHS graduate and school administrator, will be recognized for her work with children in academics and athletics.

She was a University Scholar and member of the cheerleading team, Key Club, band, choir and track team during her time at Big Red and originally studied pharmacy in college before deciding to become an educator. She then volunteered as a tutor and worked as a long-term substitute teacher and cheerleading coach at Anthony Wayne Junior-Senior High School. Jones earned her bachelor’s degree in education and master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Toledo and returned to teach in Steubenville City Schools in 2020. She went on to instruct at Harding Middle School and coach track and cheerleading at SHS, where she later became head cheerleading coach and celebrated three consecutive state championships.

Jack Thornton Jr.

She served as an administrative assistant at Harding and serves as assistant principal. Jones and husband, Damion, share two sons, Damion “JuJu” and Kobe.

Thornton, a 1964 Steubenville graduate, is being honored for his work as the founder, president, head coach and program director of the Warren Striders Track Club Inc., as well as a retired educator and coach for Warren City Schools.

Thornton earned a bachelor’s degree in American history and secondary education from the former College of Steubenville and a master’s degree in African American Studies from Boston University. He founded the Warren Striders in 1977 and has dedicated his efforts to developing the sport and its student-athletes. Thornton began his teaching and coaching career at Warren Western Reserve High School and later served Warren G. Harding, Warren John F. Kennedy and Labrae High Schools, plus he coached at the collegiate level as an assistant at Malone College and Franciscan University of Steubenville. He briefly served as head coach at Warren John F. Kennedy and led the boys’ team to its first Division III state track and field championship.

In Steubenville, Thornton formed a strong mentorship with Jaquan Lavender and supported his Journey to Gold mission and the foundation’s Prudent Man project, plus he has volunteered with the SHS boys’ and girls’ track teams, assisting in hurdles and high jump events. Notable successes range from helping Savior Faulks win the 300-meter hurdle in the state championship to Adrianna Crabtree’s advance to the state 100 hurdles. Thornton has competed as a Senior Olympian in national events and earned a gold medal in the triple jump and a bronze in the long jump, while he and his peers have qualified for the 2025 National Senior Games. In addition, he has received numerous honors for his contribution to education, community service and athletics. He resides in Warren and is the father of two daughters, grandfather of seven and great-grandfather of two.

McGhee is a 1986 Big Red alumnus who will be recognized for his commitment to education.

Marcus McGhee Sr.

He was involved in band and athletics as a youth, including baseball, basketball, wrestling, track and field and football. He was a contributing member to the 1984 state champion football team and attended Muskingum University for two years. McGhee completed a brief stint in the Army Reserves, then headed to the University of Cincinnati and worked as a tutor and adviser for high school students through the university’s Upward Bound program. He then joined the Afrikan Men of Impact Organization and learned new ways to serve his community. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and went on to earn a teacher’s license and master’s degree in education administration.

McGhee began working as an instructor’s assistant with Cincinnati Public Schools in 1993 and as program director with the city’s recreation commission in 1994, creating and implementing academic, recreational and sports programs and summer camps for neighborhood kids. He eventually became recreation center director and a classroom teacher but opted to continue his career in education. McGhee has spent the past 31 years as a teacher and assistant principal and has held various coaching and leadership positions in football, basketball, softball and choir. He resides in Cincinnati with his wife, Elaine, and sons, Marcus Jr. and Marques, and continues teaching, coaching, tutoring and advising city kids.

Awardees are selected by a Black History Month/Pathfinders committee comprised of representatives from the Steubenville City Schools administration, instructional and support staff in addition to community members. Newman added that the ceremony is “student-produced, student-driven and student-centered” with performances and an essay reading.

“Our student talent is really on full display,” he said. “The kids are part of it and this is an event all of the student guests are looking forward to.”