• Congratulations to this year’s CMSD prestigious Excellence in Teaching Award winners!

    This year’s honorees were surprised on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, by an impressive entourage, made up of CMSD CEO Dr. Warren Morgan, Shari Obrenski, the head of the Cleveland Teachers’ Union, and representatives from the George Gund Foundation and the Cleveland Foundation.

    The Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes and rewards Cleveland Metropolitan School District teachers who demonstrate instructional expertise, creativity, and innovation in their classrooms; who make learning engaging, vibrant, and relevant for students; and whose work and accomplishments set a standard of excellence for all teachers.

    Winners will each receive a $5,000 award and will be asked to commit to sharing their practice with their peers in the 2025–26 school year and beyond. All winners will be invited with a guest to the Excellence in Teaching Award gala to celebrate their work and achievements. The award ceremony will be held on October 23, 2025.

     

    2025 Excellence in Teaching Award Winners

    Rodney
    Rodney Decipeda
    Cleveland School of Architecture
    10–12th Grade - Science/Design
    Brady
    Brady Lorek
    Campus International
    6–8th Grade - ELA
    Melody
    Melody Martinez
    Luis Muñoz Marín
    Kindergarten
    Jennifer
    Jennifer McDaniel
    Buhrer Dual Language
    4th Grade
    Emily
    Emily Vinson Bell
    Paul L. Dunbar
    1–2nd Grade 
    Taylor
    Taylor Zepp
    Lincoln West School of Science and Health at MetroHealth
    11–12th Grade - ELA
    Saraswathy
    Saraswathy Kothareddy
    Garrett Morgan School of Engineering and Innovation
    10–12th Grade - Career Tech
    Susan
    Susan Dolin
    Nominated at Dike; now Waverly
    Kindergarten
    Elizabeth
    Elizabeth Berlan
    Rhodes College & Career Academy
    10th Grade - ELA
    Katelynn
    Katelynn Greller
    Robinson G. Jones
    2nd Grade