CLEVELAND (WJW) — In classrooms across the Cleveland Metropolitan School District on Wednesday, big surprises were given to 10 outstanding educators.
Each year, the district’s CEO, along with representatives from the George Gund Foundation, the Cleveland Foundation and the Cleveland Teachers’ Union, hand-deliver the excellence in teaching awards.
Among this year’s honorees were Brady Lorek, a 6th through 8th-grade English teacher at Campus International School who was praised for her creative approach to literacy.
When asked what it meant to him, Lorek said, “It means a lot to me because we have such a great team that works hard together to give our kids the best, and it just means so much to me, I’m speechless actually.”
At Luis Munoz Marin Dual Language Academy, kindergarten teacher Melody Martinez was honored for creating a joyful, student-centered classroom for the past 7 years.
“I love my kids. I treat them like my own. Everyone is different and I accept all of the children that come in. I work with them every day and I never give up on them,” Martinez said.
These high praises came just two days after the release of Ohio’s state report card, showing CMSD’s low 2.5-star overall rating.
But CEO octor Warren Morgan said the district did show academic proficiency improvements in all tested areas.
Morgan added, “Testing proficiency rates went up across every single subject area. And it’s teachers like Mrs. Lorek and all the other teachers that we’re awarding today to make that happen, and it’s so special to reward them for their incredible work.”
CMSD leaders said these teachers are driving that momentum forward, as they continue to raise the bar for student success.
Each honoree will receive a $5,000 prize, and their teaching practices will be shared with other educators for the following year.
The teachers will be honored once again during a formal dinner celebration with family and friends next month.
Jennifer Jordan
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