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Ohio Teacher of the Year Danae Pinkney urges support for teachers, describes course she started
Summary
Danae Pinkney, 2025 Ohio Teacher of the Year and Twinsburg High School teacher, told the State Board about battling burnout, launching a Black history course through grant funding and the value of cohort supports for teachers. Members praised her work and asked about recruitment of teachers of color.
Danae Pinkney, the 2025 Ohio Teacher of the Year from Twinsburg High School, told members of the State Board of Education on Monday that recognition has amplified her voice and allowed her to push for classroom innovation and teacher support.
Pinkney described a mid‑career period of burnout and how she recovered by designing and securing a grant for a Black history course that grew from 15 students to multiple full classes. "I made up a curriculum, I looked up grant writing, and I wrote a grant," Pinkney said, describing how local approvals and district support allowed the course to expand. She credited her cohort of state and regional teachers for professional support and mental‑health encouragement.
Why it matters: Board members framed the remarks in workforce terms — the board heard concerns about teacher retention, the challenge of preparing teachers to support students whose first language is not English, and ideas for recruiting more teachers of color into the profession. Member Lloyd asked for ideas to increase diversity in the profession; Pinkney pointed to outreach, positive messaging and role modeling as part of the solution.
Members asked practical questions about how she earned approval for the course and handled classroom incidents; Pinkney described working with a principal and curriculum team, preparing a multi‑page syllabus and standards alignment, and addressing bullying directly in class. Angela Dickey of the Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness introduced Pinkney and said Ohio’s Teacher of the Year program will continue regional selection and finalist interviews this summer.
Pinkney closed by stressing the importance of celebration and amplification for educators. "It's been really great just to see how much people love me," she said, adding that the program has given her new opportunities to connect with educators across Ohio and beyond.
The board reserved time for questions and thanked Pinkney; no board action was required.
