Columbus, Ohio One of the four contenders for the 2026 Ohio Teacher of the Year award is LeShun Ship Collins, a health and physical education teacher at Orange High School.
In a statement released Tuesday morning, the Ohio State Board of Education named the finalists.
Collins, a teacher for more than 20 years, was chosen from among 11 regional winners honored earlier this month by the Ohio State Board of Education.
Collins tries to establish a connection with pupils, encouraging them to question social norms, think critically, and find their voice. In 2013, he was recognized as the district’s Teacher of the Year. He established the Male Minority Leadership Program, a mentorship initiative that was acknowledged by former President Barack Obama for assisting young men of color in developing into self-assured, forward-thinking leaders.
Earlier this year, he was recognized for a life devoted to justice, equity, and hope with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Award from the National Education Association and the Doris L. Allen Human and Civil Rights Award from the Ohio Education Association.
Collins’ character-first approach to basketball coaching is shown in his awards as the 2019 Chagrin Valley Conference Coach of the Year and the 2003 AP Ohio Coach of the Year.It appears like this graph is missing something. Most likely requires some acknowledgment.
He supports survivors and social justice outside of school as a board member of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center.
Among the other finalists are:
-Christopher Monsour of Northern Ohio’s Tiffin City Schools
-New Lebanon Local Schools, Ronda Nisbet, outside Dayton
-Whitehall City Schools’ Chad Thatcher, who lives close to Columbus
At the start of the academic year, the statewide winner will be announced.
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The Ohio Teacher of the Year program recognizes outstanding teachers who exhibit leadership, teaching prowess, and a dedication to the academic success of their students. The State Board of Education oversees a competitive nomination and assessment procedure that chooses the finalists.
AI helped with the drafting of this tale.
