Standing Ovation
Award Recipients
Standing Ovation is a yearly event to celebrate the entire community of DC educators and present top performers with awards and cash prizes.
Standing Ovation 2024
Excellence Awards for Teachers
Award for Teachers
- Dr. Stephen Charles Newbold, Jr., Teacher, Performing Arts, MacArthur High School
- Norah Rabiah, Teacher, Elementary, Maury Elementary School
- Brynn Rosser, Teacher, 8th Grade US History and Geography, Sousa Middle School
- Jennifer Schroeder, Teacher, Middle School Science, Ida B. Wells Middle School
Outstanding Educator of the Year
Award for Teachers
- Kerel Thompson, Teacher, Elementary, Whittier Elementary School
Excellence Awards for School-Based Staff
Award for Staff
- Deidra Burton, Attendance Counselor, Beers Middle School
- Denise Daniels, School Psychologist, Bard High School Early College DC
- Vernard Howard, Director of Strategy and Logistics, Duke Ellington School of Art
- Mario Jones, Custodial Foreman, Hyde-Addison Elementary School
Outstanding School Staff of the Year
Award for Staff
- Liana Castro, Bilingual Counselor, MacFarland Middle School
Excellence Awards for School Leaders
Award for School Leaders
- Melody Andrews, Assistant Principal, Sousa Middle School
- Sean Bellamy, Assistant Principal, J.O. Wilson Elementary School
- Sah Brown, Principal, Jackson-Reed High School
- Ramona Hutchins, Assistant Principal, Ida B. Wells Middle School
Outstanding School Leader of the Year
Award for Central Office Employees
- Jasmine Brann, Principal, Shirley Chisholm Elementary School
Excellence Awards for Central Services Staff
Award for Central Office Employees
- Nigel Jackson, Director, School Mental Health (Secondary), Office of School Improvements and Supports
- Samantha Nussbaum, Manager, School Staffing, Office of Employee Services
- Katie Williams, Coordinator, Partnerships and Donations, Office of External Affairs
- Dr. Tynika Young-Aleibar, Director, Wallace Initiative, School Leadership, Social Emotional Academic Development
Oustanding Central Services Leader of the Year
Award for Central Office Employees
- Helen Tzow, Director, Office of Schools
School Excellence: School Improvement Award
Award for Schools
- J.O. Wilson Elementary School, Ward 6
School Excellence: M. Shanita Burney Family Engagement Award
Award for Schools
- H.D. Woodson High School, Ward 7
Standing Ovation 2023
Excellence Awards for Teachers
Award for Teachers
- Whitney Bartell, General Elementary Teacher, Simon Elementary School
- Alex Clark, Physical Education Teacher, Dunbar High School
- Kalpana Sharma, Early Childhood Techer, Brightwood Elementary School
- Tiescheka Stuart, Career Education Teacher, Roosevelt STAY High School
Outstanding Educator of the Year
Award for Teachers
- Dr. NiLa Austin, School-Wide Enrichment Teacher, Ida B. Wells Middle School
Excellence Awards for School-Based Staff
Award for Staff
- Marlen Joglar, Instructional Coach, Bruce Monroe Elementary school
- Christina Lee, Instructional Coach, Jefferson Middle School
- Asheigh Rose, School Librarian, Eliot-Hine Middle School
- Mische' Walden, School Counselor, Johnson Middle School
Oustanding School Staff of the Year
Award for Staff
- Cristina Restrepo-Harner, Program Coordinator and Behavior Analyst, Tyler Elementary School
Excellence Awards for School Leaders
Award for School Leaders
- Shajena Cartagena, Assistant Principal, Ballou High School
- Dr. Calvin Hooks, Principal, Hyde-Addison Elementary School
- LeVar Jenkins, Principal, Burroughs Elementary Schools
- Norah Lycknell, Principal, Brent Elementary School
Outstanding School Leader of the Year
Award for School Leaders
- Dr. Kristie Edwards, Principal, Randle-Highlands Elementary School
Excellence Awards for Central Services Staff
Award for Central Office Employees
- Nijma Esad, Manager, Library Programs, Office of Teaching & Learning
- Alisha Heller, Manager of Operations & Communications, Office of Communications
- Anthony Hiller, Senior Director of Core Content, Office of Teaching & Learning
- Emily Schneider, Manager, School Finance, Office of Fiscal Strategy
Outstanding Central Services Leader
Award for Central Office Employees
- Dr. Jacqueline A. Blackwell-Speight, Manager of Emergency Planning & Guidance, Office of the Chief Operating Office
School Excellence: School Improvement Award
Award for Schools
- Eliot-Hine Middle School, Principal Marlene Margrino
School Excellence: M. Shanita Burney Family Engagement
Award for Schools
- Turner Elementary School, Principal Jessica Johnson
Standing Ovation 2022
Educate Students For Success In a Changing World
Award for Teachers
- Elleni Abebe, Social Studies Teacher, Roosevelt High School
- Perrinh Savang, Teacher, General Elementary, Janney Elementary School
- Angela Isom, ELA Teacher, King Elementary School
- Tia Clemmons, PE Teacher, Jackson-Reed High School
- Andrew Green, Music Teacher, Phelps High School
Support Students For Success In a Changing World
Award for Staff
- Kira Rowe, Counselor, Coolidge High School
- Malcolm Rivers, Pathway Coordinator, Ballou STAY High School
- Melissa Sweeney, Social Worker, Anacostia High School
- Marlen Giles, Instructional Coach, Eliot-Hine Middle School
- Rodney McDaniel, Custodial Foreman, Powell Elementary
Lead The Way For Innovation In Our Schools
Award for School Leaders
- Alethea Bustillo, Principal, Bruce-Monroe Elementary School
- William Haith, Principal, Anacostia High School
- Tyra Russell, Assistant Principal, A.K Savoy Elementary School
- Anna Katt, Assistant Principal, Hendley Elementary School
- Charlette Butler-Strickland, Principal, Hart-Middle School
Build Bridges To Our Students and Families
Award for Schools
- Bancroft Elementary School
- Hyde-Addison Elementary School
- Jefferson Middle School
Elevate Supports for Schools
Award for Central Office Employees
- Baylen Brooks, Specialist, School Operations, Office of the Chief Operating Officer
- Kevin Washburn, Director, DCPS Library Programs, Office of Teaching and Learning
- Nathalie Navarrete, Manager, Educator Pipelines & Credentialing, Office of Leadership Development
- Sonya Soloway, Manager, Design and Innovation, Office of School Improvement and Supports
- Tamesha Freeman, Speech Language Pathologist, Office of Teaching and Learning, Division of Specialized Instruction