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.


Showing 15 Award Years

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Standing Ovation 2026

Excellence Awards for Educators

Award for Teachers
  • Nicol Davis, Upper Elementary Atelier, School-Within-School @ Goding
  • Chad Harris, Music Teacher, Stanton Elementary School
  • Lee James, Teacher & Esports Director, Eastern High School
  • Dr. Shelina Warren, Academy Director, Dunbar High School

Outstanding Educator of the Year

Award for Teachers
  • Cara Marbury, CES Educator, Beers Elementary School

Excellence Awards for School-Based Staff

Award for Staff
  • Asia Bernard, Paraprofessional, Plummer Elementary School
  • Kenneth Brown, College & Career Coordinator, Ballou High School
  • Niki Clark-Deal, School Counselor, Randle Highlands Elementary School
  • Jennifer Fitzpatrick, Instructional Coach, Langdon Elementary School

Outstanding School Staff of the Year

Award for Staff
  • Laura Kleinmann, Librarian, Oyster-Adams Bilingual School

Excellence Awards for School Leaders

Award for School Leaders
  • Lucas Cooke, Principal, MacFarland Middle School
  • Eric Dabney, Principal, Kimball Elementary School
  • Marqus Holden, Assistant Principal, Garnet-Patterson STAY
  • Amanda Perz, Principal, Wheatley Education Campus

Outstanding School Leader of the Year

Award for Central Office Employees
  • Dr. Grace Reid, Principal, Barnard Elementary School

Excellence Awards for Central Services Staff

Award for Central Office Employees
  • Whitney Carrington, Director, Student Health Services, Office of School Improvement & Supports
  • Drue Docie, Manager, Birth to 5, Office of Teaching & Learning
  • Andy Hai Ting, Manager, Operational Finance, Office of Fiscal Strategy
  • Danielle Johnson, Director, Assessments, Office of Teaching & Learning

Oustanding Central Services Leader of the Year

Award for Central Office Employees
  • Nina Harrison, Attendance Specialist, Office of Integrity

School Excellence: School Improvement Award

Award for Schools
  • Stuart-Hobson Middle School, Eric Fraser, Principal

School Excellence: M. Shanita Burney Family Engagement Award

Award for Schools
  • Garfield Elementary School, Jon Rolle, Principal

Force For Good Award

Award for School Leaders
  • Shanna Young, Principal, John Francis Education Campus

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

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