TWINSBURG, Ohio — Congratulations are in order for Twinsburg High School English teacher Daneé Pinckney as she has been named the Ohio Teacher of the Year.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Paul Craft made the announcement Thursday during a schoolwide assembly at Twinsburg High School.
“Daneé Pinckney represents the best of what every educator should aspire to be; dedicated and passionate with a perfect balance of high expectations for all students coupled with the will to provide whatever support those students need to be successful,” Craft said. “I couldn’t be more excited, on behalf of the State Board of Education, to congratulate her on this incredible achievement.”
Pinckney, who currently teaches 11th and 12th-grade English at Twinsburg High School, started her teaching career in Columbus after graduating from Ohio State University.
“Her commitment to challenge herself professionally and personally led to the creation of a senior-level course on African American literature, addressing a need for representation sought by both students and community members,” according to a press release. “She obtained grant funding to support its implementation, and her efforts have enriched educational experiences for all students and staff.”
She has also been recognized as a Master Teacher Finalist by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation along with accolades like 2023 Twinsburg City Schools Teacher of the Year.
“Using literature as the anchor, Pinckney also works to encourage students’ engagement in community service and activism projects instilling in them a sense of social responsibility and civic engagement,” according to a press release. “Her students most recently collaborated with students in Ghana and led a schoolwide project building global community and empathy.”
The Ohio Teacher of the Year Program first started in 1964.