Congratulations to Lakeview Elementary School 3rd grade teacher Melissa Kmetz on being named the 2023 Ohio Teacher of the Year! The announcement was made Tuesday morning, September 27, during a special, surprise assembly at Lakeview Elementary. “I am overwhelmed and humbled,” Kmetz says of the honor. “It’s an honor just to be nominated, but being the actual Teacher of the Year is just the best surprise ever.”
Along with Lakeview’s first, second, third, and fourth grade classes, several district, local, and state officials attended the assembly this morning. Among them were Lakeview Board of Education members, Cortland Mayor Diedre Petrosky, state Representative Michael O’Brien, state Senator Sandra O’Brien (who presented Kmetz with a Proclamation), State Board of Education District 3 President Charlotte McGuire, Vice President Martha Manchester, District 9 member John Hagan and Ohio Department of Education Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Stephanie K. Siddens.
“It is an honor to be here to celebrate Miss Kmetz and her 2023 Ohio Teacher of the Year Award,” says Dr. Siddens. “She has exemplified a safe, caring, loving, learning environment while developing leadership qualities within her students.”
Kmetz, who is currently in her 17th year of teaching English Language Arts, says she strives to spark an enthusiasm for learning within her students, noting that some of the most important lessons learned in her classroom go beyond academics. Each year she connects her classroom lessons with the community by encouraging students to come up with various service projects. Previous projects have included collecting items for animal shelters and food pantries, creating comfort kits for foster children, and helping individuals impacted by natural disasters.
“It’s about so much more than testing and curriculum,” Kmetz says. “We need to make sure that our environment and the things that we’re doing are equitable and that our curriculum is diverse, and that no one slips through the cracks, that everyone feels valued and appreciated.”
“Her literacy work is something to recognize, but really it’s those soft skills that set her apart,” says Lakeview Elementary Principal Scott Taylor. “She has a knack for helping kids learn how to put others in front of you, and through her community service projects, students realize there’s a big world out there, and if you give a little bit of yourself, the rewards are immense. That’s what you know about Miss Kmetz.”
“On behalf of the TCESC Governing Board and myself, we would like to congratulate Miss Melissa Kmetz on being named Ohio Teacher of the Year. Your daily dedication and commitment to your students is a prime example of Leading for Educational Excellence. We look forward to your continued educational achievements and pursuit of student achievement,” says Michael Hanshaw, Superintendent - Trumbull County Educational Service Center.
“Being around such an impressive group of teachers is amazing. I feel confident our committee went to great lengths to pick a genuinely incredible candidate and couldn't be happier with how it turned out,” said Bill Bosheff, District 7 Chairperson for the Ohio Teacher of the year program. “In this position, you get to read about all the candidates, which indicates impressive individuals working with our students all over the state, which is very uplifting.”
Since its inception in 1964, the Ohio Teacher of the Year program annually identifies exceptional teachers statewide celebrating their effective work in and outside the classroom. The mission of the program is to provide opportunities for professional learning to exemplary teachers as leaders and advocates for public education.
“I am thankful to be in a position where I can kind of shine a light on all of the amazing things that are happening in schools,” Kmetz says. “I get to be the voice of that and the champion for education and teachers, and that’s exciting.”
Kmetz will be honored at the state Board of Education meeting in October and will likely spend time traveling throughout the state, on behalf of the Ohio Department of Education, to share more about her teaching and leadership practices. The Ohio Teacher of the Year program is a two-year opportunity. The first year is dedicated to recognition, celebration, and professional development, with the second year dedicated to service Ohio as a Teacher Fellow at the Department of Education.