Daneé Pinckney, 2019 M.Ed. alumna, selected as 2025 Ohio Teacher of the Year
ASHLAND, Ohio – Daneé Pinckney, an educator in the Twinsburg City School District who earned a master’s of education degree in curriculum and instruction from Ashland University in 2019, was named the 2025 Ohio Teacher of the Year by the State Board of Education of Ohio.
As the statewide winner, Pinckney will be recognized and have the opportunity to share her message at many events, such as the Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference, throughout the academic year. Also, she is now under consideration for the Council of Chief State School Officers National Teacher of the Year. A selection committee from the CCSSO is beginning the process of reviewing the state winners and narrowing them down to four finalists.
“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,” stated State Superintendent of Public Instruction Paul Craft. “I couldn’t be more excited, on behalf of the State Board of Education, to congratulate her on this incredible achievement.”
Pinckney is an 11th and 12th grade English language arts teacher at Twinsburg High School. She uses innovative approaches to connect with students and created a senior-level elective course, “Black Voices in Literature,” examining literary and artistic contributions of early African-Americans. She obtained grant funding to support its implementation, and her efforts have enriched educational experiences for all students and staff.
In a post announcing the award on Twinsburg City School’s website, it stated “Ms. Pinckney embodies the essence of an exceptional educator whose commitment to our students extends far beyond the classroom. With a deep-rooted passion for English and a dedication to cultural competence, she not only imparts extensive knowledge, but also fosters an environment where students thrive.”
Pinckney’s “Black Voices in Literature” class, which has been highly praised by both students and community members, was influenced by her time in the Ashland graduate program.
“Since my graduation from Ashland’s M.Ed. program, I have applied numerous aspects of my learning to my current teaching practice,” Pinckney said. “Courses on diversity and fostering a global worldview have been instrumental in diversifying texts in our general English courses and have been even more so impactful in the creation of my course on Black literature.
“One specific assignment from (an Ashland) course … was a bias journal, and I continue to use that task as inspiration. It became important for me to provide my students in our Black literature course with journals of their own to use for reflection and introspection. Through journaling, my students and I are all able to grow in our knowledge of self and the world,” she further explained.
Pinckney also appreciated the flexibility that Ashland’s M.Ed. program affords.
“Overall, I found Ashland’s online learning option to be a perfect fit for my busy life. So much of our time as educators is spent working, even after we leave the workplace. Combining that with being a single mother, the idea of furthering my education had felt daunting for some time. When I finally decided to give it a try, I was blown away by how seamlessly I was able to incorporate (the) program into my life. I appreciate how well thought out the course offerings were, the flexibility of class times and due dates and the grace extended to students by their instructors,” she said.
Pinckney was selected for the Ohio Teacher of the Year honor from a cohort of 11 district winners, three of which hold degrees from Ashland University. She has also previously earned recognition as a Master Teacher Finalist by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation and as the 2023 Twinsburg City Schools Teacher of the Year.
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.
