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The Woodridge Award for Great Teachers

The Woodridge Award is presented annually by an accomplished person to the K-12 teacher who most helped them on their way.

Photo by Rogerline Johnson, Johnson Studio, Helena, Arkansas

2023 Woodridge Award

The Woodridge Award is presented by an accomplished person to a teacher who helped them on their way. The Award is named in honor of Mattie Woodridge, who taught high school English in Helena, Arkansas during segregation. After winning her school’s outstanding teacher award four times, Woodridge organized a day to celebrate local teachers. Its success led her to campaign for a national day of recognition for teachers and with the help of Eleanor Roosevelt, National Teacher Day was established.

Ayodele Casel headshot
Presenter: Ayodele Casel

Ayodele Casel has been lauded by The New York Times as one of the “Biggest Breakout Stars of 2019,” and by The New Yorker as “a tap dancer of fine-grained musicianship.” Her collaboration with Latin jazz composer Arturo O'Farrill premiered at New York’s Joyce Theater to sold-out audiences in September 2019. Her work is deeply expressive of identity, culture, language, and cathartic communication. Hailed by the late, great Gregory Hines as “one of the top young tap dancers in the world,” Casel has become an internationally sought-after artist and powerful voice for the art form. Photo by Michael Higgins.

Grace Pelosi headshot
Honoree: Grace Pelosi

Grace Pelosi taught ninth through twelfth grade over a long career as an English teacher. After her early teaching positions, she taught at Christopher Columbus High School for sixteen years, followed by fourteen years at Talent Unlimited High School. All of these teaching experiences were jubilantly challenging and enriching. Ms. Pelosi earned a BA in literature and secondary school education, and an MA in theater theory and criticism, from Hunter College. Throughout her teaching career, she also performed in community theater.

Past Winners

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