We see you. We hear you. We celebrate you.
Jostens Renaissance has been recognizing teachers for going above and beyond at their schools for over two decades. Every summer at the Jostens Renaissance Global Conference (JRGC) we honor the recipients of our Educator of the Year and Hall of Fame awards in front thousands of educators, student leaders and Renaissance community members. We love our educators and want to award them for doing amazing things! They’ve earned it.
Dr. Farah Ortega-Choate celebrating the moment she received her Hall of Fame award in 2023.
Education is a career filled with difference makers, big hearts and long hours. These awards recognize those who stand out for the joy they share beyond the classroom. This generosity and dedication impacts their entire school, and often others as well!
Each March, we invite schools and/or individuals to nominate educators for these special awards. A typical application includes a form, a letter from the nominator, several letters of recommendations and photos or video showing the person’s impact on the school.
Our national award winners receive a trip to JRGC with special recognition activities and a personalized Educator of the Year or Hall of Fame ring.
Jostens Renaissance Educator of the Year Award
Annually awarded to educators who have positively impacted the climate and culture of their school, these individuals have successfully guided their schools’ Renaissance programs and made a positive impact on the entire school community.
Congratulations to our 2024 Educators of the Year! Read more about them and see a list of past recipients here.
Mark your calendars: nominate a rockstar educator for the Jostens Renaissance 2025 Educator of the Year award in March!
Jostens Renaissance Hall of Fame Award
This award is the highest honor that a Renaissance educator can receive from Jostens. Nominations are based on how the educator positively influenced school culture in a way that’s supported by data and recognized by students, staff and administration over the course of several years. The educator must also have demonstrated bringing Renaissance principles and strategies to other local, state and/or national schools and have attended regional conferences or JRGC.
Congratulations to our Congratulations to 2024 Inductee Tim Schlosser on joining the ranks of Hall of Fame Members!
Mark your calendars: nominate an exceptional educator for the Jostens Renaissance 2025 Hall of Fame award in March.
Be A Part of This Community
For nearly 40 years (and counting!) Jostens Renaissance has helped schools throughout North America strengthen their culture, character development, academic achievement and educator morale. These national awards not only recognize the successes of the finest Renaissance educators, but they also show others that the work is worth it. Don’t wait another minute to join the incredible Renaissance community and start earning recognition for your efforts! We can’t wait to meet you.
 2024 Educator of the Year, Lizzie Herring |
 2024 Educator of the Year, Ginger Stovall |
 2024 Educator of the Year, Vanessa Sweeney |
 2024 Educator of the Year, Kevin “KJ” Johnson |
 2024 Educator of the Year, Sherry Purdy |
 2024 Hall of Fame Inductee, Tim Schlosser |
What do the Educators Say?
- “Renaissance is by far the best decision I have made in my educational career.” — 2024 Jostens Renaissance Hall of Fame Inductee, Tim Schlosser
- “The lens of Renaissance has improved my overall attitude toward humankind.” — 2024 Educator of the Year, Ginger Stovall
- “Start small, include others, listen a lot, laugh loud, celebrate louder and love BIG!” — 2024 Educator of the Year, Kevin “KJ” Johnson
- “Jostens Renaissance is a total game changer. I feel like I was in many ways a Renaissance educator before I ever even knew what that was. My very first JRGC just lit a fire in me that has grown brighter each year. I felt like I found my people, and so many resources and networking. It made the work so much easier! It has also made me rethink how I recognize everyone, how to let people know they are appreciated, and how to celebrate the wins.” — 2024 Educator of the Year, Lizzie Herring
- “Renaissance has impacted our school’s culture by focusing on the positives more than the negatives and making sure that everyone feels seen and heard.” — 2024 Educator of the Year, Vanessa Sweeney
- “I have become a better educator with Renaissance principles. I make sure I celebrate every student. After my very first Renaissance Conference (2012), I came back into the classroom with the need to connect with my students before I made them memorize standards. It is true. Students do not care what you know unless they know that you care. I have always loved teaching. But after Renaissance, I need teaching.” — 2024 Educator of the Year, Sherry Purdy
- “Jostens Renaissance changed my perspective on how I approach schools and the impact we can have on a student’s life. It’s allowed me to develop relationships with educators across the country who have the same goal that’s to make school a great place to be and give students the opportunity to be successful.” — 2024 Jostens Renaissance Hall of Fame Inductee, Tim Schlosser
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