NORWOOD, Ohio — Even after she had the Teacher of the Year award in hand, Leila Kubesch still didn’t know who nominated her for the distinction.
Kubesch, a Norwood Middle School teacher, was chosen as one of 11 district level teachers to receive the Ohio Department of Education Teacher of the Year award.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria said Kubesch enables her students to reach their full potential by tapping into their interests and passions.
“She fundamentally believes that every child can succeed, and she holds herself and her students to high expectations to achieve that success,” DeMaria said.
Kubesch, who teaches Spanish and English as a second language, is consistently praised for her creative approach to lessons, Ohio Department of Education officials said in a news release.
In one particular lesson, Kubesch’s students collaborated with a local cable television station to create a talk show on topics that were interesting to them and the community. The project won the Ohio Education Association Media for Public Service Award for excellent educational programming. Kubesch also received a Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Grant to expand the studio and broaden the program.
Katherine Sabo, superintendent of Norwood City School District, praised Kubesch's ability to connect with students facing challenges.
"Leila is a force in bringing our students and community together in the act of learning,” Sabo said. “She regularly visits the homes of her students to cultivate mutual trust and respect, and to make sure parents stay involved in the education of their children.”
