Mayor Bowser Announces Ramon Griffin of Thurgood Marshall Academy as the 2027 DC Teacher of the Year in Surprise Presentation

(Washington, DC) - Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and State Superintendent Dr. Antoinette S. Mitchell named Ramon Griffin, a veteran teacher at Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter School, as the 2027 DC Teacher of the Year at a surprise celebration held at the school. As the recipient of this prestigious honor, Mr. Griffin will represent Washington, DC in the national competition hosted by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and will receive a $7,500 award to support his continued professional growth.

"Ramon Griffin represents the very best of Washington, DC's educators. His dedication to student growth and his ability to inspire confidence in young people make him an extraordinary example of what excellence in teaching looks like in our city," said MayorBowser. "We are proud to honor him as the 2027 DC Teacher of the Year and grateful for the transformative role he plays in the lives of his students."

Mr. Griffin has 13 years of teaching experience, with the last seven years at Thurgood Marshall Academy in Ward 8. His instructional career spans Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies, African American History courses, Math 180 intervention, Algebra, World History, Earth Science, and multiple electives across grades 9-12. A founding member of Kingsman Academy PCS, Griffin holds a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Trinity Washington University (2016) and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Morehouse College (1999).

The 2027 Teacher of the Year has been recognized through multiple awards during his career, including the 2024-2025 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Math 180 DC Teacher of the Year and the 2022-2023 DC Special Education Cooperative Teacher of the Year. He previously served as the Director of Climate and Culture at Dunbar High School, where he implemented data-driven academic and behavioral systems and mentored fellow educators.

"I believe education must ignite curiosity, honor cultural strengths, and empower every student to claim their own success," said Mr. Griffin in his Teacher of the Year application. "By designing lessons rooted in community, equity, and real-world relevance, I aim to help students see themselves as capable leaders in a complex world."

Mr. Griffin is known for his engaging, culturally relevant, and academically rigorous learning experiences that center student voice, build confidence, and foster resilience. His students consistently achieve accelerated growth, with his Math 180 classes having exceeded MAP (Measures of Academic Progress Growth) expectations by up to 200 percent, and in his first year teaching AP African American Studies, 87.5% of his students passed the AP exam.

He uses creative, hands-on instruction, such as music composition tied to historical study, to help students connect deeply with academic content. He also structures his classroom around belonging, consistency, and reflective practice, drawing on his own family's history and lived experiences to make learning both personal and powerful.

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) administers the DC Teacher of the Year program, which includes a $7,500 prize. The honor is awarded annually to a DC public or public charter school teacher who demonstrates accelerated growth for all students; leadership beyond the classroom through partnerships with colleagues, families, and communities; and commitment to championing the teaching profession.

"The educators we honor each year represent the very best of our profession-teachers who bring creativity, skill, and deep love for their students into everything they do," said State Superintendent Dr. Antoinette S. Mitchell. "Ramon Griffin exemplifies these qualities. His teaching motivates students and drives academic outcomes that strengthen school communities. We are thrilled to recognize him as the 2027 DC Teacher of the Year."

Mr. Griffin is a transformative mentor, particularly for young men in his school community. Through programs like My Brother's Keeper and school-based service learning, he has helped students build self-confidence, leadership skills, and academic resilience.

"Ramon Griffin's teaching reflects a rare combination of rigor, empathy, and cultural responsiveness. He empowers students to grow as scholars and as young adults, and he enriches the entire Thurgood Marshall Academy public charter school community with his leadership," said Public Charter School Board Executive Director Dr. Michelle Walker-Davis.

Mr. Griffin's holistic approach-combining high expectations with a strong belief in each student-has changed trajectories for many who previously struggled academically or socially. Students describe him as a steady presence, a motivator, and a mentor who sees their potential even when they cannot yet see it themselves.

"Mr. Griffin is the kind of educator every school hopes to have and every student deserves," said Thurgood Marshall Academy Head of School Elena Roberts. "He is accomplished without being complacent, compassionate without lowering expectations, and influential in ways that reach far beyond the classroom."

Roberts said Mr. Griffin's influence extends into the broader community, noting that Mr. Griffin was selected to travel to Atlanta with 10 young men from Washington, DC for a community service project and college tour, an opportunity that reflected the trust others place in his leadership and his extraordinary ability to connect with young people. The students from Thurgood Marshall Academy who participated described the experience as life-changing, and their reflections speak to the care, intention, and inspiration Mr. Griffin brought to that trip.

Mr. Griffin will receive an additional $5,000 to support professional development during his one-year term as the 2027 DC Teacher of the Year. He is now a candidate for the 2027 National Teacher of the Year Award, administered by the CCSSO.

In addition to Mr. Griffin, OSSE also named two finalists for the 2027 DC award:

• Jennifer Schroeder, a sixth-grade science teacher at Ida B. Wells Middle School
• Gabbrielle Jones, a teacher at Lafayette Elementary School

Since 2021, DC has had three National Teacher of the Year finalists: Jazzmyne Townsend (2025), Jermar Rountree (2023), and Alejandro Diasgranados (2021).

For more information on the DC Teacher of the Year program, visit OSSE's website.

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