teacher holding check surrounded by administration

Leah Johnson Named District Teacher of the Year

CPS Communications

April 29, 2025

Lights, Camera, Impact!

Claremore Public Schools is proud to announce Ms. Leah Johnson, Digital Video Editing and Honors ZTV teacher at Claremore High School, as the 2025 District Teacher of the Year.

Ms. Johnson’s journey to the classroom began with a love for storytelling — a passion she now shares with her students through hands-on learning and creative leadership. In her fourth year at CHS, she has built a program where students aren’t just learning how to edit videos; they’re gaining real-world experience as producers, problem-solvers, and ambassadors for their school. From livestreaming athletic events and concerts to broadcasting graduation ceremonies and pep rallies, her students are a living example of Claremore’s mission to equip every learner with the skills and confidence to succeed.

Ms. Johnson’s classroom embodies the district’s core values every day: teaching students to meet challenges with grit, innovate through storytelling and technology, strive for excellence in every project, serve their community by connecting families and schools, and find their purpose through meaningful work that extends beyond the classroom. Her belief that mistakes are powerful learning tools helps her students grow not just in skill but in resilience and leadership, aligning with Claremore’s vision to prepare students for a future full of opportunity and impact.

Ms. Johnson was selected from a group of outstanding educators honored as Site Teachers of the Year:

Each site honoree received over $800 in gifts and gift certificates, while Ms. Johnson, as District Teacher of the Year, was awarded an additional $1,400 in gifts and certificates. This celebration was made possible through the generosity of community sponsors collected by our committee members.

The CPSF awarded each site winner a $100 cash grant and the district winner a $500 cash grant that evening. In addition, each site honoree will receive a $500 cash award and the district winner will receive $2,500 at the Welcome Back Rally this fall from our generous partners, including Solid Rock Realty - Trina Wickham, Realtor, Neely Insurance & Financial Services, Don & Amy Smith, GH2 Architects, and Myers-Cherry Construction.

CPS remains committed to celebrating outstanding educators who not only model academic excellence but also inspire personal growth, character, and leadership. All of these teachers' work reminds us why, at CPS, "It’s a Great Day to Be a Zebra."