Leading from Within: Lessons from the 2025 Ohio Teacher Leadership Summit

Columbus, Ohio — On June 11, 2025, hundreds of educators, administrators, and policy influencers gathered at the Greater Columbus Convention Center for the 7th Annual Ohio Teacher Leadership Summit, powered by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. More than just a platform for professional development, the summit offered a soul-deep reflection on what it truly means to lead in education today.

With one powerful keynote, 2 plenary and over 40 carefully curated breakout sessions, the summit delivered dynamic insights on modern school leadership, equity, student engagement, intergenerational collaboration, and the evolving role of educators in shaping future-ready schools.

The Keynote: Reigniting the Flame of Purpose

Daneé Pinckney, 2025 Ohio Teacher of the Year, delivered an electrifying keynote that anchored the summit’s purpose. An English Language Arts teacher at Twinsburg High School, Pinckney has used literature as a vehicle to inspire activism, service, and empathy in her students. Notably, she initiated a cross-continental collaboration with students in Ghana, and pioneered a senior-level African American Literature course that responded to the call for representation in the curriculum.

Pinckney’s message was clear: educators are nation builders. Their joy, presence, and purpose have ripple effects that transcend the classroom. Her keynote called on educators to reignite their own joy and remember their immense value. echoing the summit’s central theme: you must lead yourself before you can lead others.

Opening Sessions: Powerhouses of Experience

The opening plenaries featured distinguished educators whose lives embody dedication and vision.

Nichole Wilson, a 25-year AP English Literature teacher at William Mason High School, shared her extensive work as a teacher leader, liaison, conference speaker, and textbook contributor. Her global and local experiences reminded participants that sustained impact comes from both innovation and consistency.

Justin R. Stone, Science Department Chair at Trotwood-Madison High School, brought a voice of equity and advocacy. With over 17 years in educatiobarriers, forts to promote access and dismantle systemic barriers, particularly for minority students, have earned him multiple accolades, including 2025 Ohio Teacher of the Year Finalist.

Together, these voices created a symphony of purpose, conviction, and humility.

Key Sessions: From Intergenerational Bridges to Playful Learning

I attended several transformative sessions that highlighted the layered realities of modern school leadership:

• Creating Partnerships Across Generations: Facilitator: Dr. Chantelle Lewis, Lorain City Schools: This session unpacked how generational gaps between teachers (often Gen X or Millennials) and students (Gen Z and Gen Alpha) can be leveraged into strengths. Emotional intelligence, inclusive practices, and culturally relevant instruction emerged as key tools to foster understanding across age divides.
• Why Is Play Important? Facilitator: Jennifer Huff, Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Schools

This engaging session repositioned play as an educational imperative—not just for fun, but for emotional regulation, social development, and problem-solving. Especially in early childhood, play was affirmed as the foundation for resilience and creative learning.

A Rich Mosaic of Leadership Topics

The breakout sessions tackled a wide spectrum of timely topics—from trauma-informed teaching and AI integration, to culturally responsive pedagogy and rural education innovation. What stood out was the summit’s commitment to both technical excellence and human-centered leadership.

A shared thread in every session was the reminder that leadership isn’t about hierarchy, it’s about service, self-awareness, and the courage to innovate.

Reflections: A Summit of Reawakening

The 2025 Ohio Teacher Leadership Summit was a powerful reminder that leadership in education is first and foremost about leading from within. It challenged every participant to reflect not just on what they do, but on who they are as professionals, role models, and cultivators of future generations.

This summit did not merely present strategies—it offered a framework for transformational leadership built on empathy, equity, and the courage to adapt in a changing world. It affirmed that:

• Effective leadership begins with self-leadership.
• Generational understanding is a bridge. not a barrier.
• Equity, joy, and innovation must be interwoven into the fabric of education.

As someone deeply invested in child development, educational systems, and advocacy, I left the summit inspired and challenged. to continue nurturing leaders who shape not just schools, but the society we all share.

Kudos to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce for designing an experience that truly centered the educator as a lifelong learner and changemaker.