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 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 2026 Inductee on joining the ranks of Hall of Fame Members!

John Roh, Renaissance Hall of Fame

Read more about them and see a list of past recipients below

See All Hall of Fame Recipients

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 2026 Educators of the Year!

Beth Coleman – Jostens Renaissance Educator of the Year	Joy Glaspy – Jostens Renaissance Educator of the Year	Beth Mooney – Jostens Renaissance Educator of the Year	Cassandra Oostindie – Jostens Renaissance Educator of the Year	Denise Schindler – Jostens Renaissance Educator of the Year

Read more about them and see a list of past recipients below

See All Educators of the Year

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.

What do the Educators Say?

• “Renaissance has offered me the opportunity to positively impact schools across the country, and I am truly grateful. ” — 2026 Jostens Renaissance Hall of Fame Inductee, John Roh
• “I went to a Renaissance Conference at a very difficult place in my career. I had two babies two years in a row during COVID. I was burnt out professionally and in life. I cried listening to PC talk about impact and reminded me of all the kids I’ve connected with and why I loved this job in the first place. I watched students present as competently as any adult about how they positively impacted their school and how it made them want to come to school. And I knew our kids were just as capable, so I was on board with bringing Renaissance to my school. Three short years later, I watched nine of my students present to a room of 50 educators and I literally could not be more proud. They were competent, poised, engaging, informative and genuine. It was a full circle moment for me.” — 2026 Educator of the Year, Beth Coleman
• “Renaissance is a part of me.” — 2026 Educator of the Year, Denise Schindler
• “I love that we find many different ways to honor and appreciate all students and not just academics. We recognize the good in everyone; bridging the gap.” — 2026 Educator of the Year, Joy Glaspy
• “I spent my first 15 years feeling like I didn’t quite fit the traditional “education mold.” That changed when I attended my first Jostens Renaissance Global Conference. For the first time, I truly felt like I belonged in the classroom. Connecting with educators across the country to share ideas and collectively make our schools better for everyone is an incredible feeling. I love being part of the team that brings that energy back to East Kentwood.” — 2026 Educator of the Year, Cassandra Oostindie
• “Building connections with my now Ren Fam over the years has been the biggest blessing not only professionally but personally. The support of our Ren Fam is not like anything I have encountered. It also gave me the opportunity to co-author a book and be part of something special along with many rock star educators.” — 2026 Educator of the Year, Beth Mooney

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