05/22/2026
It is our great pleasure to congratulate this year’s PACE Team Outstanding
Educator of the Year: Mrs. Jessie Pritchard!
Each year the Medina PACE Team recognizes a classroom teacher for outstanding efforts in meeting the needs of gifted children and providing academic enrichment. With this award, we honor educators who know their
students individually and who challenge and inspire each student to excel while also demonstrating an understanding of their social and emotional needs. Written nominations are accepted and then voted on by the PACE
board.
This year’s recipient, Mrs. Pritchard, understands that teaching science isn’t just about assigning reading and formula memorization; it’s about sparking a sense of wonder. She creates a classroom environment where students don’t just learn about science; they actually get to be scientists.
Mrs. Pritchard’s students talk about a classroom driven by exploration, where they are inspired to think critically, to experiment, and to learn by doing. Whether she is bringing concepts to life, like helping students build actual working circuits into their drawings, or tailoring lessons to dive deep into what it truly means to navigate giftedness, she meets her students exactly where they are.
What makes Mrs. Pritchard truly outstanding isn’t just her brilliant lesson plans; it’s her heart. She is the kind of teacher who takes the time to know every single student as an individual. She’s the one whose door is open at lunchtime for students who need a quiet place to finish up work, and she’s always ready for a genuine chat just to see how their day is going. Her students don’t just feel taught; they feel seen, valued, and deeply cared for.
Mrs. Pritchard has made a lasting impact at Claggett Middle School, proving day in and day out that the best teaching comes from a place of true connection.💚🐝
