GOSHEN, Ohio — A Goshen Local Schools first grade teacher has been recognized statewide for her work in the classroom, one of only four teachers in Ohio to receive the honor this year.
Leta Whitley received a 2026 Jennings Master Teacher Award of Excellence from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, according to the foundation and a Facebook post from Goshen Local Schools announcing the honor. Whitley was recognized alongside three other Award of Excellence recipients: Betsy Brindza of Shaker Heights City Schools, Sandra Chasteen of Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools and Adalee Cox of Mason City Schools.
The foundation’s top honor, the 2026 Jennings Master Teacher of the Year, went to a teacher from Maple Heights City Schools, according to the foundation.
The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, based in Cleveland, has supported Ohio’s public school system for more than 65 years and has awarded more than $170 million in grants to the state’s PreK-12 public school programs, according to the foundation. Its stated mission is “to foster the development of young people to the maximum possible extent in Ohio’s PK-12 public schools” and “to provide a greater means for accomplishment on the part of Ohio’s teachers by encouraging creativity in teaching and bringing greater recognition to the teaching profession.”
Nominees for the foundation’s educator awards must have at least three years of experience teaching in an Ohio public school and are nominated by their principal or superintendent, according to the foundation.
Clermont County has had recent success with the foundation’s honors. Rena Ford of West Clermont Local Schools was named the foundation’s Master Teacher of the Year in 2024, according to the foundation’s award archive.
“Wow! What a night,” Goshen Local Schools said in its post announcing the award.
The information contained in this story was obtained from Goshen Local Schools and the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.