Every day, teachers across Greene County strive to make a lasting impact on students both inside and outside the classroom. Their dedication, creativity, and commitment to help students learn and grow deserves to be recognized and celebrated. The James Investment Greene County Public School Teacher of the Year Award provided an opportunity to do just that.

For the 2025–2026 school year, teachers from public schools across Greene County were nominated by members of the community who recognized their outstanding work and the difference they make in the lives of their students. Through the generosity of James Investment, one teacher from each participating school district received a $1,000 grant to support their classroom, professional development, student experiences, or other educational needs. Each of the nine nominees were then considered for the overall Public School Teacher of the Year Award. Tess Rivero, of Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Local Schools, was selected as the 2025–2026 Greene County Public School Teacher of the Year and received $5,000 for professional development or classroom use.

Following the awards, the Teacher of the Year recipients began brainstorming how they could put their grant dollars to work. Some already have specific plans, while others are taking time to determine where the funds can have the greatest impact as the new school year gets underway. Their ideas demonstrate the many ways a simple investment in a teacher can benefit students for years to come.

Tess Rivero (Bellbrook) — Overall Public School Teacher of the Year

As the overall Public School Teacher of the Year, Tess Rivero plans to use her award to support training and hands-on learning experiences for high school students who participate in a Peer Support program she founded, beginning with a three-day training event. This training will provide her hands-on experiences to prepare them to work alongside and support their peers.

Additional funds will help provide promotion shirts for the program; yellow shirts for the high school students and purple shirts for their middle school and younger peers. Throughout the year, Tess also plans to use the remaining funds to purchase giveaways for community parades, including the Lions Club and Sugar Maple parades, in their Peer Support entry, as well as supplies for crafts, games, and activities offered at free community events.
Her plans demonstrate how a teacher grant can extend beyond the classroom and create opportunities for students to participate, connect, and build meaningful relationships within their community.

Stacey Teets (Cedarville)

Stacey Teets plans to use her grant to enhance hands-on learning opportunities for her fourth- and fifth-grade students.

Her plans include purchasing board games, STEM-related materials, and updated equipment for hands-on science labs. These resources will help students strengthen their problem-solving and interpersonal skills, and provide engaging learning experiences throughout the school year. Even more importantly, these materials will continue to benefit students for years to come.

Naomi Hyatt (Yellow Springs)

Naomi Hyatt is taking a thoughtful approach to determining how she will use her grant. With Yellow Springs Schools transitioning into new buildings, she is measuring what new needs arise in her new classroom space before making a final decision. Beyond this she is considering using a portion of the grant to help fund a spring trip to a zoo with her American Sign Language II students.

Terri Green (Greene County Learning Center)

Terri Green plans to use her grant to invest in professional development that will directly benefit both her teaching and her students.
She has been approved to attend the TEACH Autism Program in Pittsboro, North Carolina, this October. The training will provide her with new knowledge and tools that she can bring back to her work in the Spectrum classroom at the Greene County Learning Center.

For Terri, the grant represents an opportunity to continue learning and growing as an educator while bringing new strategies and resources back to her students.

Miranda Kidd (Beavercreek)

Miranda Kidd has several ideas for how she would like to use her grant to create a more inclusive and engaging classroom.

One of her goals is to purchase new flexible seating for her classroom. She is also looking ahead to supporting students with visual disabilities, intending to purchase materials that will allow her students to learn Braille together. Her vision is to help students view Braille as a “superpower” and an opportunity to share a new skill with their classmates, not something that makes them feel different or excluded.

She is also exploring the possibility of using some of the funds to provide special speaker experiences for the entire first grade.

Michael Spahr (Greene County Career Center)

Michael Spahr, an electrical engineering teacher, plans to purchase a 4-channel PICO lab scope, which will allow him to teach students more detailed electronic diagnostics and provide them with additional hands-on learning opportunities.

Heather Fischer (Greenview)

Heather Fischer plans to use a large portion of her grant to expand her classroom’s collection of science and math picture books.

She will also purchase materials for STEM projects and math games for her fourth-grade students, creating additional opportunities for students to explore concepts through hands-on and engaging activities.

Stephanie Blunt (Xenia)

Stephanie Blunt has not yet determined exactly how she will use her grant. She is assessing the needs of students starting their new school year in her classroom, making sure it makes the greatest difference for them this year.

Sara Whitehead (Fairborn)

Sara Whitehead is also still considering how she would like to use her grant funds. She is taking time to determine the best way to invest the award in her students and their educational experience.

While each teacher has a different vision for their grant, one thing is clear: these investments will have an impact far beyond the $1,000 award itself. Whether the funds are used for professional development, STEM materials, classroom resources, hands-on equipment, student experiences, or creating a more inclusive learning environment, these teachers are finding meaningful ways to invest in their students.

The 2025–2026 Public School Teacher of the Year program would not have been possible without James Investment’s generous contribution and the members of our community who took the time to nominate the teachers who inspire them. Together, we are recognizing educators who make a difference in the lives of Greene County’s young people every day inside and outside of the classroom.

Greene Giving is proud to celebrate these outstanding educators and grateful to James Investment and our community for helping us invest in the people who invest so much in our students.