Friday, September 27, 2024
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) today announced that Graciela Miranda, a teacher at Pike High School in Indianapolis, has been named the 2025 Indiana Teacher of the Year.
“As a first-generation college graduate, Mrs. Miranda takes very seriously a teacher’s ability to empower students to dream big, find their voice and make a positive impact on the world around them,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “Day in and day out, Mrs. Miranda puts her students first, creating an environment where they feel supported and empowered to take charge of their own learning. As a teacher, teacher mentor and local math and reading tutor, her positive impact can be felt throughout her own classroom, school building and the larger community.”
Miranda currently teaches ninth through 12th grade English language learners at Metropolitan School District (MSD) of Pike Township, where she works to incorporate parent and community connections within her classroom to maximize student success. Now in her 23rd year of teaching, Miranda is committed to her own continued learning and development and leads professional development sessions for new and veteran teachers.
In addition to her work at Pike High School, Miranda also spends her summers supporting students through the local Boys and Girls Club, specifically, providing reading and math tutoring through the Indy Summer Learning Labs.
As Indiana Teacher of the Year, Miranda will work to help elevate the teaching profession in Indiana, as well as represent Hoosier teachers at the national level.
For over 60 years, the Indiana Teacher of the Year Program has worked to inspire, rejuvenate and celebrate the teaching profession by recognizing outstanding teachers from across the state. The program encourages schools to nominate their local Teachers of the Year for this statewide honor. Finalists are selected from these applicants by a committee made up of former Teachers of the Year, IDOE staff, educational organization leaders, business and community leaders and representatives from higher education.
More information about the Indiana Teacher of the Year program is available here. Miranda’s high-resolution headshot can be found here.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Courtney Crown
Indiana Department of Education
ccrown@doe.in.gov