Teacher of the Year

STEAM Academy instructor earns honor

WARREN -- Cortland resident Brandi North, who is in her fourth year of teaching first grade at the STEAM Academy in Warren, said she was surprised to receive the ACCEL Schools annual Elementary Teacher of the Year Award.

The award is presented yearly to a teacher at a charter school.

STEAM Academy Principal Wendy Thomas and other administrators nominated North for the award.

ACCEL Schools annual Accely award banquet recognizes outstanding educators and schools across its network of 85-plus charter schools serving PreK-12 students. The awards celebrate excellence in academics, teaching, student success and school operations.

Award categories include academic progress, enrollment and retention, teacher dedication and school-level excellence. North said the award is also presented to middle school and high school teachers.

The award recognizes North for her excellence in instruction, school culture, family engagement and student outcomes.

"The award recognizes your academics, test scores and the relationships you build with the students and parents. It is an award that covers several areas," North said.

She said on the last day of school, she was informed that she was a finalist.

On July 7, North went to the ACCEL Schools awards ceremony in Columbus, where schools and their staff are presented different awards for the past school year.

She was selected as the Elementary Teacher of the Year for charter schools throughout Ohio.

"It was an honor to be presented with this award. As a teacher, it is my goal to make a difference in my students' lives. I never imagined I could achieve something like this," North said.

Originally planning to be a nurse, she found out that was not what she wanted to do, so she switched to early childhood education, which covers grades up to third.

Before coming to STEAM, she taught preschool at TCAP Head Start for four years.

North said she enjoys the 18 to 22 students in her classes who come to school to learn, noting that the students in an inner city have different issues that they have to deal with at a young age.

Thomas said North fosters a strong learning environment for young students, engages families and drives measurable student success.

She said in addition to her award, the STEAM Academy received 13 awards at the ceremony.

As for the upcoming 2026-27 year, North said she looks forward to continuing to build a relationship with her students and continue to improve on her teaching,

"Every year, there is something more to learn," North said

Thomas said she is very proud of North's accomplishment.

"Her students are very lucky to have someone like Mrs. North. She has so much passion and dedication as a teacher," Thomas said.

She said the K-8 school has 50 staff members and received a platinum award for test scores and enrollment, leading to its induction into the Hall of Fame.

Thomas said the 13 awards for STEAM Academy were for operational excellence, academic growth and achievement, educator excellence, whole-school impact and state-recognized academic excellence.

The Hall of Fame is one of the highest honors awarded through The Accelys. Hall of Fame recognition celebrates schools that have demonstrated sustained excellence in academic performance, enrollment strength and long-term school impact over multiple years.

The school received several of ACCEL Schools whole-school impact honors, including ACCEL Emerald School and ACCEL Platinum School. Together, these distinctions celebrate schools that demonstrate strength across academics, enrollment, retention, growth and long-term school impact, the ACCEL School website states.

The school also earned Outstanding Growth in Reading for Metro-Suburban Schools, celebrating students' progress and the educators helping accelerate learning in reading and math throughout the year.

STEAM Academy of Warren also was honored with the Outstanding Student Enrollment award, recognizing the school's success in growing and sustaining a vibrant school community.