Great leadership is needed in every corner of our community — from the boardroom to the classroom — and New Memphis is a nonprofit organization working to shape leaders in Memphis. While New Memphis helps professionals in all sectors strengthen their skills and deepen their connections to the city through professional development, educator engagement is a key focus.
New Memphis supports early-career educators through the Stride program, in which teachers build toolkits for resilience and make meaningful connections to the people and places that make Memphis vibrant. Data shows 50 percent of new teachers will leave the profession within their first five years of teaching and 42 percent of new teachers in Shelby County leave the district after just two years. But for the first Stride graduates reaching the five-year mark, 67 percent are still educators, outpacing even national averages for retention. Additionally, educators of all tenures build community through New Memphis’ quarterly Teachers’ Lounge events, which provide opportunities to have important discussions with an educator-only audience over food and drinks at exciting local venues.
In 2018, New Memphis launched the Educators of Excellence Award to address a key driver of employee retention: recognition. Each year, the Educators of Excellence Award — a $1,500 prize made possible in partnership with the Crews Family Foundation — recognizes five outstanding educators in Memphis and Shelby County. This year marks $60,000 invested into 40 educators throughout the time of the award.
“I hope that community members and other educators will be energized by hearing the stories of these winners, and inspired to get involved,” said Erin Ydrovo, New Memphis director of educator and collegian programs. “This year, we had a 157 percent increase in applications for the Educators of Excellence Awards. While it seemed daunting at first, reading applications gave the review committee hope to know there are so many talented, dedicated folks in classrooms every day. Our Educators of Excellence prioritize balancing curriculum with community and results with relationships, and it shows.”
New Memphis will celebrate the 2025 Educators of Excellence Award honorees at a co-branded Spillit Center Stage event on August 21st, focused on educator stories with the theme of “Field Trip.” Meet the 2025 winners below and at the event, and you can see their full bios and register at newmemphis.org/educators-of-excellence. Learn more about how New Memphis is living into its mission and get connected at newmemphis.org.
Dr. Angela Nichols, academic coordinator at Memphis-Shelby County School Central Office
Dr. Angela Nichols (she/her) is an academic coordinator for the Central Office Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS), where she supports multiple elementary schools and teachers with coaching, assessment design, data, and high-quality instructional practices. As a recipient of the A.C. Wharton Jr. Literacy Award, Dr. Nichols remains committed to empowering educators, building community, and ensuring every child has access to a high-quality education.
Brandon Sweeney, ninth grade algebra I teacher at Compass-Midtown
Brandon Sweeney (he/him) teaches ninth grade algebra I at Compass-Midtown, where he also serves as the math department lead. Now in his fifth year teaching in Memphis, Brandon is in his third year as a mentor teacher for the Memphis Teacher Residency. He holds a master’s degree in urban education and a bachelor of arts in public policy and English from Duke University. Brandon is also a proud alumnus of the New Memphis Stride cohort.
Diamon’ M. Thomas, seventh grade English language arts teacher at Wooddale Middle School
Diamon’ M. Thomas (she/her) is a seventh grade English language arts teacher at Wooddale Middle School and the founder of Rich Off Education, a nonprofit that expands educational travel access for Title I students. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology through dual enrollment with Christian Brothers University and the University of Memphis ROTC program. She also earned a master’s in education from Union University and is currently pursuing her doctorate in K-12 organizational leadership at Grand Canyon University, where her research focuses on the role of travel in developing cultural competence and global citizenship among underserved students.
Isabelle Ciaramitaro, third grade reading teacher at Grahamwood Elementary
Isabelle Ciaramitaro (she/her) is a third grade reading teacher at Grahamwood Elementary and a content leader with Teach For America Memphis. Now in her ninth year in public education, she specializes in supporting multilingual learners and struggling readers. Isabelle holds a master’s in education from Vanderbilt University, where she earned a 4.0 GPA and received the Outstanding Professional Promise Award.
Thomas Denson, pre-K teacher at White Station Elementary
Thomas Denson (he/him) is in his 17th year of teaching with Memphis Shelby County Schools. He is a Pre-K teacher at White Station Elementary where he is the team lead and heads the WSETV News Station. He is an award-winning teacher receiving distinctions such as district Teacher of the Year twice for MSCS, Regional Semi-Finalist for the State of Tennessee, SPARK award winner, and TNTP-named top 100 teachers nationwide.