The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is proud to recognize Marquita Holmes, a paraprofessional and OSSE Apprenticeship in Teaching cohort 2 apprentice at Stanton Elementary School, and John Green, a transportation service driver at Mary McLeod Bethune PCS, as the DC honorees for the US Department of Education (USED) 2026 Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award! A special congratulations to Mr. Green for being selected as one of five national finalists out of 36 nominees from 20 states!
Created by Congress in 2019 and overseen by USED, the RISE Award is the nation’s highest honor for education support professions and celebrates classified school employees—paraprofessionals, bus drivers, custodians, secretaries, and more—whose exceptional service supports student success and strengthens school communities nationwide. Their work, often carried out behind the scenes, ensures safe, supportive, and effective learning environments and makes a lasting difference in the lives of students every day. For more information about the RISE Award, including a list of all nominees across different states, please visit the RISE Award website.
OSSE invited administrators, colleagues, local education agency (LEA) and school staff, parents, students, and community members to submit nominations. Selection criteria included work performance, school and community involvement, leadership and commitment, local support, and enhancement of classified employees’ image in the community. After a comprehensive application review and scoring process of 22 total submissions, the DC RISE Award Review Panel reached a decision to move these two excellent employees forward to the federal competition.
2026 DC RISE Award Honorees
John E. Green, Jr.
Transportation Services, Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy
Marquita Holmes
Paraprofessional/OSSE Apprenticeship in Teaching Cohort 2 Apprentice, Stanton Elementary School
OSSE acknowledges all the incredible DC nominees for their remarkable contributions!
- Daniela Santos, Medical Assistant Paraprofessional, LAYC Career Academy PCS
- Jeff Hayes, Head of Security, Capital City PCS
- Lori Farrar, School Counselor, Center City PCS Brightwood
- Jazzmyn Julius, Special Education Instructional Coach, AppleTree PCS
- Samuel Cale, Facilities Maintenance Worker, Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy
- Lesley Bryan, Security Officer, Wheatley Education Campus
- Juanita Allen, Food Service Manager, Lee Montessori PCS - Brookland Campus
- Jessica Cates-Bristol, School Social Worker, MacArthur High School
- Teresa Marie Brown, Attendance, Whittier Elementary School
- Gloria Iglesias, Operations Manager, Center City PCS - Brightwood Campus
- Melody Jackson, Administrative Assistant, Center City PCS - Brightwood Campus
- Dominique Austin, Middle School Counselor, Leckie Education Campus
- Cynthia Robinson, Foodservice Worker, Friendship Public Charter School Collegiate Academy
- Tajuana Queen, Food Service Coordinator, Sela PCS
- Antonio Hunter, Custodian, Ida B. Wells Middle School