Educators for Excellence Names Five 2026 Sydney Morris Activists of the Year

Honorees from Boston, Chicago, Hartford, St. Paul, and the Bronx recognized for advocacy that put teachers at the center of education policy

NEW YORK — Educators for Excellence (E4E) today announced the recipients of its 2026 Sydney Morris Activist of the Year Award, honoring five educators whose advocacy this year advanced literacy, educator mental health, student safety, and a more diverse and supported teaching profession.

The 2026 honorees are Cedric Jacobson, a science teacher in Boston, MA; Nathan Rosiejka, a special education teacher in Chicago, IL; Dr. Marissa White, a principal in Hartford, CT; Susan Providence, a special education teacher in St. Paul, MN; and Eli Levine, a physical education and mindfulness teacher in the Bronx, NY.

Established in 2024, the award honors educators who exemplify the leadership and tenacity of E4E Co-Founder and former Co-CEO Sydney Morris. Inspired by Sydney’s journey from her Bronx classroom to lead a national organization dedicated to giving teachers a seat at every table where policy decisions are made about their profession, the award celebrates those who turn their classroom experience into action and help drive meaningful change for students, schools, and the teaching profession.

“The most meaningful part of this award is the opportunity to recognize educators who are stepping up to improve their schools, their profession, and the lives of students,” said Sydney Morris, Co-Founder and Director Emeritus of Educators for Excellence. “Cedric, Nathan, Marissa, Susan, and Eli remind us that some of the strongest voices for change come from the classroom. They didn’t wait for someone else to solve the challenges they saw—they organized colleagues, engaged policymakers, and turned their experience as educators into action. I hope this award celebrates not only what they’ve accomplished, but also inspires more teachers to recognize the power of their own voices.”

The 2026 Honorees
Cedric Jacobson — Science Teacher, Boston, MA. A 17-year classroom veteran who teaches AP Biology and Advanced Laboratory Chemistry at Brooke High School, Cedric played an instrumental role in championing high-quality instructional materials across Massachusetts districts. This year, his testimony and Advocacy Day meetings with state legislators, contributed to the passage of a landmark literacy bill, the Right to Read Act. Cedric also serves on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Teacher and Principal Advisory Cabinet and as a CURATE and EdReports review panel facilitator, helping ensure students across the state have access to high-quality, standards-aligned materials.

Nathan Rosiejka — Special Education Teacher, Chicago, IL. Nathan was instrumental in building momentum behind a school board resolution calling for a districtwide strategy on educator mental health. He gathered research and feedback from fellow educators, organized school-based events, and helped generate hundreds of petition signatures in support of stronger mental health protections across Chicago Public Schools. He led publicly and courageously on an issue that too often goes unspoken, appearing in a campaign video and speaking candidly on a public panel. After hearing him speak, school board members introduced the resolution for legal review.

Dr. Marissa White — Principal, Hartford, CT. A New Haven native and product of a “Grow-Your-Own” program, Dr. White has been a leading voice for strengthening and diversifying the educator workforce. This year, she served on E4E-Connecticut’s Teacher Diversity Committee and its steering committee and published an op-ed calling for the modernization of Connecticut’s TEAM mentorship program, arguing for a shift from compliance-based paperwork to culturally responsive mentorship that retains the Black and Brown educators students need most. She carried that message directly to policymakers on Advocacy Day, including a meeting with the Hartford mayor. Dr. White also leads the Dr. Joseph S. Renzulli Gifted & Talented Academy, the only Category One School of Distinction in Hartford Public Schools.

Susan Providence — Special Education Teacher, St. Paul, MN. As a member of E4E-Minnesota’s Teacher Action Team, Susan helped lay the groundwork for future improvements to Minnesota’s READ Act and played a key role in the State Senate’s passage of SF 3699, legislation that strengthened protections for schools from immigration enforcement and reaffirmed every child’s right to a free public education. Throughout the year, she mobilized fellow educators to sign petitions, speak publicly, and advocate directly to decision-makers, consistently helping others recognize the power of their collective voice.

Eli Levine — Physical Education and Mindfulness Teacher, Bronx, NY. Eli has been a consistent driving force behind educator-led advocacy in New York. This year, he collected educator feedback on social-emotional learning, advocated for the continued growth of NYC Reads and NYC Solves, and spoke out for stronger pathways for diverse educators—contributing to commitments from city and state leaders. He also helped launch E4E-New York’s new educator steering committee and worked to grow the movement by encouraging colleagues to get involved and recognize the power of their voices.

About the Award
The Sydney Morris Activist of the Year Award is presented annually in each E4E chapter to recognize educators whose advocacy produces concrete change for students and the profession. Past honorees include Jada Watson (Chicago, 2025), whose op-ed and coaching of colleagues to testify before the school board helped win the establishment of a Black Student Achievement Committee; Antoine Taylor (Los Angeles, 2024), who helped secure the district’s adoption of a rubric requiring newly adopted curricula to be assessed for cultural relevance; April Rose (New York, 2024), a longtime teacher leader who supported the rollout of the NYC Reads literacy initiative; and Shanna Williams-Clark (Minnesota, 2024), a veteran advocate who has stepped into union leadership on behalf of educators and support professionals. For more information about the award, visit https://e4e.org/sydney-morris-activist-of-the-year-award.