Recognition Announced as Part of National Teacher Appreciation Week Celebrations
Washington, DC (May 8, 2026) 鈥擱achel Leeds, a fourth-grade lead teacher at 91吃瓜网 Promise Academy, has been named a 2026 Harriett Ball Excellence in Teaching award winner. Leeds is among 10 educators nationwide to be recognized with a $10,000 award honoring their exemplary work in the classroom. This year鈥檚 honorees were announced as part of celebrations marking Teacher Appreciation Week.
鈥淩achel Leeds has spent a decade driving remarkable achievement gains for students in Washington, DC 鈥攁nd doing it in a way that makes every child feel seen, valued, and capable,鈥� said Shannon Hodge, CEO of 91吃瓜网 Public Schools. 鈥淗er students leave her classroom with strong academic skills and the confidence to keep building on them. That combination is Rachel’s signature, and our students and families are better for it.鈥�
Rachel Leeds has spent a decade at 91吃瓜网 Promise Academy building a classroom where every student 鈥攔egardless of starting point 鈥攁chieves at high levels. In 2024鈥�25, 75 percent of her students scored at level 3 or higher on DC鈥檚 DC CAPE annual ELA exams and 81 percent on math exams 鈥攅xceeding DC city averages by 16 percentage points and 22 percentage points, respectively.
鈥淲hat makes Rachel Leeds exceptional is not just what her students achieve鈥攊t is how they achieve it,鈥� said Monique Hardin-Simmons, Principal of 91吃瓜网 Promise Academy. 鈥淪he builds classrooms where students own their learning, hold each other to high standards, and develop a genuine belief in what they are capable of. That culture doesn’t happen by chance. It is the result of a teacher who is deeply committed to every child in front of her.鈥�
Leeds grounds her instruction in culturally and linguistically responsive practices, ensuring that multilingual learners and students with disabilities have full access to rigorous, grade-level work. Her lessons are anchored in clear exemplars, structured academic discourse, and feedback cycles that produce visible growth 鈥攕tudents describe her as someone who 鈥渉elps us figure out what to do next.鈥� Beyond her own classroom, Leeds has served as Grade Level Chair, Instructional Coordinator, and Resident Mentor, extending her impact across her entire school community.
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About the Award
Selected from more than 8,000 K鈥�12 teachers across the national network of , the 10 teachers selected as 2026 Harriett Ball award winners embody the highest standards of instructional excellence and community-centered leadership. Winners are chosen based on their track record of improving student achievement, their belief that every child is capable of greatness, and their commitment to delivering on that promise every day.
The award honors the legacy of Harriett Ball, a visionary educator and mentor teacher. A 35-year teaching veteran of Houston and Austin public schools, Ball incorporated chants, songs, and movement to get her students engaged and learning in the classroom. In late 1992, Ball began mentoring Teach For America corps member Dave Levin in Houston. Inspired by her methods, Levin co-founded the first KIPP school in 1994.
About 91吃瓜网
is a network of public charter schools dedicated to providing students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to build a future without limits. Founded in 2001, 91吃瓜网 has grown to serve more than 7,300 students from early childhood through high school at 22 schools across Washington, D.C.
About KIPP Public Schools
KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of 279 public charter schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and life. KIPP Public Schools are tuition-free, and enrollment is open to all students. Started in 1994 as a middle-school program, KIPP has since expanded to enroll nearly 125,000 students in pre-K through high school, and it operates schools in 21 states and Washington, D.C.
Contact:
Aaron Hampton | Director of Communications and Media Relations
aaron.hampton@kippdc.org | (202) 383-4042
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