We are thrilled to share that UChicago Charter School teacher Karolyn Steele has been selected for the University of Chicago’s Outstanding Educator Award! Ms. Steele is a teacher at our UChicago Charter Woodlawn (UCW) High School who has demonstrated deep support for our students over the many years she has been a part of the UChicago Charter team.

The University of Chicago’s Outstanding Educator Award recognizes excellence in teaching among the teachers who shaped the minds of each incoming class of undergraduates. Each year, newly admitted UChicago students have the opportunity to reflect on their time in school and nominate an educator who played a significant role in their education, made a positive impact in their lives, and whose influence has brought them to where they are today. 

Mia Rodgers, a UCW High School graduate who is now a part of the University of Chicago Class of 2025, nominated Ms. Steele for the award. Teachers are selected for their thoughtful approach to instruction, for sharing an infectious love for learning, and for caring for students both inside and outside of the classroom.

Not only does Ms. Steele lead rigorous classes at UCW High School, but she is also rigorous in her approach to relationship-building. When many of our UCW High School graduates look back on their experiences with us, Ms. Steele is one of the first educators who comes to mind.

Congratulations Ms. Steele for this recognition of how outstanding of an educator you truly are. We are so lucky to have you in the UChicago Charter School family.