Skip to Content
Photo by Rogerline Johnson, Johnson Studio, Helena, Arkansas

The Woodridge Award for Great Teachers

The Woodridge Award is presented annually by an accomplished person to the K-12 teacher who most helped them on their way.

Photo by Rogerline Johnson, Johnson Studio, Helena, Arkansas

2025 Woodridge Award

The Woodridge Award is presented by an accomplished person to a teacher who helped them on their way. The Award is named in honor of Mattie Woodridge, who taught high school English in Helena, Arkansas during segregation. After winning her school’s outstanding teacher award four times, Woodridge organized a day to celebrate local teachers. Its success led her to campaign for a national day of recognition for teachers and with the help of Eleanor Roosevelt, National Teacher Day was established.

Seth Myers headshot
Presenter: Seth Meyers

Seth Meyers is an Emmy Award-winning writer, New York Times bestselling author, and host of NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers”. Meyers began his TV career with “Saturday Night Live” in 2001, where he was a cast member for 13 seasons. He has released two critically acclaimed stand-up specials to date, “Lobby Baby” (Netflix) and “Seth Meyers: Dad Man Walking” (HBO/Max). Meyers performs stand-up to sold-out crowds across the country and co-headlines a monthly residency with John Oliver at the Beacon Theatre in New York. Meyers has garnered 33 Emmy nominations for his work in television.

Merretta Schmelzkopf, M.Ed.
Honoree:

Merretta Schmelzkopf, M.Ed., has taught Early Childhood Education in Greenwich Village, NYC, for over 30 years. She began her teaching journey at West Village Nursery School, a parent cooperative school her children attended. Since 2006, Merretta has taught two-year-old children at First Presbyterian Church Nursery School. Merretta loves running into former parents and students on the streets of Greenwich Village. She is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother to her five amazing grandchildren.

Past Winners

Help us keep great teachers in the classroom

Teachers, our most valuable resource, are struggling. Overwhelmed and under-supported, too many teachers leave the profession too soon. The Academy’s enriching experiences and supportive community have been proven to improve those odds.

ShapeThree