Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools educator named 2024 Ohio Teacher of the Year
9/11/2023
Mark Lowrie, a high school broadcast journalism teacher at Gahanna Lincoln High School in Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools, has been named the 2024 Ohio Teacher of the Year. Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Chris Woolard made the surprise public announcement during an assembly at Gahanna Lincoln High School.
Mark Lowrie’s journey to teaching began outside of the education profession with a career as a local television sports producer and editor in Northeast and Central Ohio. He combined his love of storytelling with a passion for education to create a successful learning environment built on respect, student ownership and dedication to excellence. Now with two decades as a teacher, he has built award-winning high school broadcasting programs for students and cultivated impressive programs for two Ohio school districts.
Lowrie’s teaching career began at Marion L. Steele High School in Amherst, Ohio in 2001, where he spent 18 years operating a successful high school broadcasting program before moving to Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools in 2019. Since moving to Gahanna Lincoln High School, Lowrie has designed four new courses and grew enrollment in the broadcast journalism program from 27 to more than 130 students in three years.
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) has honored Lowrie’s students with seven National Student Production Awards (SPA) and 79 Regional SPAs. Also known as the Student Emmys, Lowrie’s students led the nation with three National SPAs in 2022, including Best Newscast and the National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker Award, which honors the top four broadcast programs nationally.
Earlier this year, school administrators, fellow educators, parents, students and community members nominated teachers for Ohio’s State Board District Teacher of the Year recognition. In August, Lowrie was named the State Board District 6 Teacher of the Year – one of 11 teachers statewide to receive the district-level honor. From the field of 11, Lowrie was one of four teachers named as a statewide finalist. As the state teacher of the year, Lowrie will represent Ohio in the 2024 National Teacher of the Year selection sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers.
The Ohio Teacher of the Year program began in 1964. Details about the selection process, the list of previous recipients and additional program information are available on the Ohio Department of Education's website.