by Rich Stratton, Assistant Director of Public Relations
Teaching is a profession strained by burnout, turnover and growing classroom demands. Nationally, 16% of teachers reported in 2025 that they intended to leave the profession, according to a RAND Corporation survey, even as schools continue recovering from pandemic-era staffing losses.
But one Ohio kindergarten teacher is proving why great educators still change lives every day.
That impact earned Jason Hofmann, a kindergarten teacher at Tecumseh Elementary School in Xenia, Cedarville University’s Excellent Educator of the Year award.
The award honors an educator who helps improve education practices while supporting Cedarville’s mission to prepare compassionate, professional educators marked by teaching competence, Christlike character, leadership and service.
Xenia teacher recognized for leadership and collaboration
Hofmann has served in education since 2010 and previously worked as a teacher improvement specialist for Xenia Community Schools, where he supported teachers through professional development and coaching. He has also served in district leadership roles, on curriculum teams and in teacher support programs.
“His focus is always working with others to develop and use strategies that work for students,” said Dr. Brenda MacKay, associate professor of education at Cedarville.
Teaching as both art and science
In his challenge to Cedarville’s new education graduates at the awards ceremony, Hofmann described teaching as both an art and a science. The art, he said, is “turning nothing into something.”
He illustrated that idea through a kindergarten student who began the year saying “can’t do it” to nearly every task. Hofmann taught him step by step to remove his jacket, sit in a chair and open his pencil box. Soon, the child’s classmates joined in, encouraging him with a new phrase: “I can do it.”
Each small success brought a visible change in the child.
“You should have seen that smile on his face,” Hofmann said. “That smile right there, that’s what an artist does.”
Preparing future Cedarville educators
MacKay said Hofmann has modeled that same intentionality with Cedarville preservice teachers. He has served as a mentor teacher for clinical field experience and student teaching and has visited Methods II classes to share teaching and classroom management strategies.
Those lessons also connect to Hofmann’s book, “Learning From the Master Teacher,” which explores teaching strategies Jesus used and how they apply in modern classrooms. MacKay said Hofmann consistently points future teachers to Jesus’ clarity, creativity and compassion.
Hofmann’s impact in Xenia and Ohio education
Hofmann’s leadership extends to the Ohio Leadership Advisory Council, Xenia’s district math and English language arts curriculum teams and Tecumseh’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports team, where he has served for 10 years.
He left graduates with three words for the profession: “Be ready to love, serve and give. Welcome to this amazing profession of education.”
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio’s largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in The Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
