On September 16, 2025, City Teaching Alliance gathered in Baltimore to celebrate 15 years of preparing and sustaining diverse, effective educators. This special event, 15 Forward: Celebrating a Legacy of Educator Impact, brought together alumni, educators, partners, and supporters for an evening of reflection, recognition, and a future-facing conversation.

CEO Dr. Rahesha Amon, kicked off the evening and welcomed guests with gratitude for the community that has sustained City Teaching Alliance since its founding in Baltimore in 2009. Baltimore is where the City Teaching Alliance’s mission first took root, growing into a national movement that has now prepared over 2,500 educators who have served more than 450,000 students across the country. Locally, more than 315 educators and alumni are impacting nearly 90 schools, touching the lives of over 120,000 students.

To kick off the program, we heard from Jevons Liu, City Teaching Alliance alum and Baltimore Teacher of the Year, who shared his journey as an educator in a special video. His story served as a reminder of why investing in teachers matters so deeply. Check out the full video below:

Five remarkable alumni and leaders were then honored as Baltimore Impact Champions. Each honoree was recognized for their role in shaping City Teaching Alliance’s work in Baltimore and their leadership in inspiring the next generation of excellent educators.

• Jevons Liu: Alum and Baltimore Teacher of the Year
• Kyair Butts: Alum and former Baltimore Teacher of the Year
• Samra Mekonen: Alum and Assistant Principal at Henderson Hopkins
• Christina Luthers: Alum and Dean of Academics at Henderson Hopkins
• Corey Gaber: Alum, Teacher, and Leader in the Baltimore Teachers Union

Moderated by Dr. Amon, the evening’s panel featured alumni voices reflecting on the lessons of the past, the needs of today, and bold ideas for the future of Baltimore’s educator pipeline.

Panelists shared lessons learned over 15 years of supporting teachers, candidly addressed the gaps that still challenge retention and sustainability, and offered their visions for transforming the pipeline over the next 15 years. From system alignment to teacher wellness, the conversation underscored both the urgency and the possibility of building a stronger, more equitable education workforce in Baltimore.

To learn more about our panelists, you can check out the event’s digital program. This special celebratory evening was made possible through the generous sponsorship of M&T Bank, who shares our commitment to Baltimore and belief in the power of education.