From classroom to hall of fame

Wright State graduate Tom Jenkins’ induction into the National Teachers Hall of Fame reflects nearly 30 years of dedication, perseverance and steadfast belief in the transformative power of public education. (Photo by Erin Pence)

Tom Jenkins has had a whirlwind year. On June 20, he found himself far from Ohio — he was in Emporia, Kansas, being inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame.

For Jenkins, the moment was more than a professional milestone. It marked nearly three decades of dedication, resilience and a relentlessly positive belief in the power of public education.

As he reflected on the journey, he credited not only his family, close friends, students and former colleagues at Greenon Local Schools in Enon, Ohio, but also the professors who inspired him at Wright State, the university that helped him unlock the tools to teach and lead.

A 1997 and 2000 graduate of Wright State University, Jenkins is known for transforming his Greenon classroom into a launchpad for student curiosity. He helped build a thriving STEM program by focusing on one mission: to make learning real, relevant and empowering. A philosophy he learned at Wright State.

“Wright State was really the beginning of everything,” Jenkins said. “It was the place that taught me that teaching wasn’t just a job. It was a calling.”

Jenkins didn’t come from a family of educators. He is a first-generation college student, and his journey to the classroom was shaped by lived experiences and a strong Midwestern belief in helping others succeed.

Wright State helped him reach his own goals by meeting him where he was, offering flexibility, hands-on learning and faculty who modeled what it meant to care deeply for students.

“Wright State was built for people like me — people who had a story, who had responsibilities,” he said. “It was built for people who needed someone to believe in them.”

That belief is something Jenkins passed on to his students. In his classroom, they saw what it meant to be fully seen and respectfully challenged — the same experience he had at Wright State.

His impact earned him national recognition — and something even more meaningful. After news of his Hall of Fame induction spread through Enon, a surprise parade, complete with a marching band, wound its way to his house.

“When the students took the time out of their day after school to come celebrate me and this moment … no award could even come close,” he said.

That’s high praise from someone who has been honored as the Ohio Teacher of the Year, a District 10 Award recipient and a winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, all before his induction into the National Teachers Hall of Fame.

Jenkins has always been passionate about teaching, community service and helping others reach their full potential. That’s why his early retirement came through a special opportunity: a dream job at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, where he was set to inspire more students across Ohio and the nation to pursue STEM careers. But after a national change in leadership, his role was unexpectedly cut.

True to his LinkedIn headline — “Award-Winning Teacher. Inventor. Good Person.” — Jenkins remains upbeat. For a teacher at the peak of his career, the setback opened new doors.

He now serves as director of career connected learning and workforce at the Montgomery County Educational Service Center, where he continues guiding students toward their future careers. In this role, he works closely with partners across the Greater Dayton region and the state of Ohio to increase career awareness and expand workforce opportunities for young people.

Spend time with Jenkins, and you’ll met an all-around good guy and a proud alumnus who continues to give credit to the people and university who helped launch his career, including Stacey Hundley, Ph.D., senior lecturer in biological sciences; Linda Ramey, retired associate director of the Office of Sustainability; and mentors Suzanne Lunsford, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, and William Slattery, Ph.D., professor emeritus.

They are a big reason Jenkins encourages high school students to become Raiders, too.

“I’m small-town Ohio. I’m Clark County, Ohio. I’m a Wright State graduate that has led the life that Walter Mitty would be jealous of,” he said, referencing the movie. “I’ll forever be thankful of what’s here.”