KIPP Morial Middle School is proud to announce that Markuisha Patton, an eighth-grade social studies teacher, has received the 2024 Harriett Ball Excellence in Teaching Award. This national recognition comes with a $10,000 award, highlighting Patton's outstanding contributions to education and her commitment to student success.
Patton has been a transformative figure at KIPP Morial since joining five years ago. Her students’ performance in social studies is the highest among open-enrollment schools in New Orleans, with notable achievements particularly among students with disabilities and Black students.
Patton’s teaching extends beyond traditional methods, encouraging students to connect historical events with contemporary issues and fostering a classroom environment that promotes critical thinking and inclusivity. She also leads the school’s debate team to top rankings and plays a significant role in curriculum development.
“Markuisha Patton is hands down one of the best social studies teachers in the state of Louisiana,” said Deanna Reddick, principal of KIPP Morial Middle School. “Her class should be renamed, ‘Developing Change Agents.’ She is not just teaching students to understand history; she is always pushing them to think about how they would change it if given the chance.”