Maybe it’s the security guard who smiles as you walk in the door or the kind words of a teacher helping with a tough assignment. Perhaps it’s a coach’s high-five in the hallway, the energy of live music during a concert, or the cheers of a crowd during sporting events — if Covid-19 has taught us anything, it is that these kinds of in-person school experiences are as important to student development as the lessons taught in the classroom.

With this in mind, Cleveland Transformation Alliance is sponsoring the “I Love My School” video contest so high school students can celebrate the people and experiences that make Cleveland high schools some of the best around. “This is an invitation to our high school students to focus on the fun experiences of being a high school student — memories being made, the caring teachers and staff, the stories you’ll hold onto after graduation,” said executive director Meghann Marnecheck about the contest. 

Special thanks to Lamar signs and our media partners at Z107.9 HipHop Cleveland. Contest prizes and support include a $500 scholarship sponsored by Calhoun funeral home as well as gift certificates and donations from the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and the Greater Cleveland Aquarium. One winner from each participating high school will be selected and the top videos will be featured on the Cleveland Transformation Alliance website and social media. Students just need to record a video and add their own creative spin to the “I love my School” logo and sticker icons that are available for download. Students can upload their video to any online video or social media website and provide the link through an online submission form between Tuesday, Feb. 1 – Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.

“Our high schools are home to some of the most innovative and unique programs in the country, and this contest was designed to remind everyone about the amazing assets we have in our public schools,” said Marnecheck. Schools already planning to participate include John Marshall, Invictus High School, Cleveland School of Science & Medicine, Rhodes College & Career Academy, Lincoln West School of Science & Health, Rhodes School of Environmental Science, Max Hayes, Northeast Ohio Preparatory School, Lake Erie International High School and the Ohio Connections Academy.

Students and families who are considering high school options can visit the school finder tool to find information and facts about all of the high-quality public school options in Cleveland. 

https://mycleschool.org/love-my-school/

About the Cleveland Transformation Alliance

In 2012, community leaders developed Cleveland’s Plan for Transforming Schools, a citywide school improvement initiative to reinvent public education in Cleveland. Its goals are twofold: to effect lasting systemic change in Cleveland’s education system and to strengthen educational outcomes for all students in Cleveland public schools. The Cleveland Transformation Alliance was created as a public-private partnership to oversee the implementation of the Plan.

 The mission of the Cleveland Transformation Alliance (CTA) is to be a trusted community partner working to ensure every student is engaged in a high-quality, equitable education. The CTA gives families and students the information they need to commit to their best-fit public school.

The vision of the Alliance is that Cleveland is a thriving community where every child is flourishing in their best-fit school.