October 16, 2025 -- As the school day begins at Berwick Alternative Elementary, sunlight filters through classroom windows where laughter, lessons, and the hum of curiosity fill the air. Down the hall, three classrooms in particular hold decades of stories, from science experiments that sparked wonder, to math lessons that built confidence, to third graders discovering the joy of reading. For teachers Jennifer Bradley, Tracey Johnson, and Wanda Mays, this is their final school year before retirement.

After a combined century of service to Columbus City Schools (CCS), the three lifelong educators are preparing to close one chapter and celebrate the next. Their careers have shaped countless lives, and their impact extends far beyond the walls of Berwick. Together, they embody what it means when we say “Leaders Grown Here.”

Jennifer Bradley

When seventh grade science teacher Jennifer Bradley reflects on her 34 years working at CCS, she smiles at the memory of her first classroom: an open-concept space without doors or walls at Fifth Avenue Alternative International Studies School. 

“They told me not to teach there,” Bradley laughed. “That’s exactly why I wanted to.”

Bradley was hired right out of Otterbein College (now Otterbein University) in 1992 and never looked back. She’s since taught at multiple schools across the district, served as a curriculum coordinator, and mentored new teachers with the same enthusiasm she brings to her students.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time here,” Bradley said. “Columbus City Schools has teachers who are dedicated and really love children. The teammates I’ve had have been amazing.”

Known for her creativity and heart, Bradley has taken students far beyond textbooks. She’s led trips across the country and even abroad, opening doors to new experiences. 

“I tell my students, if you get a chance to go out of the country, go. Live life. Explore,” Bradley said. “When they come back years later and say, ‘Ms. Bradley, I did it!’—that’s when I know I’ve done my job.”

As she prepares for retirement, Bradley looks forward to spending time with her 13 grandchildren, continuing to travel, and volunteering. That said, her passion for teaching, she says, will never fade.

“I’ll always be a teacher and a student,” Bradley said. “Teaching and learning never stop.”

Tracey Johnson

Berwick seventh grade math teacher Tracey Johnson began her teaching career in 1992 after graduating from The Ohio State University. She has taught in several CCS buildings, including Fair Avenue, Linmoor, Johnson Park, and Yorktown. 

Along the way, she served as a PAR consulting teacher, mentoring colleagues, and spent four years as president of the Columbus Education Association, always keeping students at the heart of her work.

“Everything I negotiated and every meeting I took was about putting children first,” Johnson said.

Johnson is known for bringing rhythm, movement, and joy into her lessons. One former fifth-grade student, now a math teacher in the District, fondly recalls the math raps they created together and says she models her own teaching after Johnson’s classroom.

Johnson has also raised a CCS graduate of her own: her son, Gregory, a Northland High School alum. 

“I believe in this District,” Johnson said. “I had opportunities to leave, but I chose Columbus City Schools because of the diversity, the community, and the students. I would choose it all over again.”

In retirement, Johnson hopes to write novels, travel to the beach, and continue serving her community. First, she’s determined to make her final school year unforgettable. 

“I want to go out on a high note,” Johnson said. “I want my students to love math a little more and feel good about what they’ve learned.”

Wanda Mays

For Wanda Mays, teaching has always been her calling. The third grade teacher has spent 35 years with Columbus City Schools, beginning at Deshler Elementary in 1991 before serving at Trevitt and most recently Berwick for the past 14 years.

“I started right out of college at Central State University,” Mays said. “Columbus City Schools is all I know. My passion is here.”

Mays has received numerous honors throughout her career, including being named CCS’s first Extra Yard for Teachers honoree by The Ohio State University, which earned her recognition on the Ohio Stadium jumbotron. She has also been awarded the Teacher’s Dream Grant several times and has been a mentor to aspiring educators through student-teacher partnerships.

“I believe God led me to Berwick,” Mays said. “One day I walked through the hallway and thought, ‘If I ever go back into the classroom, this is where I want to be.’ That summer, I ended up here, and I know I’ve made a difference.”

To her colleagues, Mays is known for her creativity, compassion, and tireless support for students and families. 

“Thank you to Columbus City Schools,” Mays said. “Everything I’ve done, the people I’ve met, the families I’ve connected with…it’s been my life.”

A Fond Farewell

Together, Bradley, Johnson, and Mays represent the heart of Berwick. They are teachers who have inspired generations, supported one another through decades of change, and shown what it means to serve with passion and grace.

As they prepare to retire at the end of the 2025–2026 school year, the Berwick community celebrates not just the careers they built, but the lives they’ve touched. Their stories remind us that education is not only about lessons and grades. It’s about building leaders, nurturing hearts, and leaving a legacy that lasts long after the final bell. 

At Columbus City Schools, leaders aren’t just grown here. They teach here.