Jermar Rountree

Jermar Rountree is a health and physical education teacher at Center City Public Charter School, Brightwood Campus. He also serves as the Athletic Director and the district teacher lead for the physical education and health department. Jermar was named the 2023 Washington DC Teacher of the Year and is the 2023 National Alliance Public Charter Changemaker. He is the first black health and physical education teacher to be named a finalist for National Teacher of the Year. Jermar believes that physical movement can be leveraged to increase academic performance and engagement and learning about mental and emotional health is as important as core subjects. He thrives on connecting his students to the community through partnerships and has established in-school, after-school, and weekend partnerships with organizations to help kids grow in all facets of life. Jermar serves as a voice of the community and has relationships with every student and family at Center City PCS, Brightwood. He graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a Bachelor of Arts in history in May 2008 and holds a Master of Arts in elementary education from Relay Graduate School of Education.

“I am excited to be part of the nuts and bolts that makes Grassroots Health such an incredible program middle schools and college athletes.”