JACKSONVILLE — The search for the 2024 VyStar Teacher of the Year for Duval County has begun! Principals from 180 Duval County schools nominated a teacher to represent them in the Teacher of the Year contest for Duval County. The 2024 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year will be announced at the EDDY Awards, presented by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF), Jan. 20, 2024.
The Teacher of the Year program seeks to recognize, elevate and empower Duval County's best public school teachers by offering unique programming to elevate the teaching profession throughout the year. Teachers selected by their schools as Teacher of the Year are given the opportunity to participate in the teacher leadership initiative offered by JPEF.
After schools submit their nominees for Teacher of the Year, a diverse selection committee convened by JPEF narrows the field down to 15 semifinalists. The semifinalists are further narrowed down to five finalists through a selection process that includes observing the teachers in the classroom. The final Teacher of the Year will be announced at the EDDY Awards Gala on Jan. 20 at the Hyatt Regency. The winner will go on to compete for the Florida Teacher of the Year award.
“We congratulate these amazing teachers and are excited to host them at the 2024 EDDY Awards in January,” said JPEF President Rachael Tutwiler Fortune. “Having effective teachers are the most important in-school factor to student success, and we want to celebrate and support them as they support our students.”
VyStar believes in doing good and leading by example, especially when it comes to supporting local education foundations and their efforts to celebrate and elevate teachers in their communities. VyStar is the title sponsor for the EDDY Awards.
“VyStar Credit Union is committed to supporting the Jacksonville Public Education Fund and its mission to honor and uplift teachers who are dedicated to making a positive impact for their students,” said Patricia McElroy, Senior Vice President, and Foundation President at VyStar Credit Union. “In addition to supporting this special celebration, VyStar works alongside teachers through our High School Branch Program across the communities we serve, and we are truly grateful for their tireless efforts in guiding and inspiring students every day. Please join us in recognizing and thanking these extraordinary individuals.”
“It is always an honor to celebrate our outstanding educators, and I wish to extend both my congratulations and my gratitude to each of these spectacular Teacher of the Year nominees,” said Superintendent Dr. Dana Kriznar. “There is an undeniable link between great teachers and student learning and achievement. What takes place in their classrooms is life-changing. Thanks to the passion, dedication, and excellence of these incredible educators, the lives of our children will forever be elevated.”
The 180 Teachers of the Year are:
Kyle Vacalares, A. Philip Randolph College & Career Academies
Sharon Crosby, Abess Park Elementary
Jasmine Dukes, Alden Road Exceptional Student Center
Bibigul Mullen, Alfred I. duPont Middle School
Marissa Hein, Alimacani Elementary
Gerri Thomas, Anchor Academy Elementary
Tiffany Neal-Butts, Andrew Jackson High School of Advanced Technology
Arnetta Menchan, Andrew Robinson Elementary
Alexis Williams, Annie R. Morgan Elementary School
Nilka Colon, Arlington Elementary School
Kimberly Sedgwick, Arlington Heights
Jazline Clark, Arlington Middle School
Theresa West, Atlantic Beach Elementary
Katrice Shorter, Atlantic Coast High School
Leticia Llorens, Bartram Springs Elementary
Mitchell Patch, Bayview Elementary School
Amanda Morales-Quinones, Beauclerc Elementary
Tiffany Randolph, Becoming Collegiate Academy
Tenika Tankard, Biltmore Elementary
Marquia Jenkins, Biscayne Elementary Leadership Academy
Kiana Thomas – Griffin, Biscayne High School
Olivia Alexander, Bridge to Success Academy High School
Latina Brewer, The Bridge to Success Elementary and Middle School
Jovi Braza, Brookview Elementary
Courtney Woods, Cedar Hills Elementary School
William Murphy, Central Riverside Elementary
Barbara Bradley, Chaffee Trail Elementary
Erin Dobson, Charger Academy
Rachel Bridges, Chets Creek Elementary
Kori Johnson, Chimney Lakes Elementary School
Heather Earley, Cornerstone Classical Academy
Kelly Varano, Crown Point Elementary School
Emily Blevins, Crystal Springs Elementary
Patrick Leuschen, Darnell Cookman School of the Medical Arts
Mary Mattscheck, Dinsmore Elementary
Tanya Baker, Don Brewer Elementary
Jennifer Kilgore, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
Lynn McGiveron, Duncan U. Fletcher Middle School
Brian Ahern, Duval Charter School at Southside
David Cutter, Duval MYcroSchool
Willie Lewman, Duval Virtual Instructional Academy
Christopher Mahone, Edward H. White High School
Melissa Goodman, Englewood Elementary School
Allison Armstrong-Gellers, Englewood High School
Emily Dixon, Enterprise Learning Academy
Janae McBride, First Coast High School
Michael Knight, Fishweir Elementary School of the Arts
Toni Wortherly, Fletcher High School
Leonard Smith, Fort Caroline Elementary
Betty Watson, Fort Caroline Middle School of the Visual and Performing Arts
Deborah Lepper, Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology
Joseph Edge, Garden City Elementary
Brandy Holton, George Washington Carver Elementary
Iryna Kolesnyk, Global Outreach Charter Academy K-8
Norma Krissy Brown, Global Outreach Charter Academy High School
Albert Wilcox Jr., Grand Park
Mary Dimarzo, GRASP Academy
Shernette Frame-Reid, Greenfield Elementary School
Brittnee Ayers , Greenland Pines Elementary
Kenneth Ford, Gregory Drive Elementary School
Richard Kaufmann, Hendricks Avenue Elementary
Sophia Michelin, Hidden Oaks Elementary
Banyan Botkin, Highlands Elementary
John Brown, Highlands Middle School
Gabrielle Esposito, Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary School
Monica Thiessenhusen, Holiday Hill Elementary
Eshell Smith, Hospital Homebound
Tonya Robinson-McNair, Hyde Grove Elementary School
Bervinda Monroe, Hyde Park Elementary
Kenya Mayhew, IDEA Bassett Academy
Alana Davis, IDEA Bassett College Prep
Danesha Ford, IDEA River Bluff Academy
Amy Castellanos, IDEA River Bluff College Prep
Isabelle Queniat, J. Allen Axson Montessori School
Janice Williams, Jacksonville Beach Elementary School
Hilaria Manuguid, Jacksonville Heights Elementary School
Julie Marsh, James Weldon Johnson College Prep Middle School
Laquanda Paschal, Jean Ribault High School
Lauren Flanagan, Jean Ribault Middle School
Erika Cunamay, John E. Ford PK-8 English/Spanish Montessori
Laronya Finn, John Love Early Learning Center
Jaime Greer, John Stockton Elementary
Sabrina, Hadnot, Joseph Stilwell Military Academy of Leadership
Kathleen Singleton, Julia Landon College Preparatory and Leadership Development School
Kathryn Becton, Kernan Middle School
Georgine Hillman, Kernan Trail Elementary
Yousef Al-Jaroudi,Kings Trail Elementary
Jeronica Anderson, KIPP Bessie Coleman Academy
Illane Lewis, KIPP: Bold City High School
Mariah Rucker, KIPP Impact Academy
April Smith, KIPP VOICE Academy
Jenifer Straley, Lake Lucina Elementary
Jasmine Byard, Lake Shore Middle School
Emanuela Hysesani, Landmark Middle School
Jennifer Copeland, LaVilla School of the Arts
Pamela White-Penny, Lone Star Elementary School
Te'Meka Sapp, Lone Star MycroSchool
Carla Reddick, Long Branch Elementary School
Pauline Gonzales, Loretto Elementary School
Melanie Peterson, Louis Sheffield Elementary School
Juana Zargon, Love Grove Elementary
Melanie Nobles, Mamie Agnes Jones Elementary
Kevin Desrosiers, Mandarin High School
Jodi Sands, Mandarin Middle School
Ana Andenmatten, Mandarin Oaks Elementary
Calethia Murray-McKinney, Matthew W. Gilbert Middle School
Kacy Kelly-Williams, Mattie V. Rutherford Alternative Middle
Christine Dix, Mayport Coastal Sciences Elementary School
Elizabeth Cruise, Mayport Middle School
Mynette Fenner, Merrill Road Elementary School
Daisy Cabase, Mount Herman Exceptional Student Center
Katie Hopkins, Neptune Beach Elementary
Sarah Pabon, New Berlin Elementary
Tahisha Merrell, Normandy Village Elementary School
Alicia Richmond, North Shore Elementary School of Advanced Studies, Integrated Arts and Sports Development
Alicia Hinson, Northwestern Legends Elementary
Whitney Reddick, Oak Hill Academy
Alexis Guyton, Oceanway Elementary School
Chatlyn Padirayon, Oceanway Middle School
Elizabeth Bell, Ortega Elementary School
Takeya Stanberry, Palm Avenue Exceptional Student Center
Heather Christie, Parkwood Heights Elementary
Emma Gallagher, Paxon School for Advanced Studies
Melissa Feliciano, Pickett Elementary School
Waquita Nelson-Pearson, Pinedale Elementary School
Natalie Nelson, Pine Estates Elementary
Rose Wisniewski, Pine Forest School of the Arts
Brittany Hendrickson, Ramona Blvd Elementary School
Kenneth Elliott, Reynolds Lane Elementary School
Fran Christian, River City Science Academy Elementary School
Ashlyn Lupinski, River City Science Academy Innovation
Rebecca Aliano, River City Science Academy Intracoastal
Haley Arnold, River City Science Academy Mandarin
Ugur Barindik, River City Science Academy Middle/High
DeMario, Brantley, River City Science Academy Southeast
Dr. Kelley Ranch, Riverside High School
Stacey Thompson, RL Brown Academy
Morgan Hauner, Rufus E. Payne Elementary School
Jacqueline Pittman, Ruth N . Upson Elementary
Amy Cofield, Rutledge H. Pearson Elementary
Lucielle Morton, R. V. Daniels Elementary School
Holly Smith, Sabal Palm Elementary School
Dori Lichtman, Sadie T. Tillis Elementary School
Markecha Bibbins, SA Hull Elementary School
Nathaniel Rollerson, Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies
Ivan Matos, Sandalwood High School
Troy Hillman, Sallye B. Mathis Elementary
Juan Carlos Belén-Ortíz, San Jose Early College at Cecil HS
Tery Ann Torres, San Jose Elementary
Cole Palmer, San Jose Prep
Ariel, Griffith, San Jose Primary
Emily Rush, San Mateo Elementary School
Jillian Eiseman, San Pablo Elementary
Whitney DeButy, Seabreeze Elementary
Amalia Santiago, Southside Estates Elementary School
Rebecca Kaufmann, Southside Middle School
Sarah Kitchen, Smart Pope Livingston Elementary
Di'Asia Hall, Springfield Middle School
Antoinette Montgomery, Spring Park Elementary
Kevin Sharpe, Stanton College Preparatory School
Felicia Thomas, Susie E. Tolbert
Gustavo Guzman, Terry Parker High School
Rebekah Shull, Thomas Jefferson Elementary
Tonia Fuller, Tiger Academy
Sarah, Hafiz, Timucuan Elementary
Darrius Wright, Twin Lakes Academy Elementary
Felicia Madison, Twin Lakes Academy Middle School
Loren Parsons, Venetia Elementary
Sara Fretz, Waterleaf Elementary
Amari Haughton, Wayman Academy of The Arts
Maria Laguna Negron, West Riverside Elementary School
Louise Roche, Westside High School
Elizbeth Ferraro, Westside Middle School
Staci Haynes, Westview PK-8
Catherine Spottswood, Whitehouse Elementary School
Jonathan Winston, William Marion Raines High School
Sarah Rusich, Windy Hill Elementary
Miranda Bjorklund, Woodland Acres Elementary School
Mozella Raines, Young Men's and Women's Leadership Academy
Michael Stull, Youth Development Programs
Contact Amy Henderson Communications & Marketing Director, at (404) 387-0624 or amy@jaxpef.org for more information.
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About the Jacksonville Public Education Fund
The Jacksonville Public Education Fund is an independent think-and-do tank that believes in the potential of all students. We work tirelessly to close the opportunity gap for low-income students and students of color. We convene educators, school system leaders and the community to pilot and help scale evidence-based solutions that advance school quality in Duval County. For more information: www.jaxpef.org.