Teacher Appreciation Week Matters to Me
Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-8) is a perfect time to show support, recognition, and appreciation for our public school teachers in Duval County.
As a board member of the Jacksonville Public Education Foundation (JPEF) and CEO and President of Community First Credit Union, I understand our strong community has been built over time through shared effort, steady leadership and commitment to our children. As a proud product of Duval County Public Schools, I developed a career path here in Jacksonville as a direct result of the impact of one important teacher in my life.
Recognizing teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week is a full-circle moment for me as someone whose life was forever changed for the better because of the work of one teacher.
My eighth-grade teacher, Barbara Lahnen, introduced me to her husband, Bill, a CPA, who helped shape my curiosity in accounting. That mentorship and encouragement helped me pursue the world of finance and earn a degree in business administration at the University of North Florida. This path has led me to more than three decades of fulfilling work at Community First, serving members in the community where I was raised.
Through JPEF’s partnership with the Community First Cares Foundation, community support has helped fund 180 classroom projects in Duval County just this year. This funding helps teachers provide innovative learning opportunities in their curriculum.
I’m proud to stand with teachers and administrators, and I invite our community to do the same. Support can take many forms, from celebrating educators to helping meet classroom needs to continuing to invest in JPEF and all it does year-round to fund, celebrate, and recognize our public school teachers in Duval County.