Schools nominate teachers for 2023 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year
10/20/2022
The hunt is on for the 2023 VyStar Teacher of the Year for Duval County! This year, 168 Duval County schools nominated a teacher to represent them in the Teacher of the Year contest for Duval County. The 2023 VyStar Teacher of the Year will be announced at the EDDY Awards, presented by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF) in partnership with VyStar Credit Union, Feb. 10, 2023.
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 selection committee organized 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 Feb. 10 at the Hyatt Regency. The winner will go on to compete for the Florida Teacher of the Year award.
"We are delighted to celebrate and elevate these amazing teachers,” said JPEF President Rachael Tutwiler Fortune. “We know how important teachers are to student success so not only do we want to recognize these outstanding teachers, JPEF also provides the opportunity for them to deepen their knowledge, network with their peers and expand their leadership roles within their school community.”
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.
“At VyStar Credit Union, we are proud to work alongside teachers across many Florida communities through our High School Branch Program, and we are deeply appreciative of all their hard work in support of their students,” said Patricia McElroy, Senior Vice President and Foundation President at VyStar Credit Union. “Today’s students will go on to become tomorrow’s leaders — and that’s because they have teachers who are dedicated to helping them reach their full potential. By supporting this wonderful celebration, VyStar recognizes and lifts up educators and thanks them for guiding their students every day.”
The Teachers of the Year are:
- Antony Aiuppy, Englewood Elementary
- Mfon Akpaete, Northwestern Legends Elementary School
- Mischa Allen, Wayman Academy Middle School
- Jennifer Allen-Tickle, Twin Lakes Academy Middle School
- Cadijay Anderson-Robinson, James Weldon Johnson College Prep
- Erica Apello, R. V. Daniels Gifted and Academically Talented Elementary School
- Ursyln Austin-George, Susie E. Tolbert
- Andrew Barth, Oak Hill Academy
- Michele Bell, Andrew Robinson Elementary School
- Jacqueline Bellido, Southside Middle School
- Lezley Bernoll, Anchor Academy
- Crystal Bennett, LaVilla School of the Arts
- Katrina Bias, Garden City Elementary School
- Olivia Blanco, KIPP Bessie Coleman Academy
- Katie Blaquiere, Kernan Trail Elementary School
- Rosalyn Bloxom-Johnson, Riverside High School
- Leslie Bolante, Southside Estates Elementary School
- Nolma Bork, Reynolds Lane Elementary School
- Hui Bougis, William Marian Raines High School
- Erin Bradica, River City Science Academy at Mandarin
- Lydia Brathwaite, Hidden Oaks Elementary School
- Dennis Breden, Mamie Agnes Jones Elementary School
- Marilyn Brissett, Sadie T. Tillis Elementary School
- Kevin Brown, III, Waterleaf Elementary School
- Miranda Burton, Hyde Grove Elementary School
- Arlene Cameron-Lloyd, R.L. Brown Academy
- Courtney Cardoza, Charger Academy
- Ines Carrion Lebron, West Riverside Elementary School
- Ho Yi Phoebe Chan, Biltmore Elementary School
- Kimberly Chandler, Pinedale Elementary School
- Zachary Clark, Hyde Grove
- Evelyn Cooley, Jean Ribault Middle School
- Sandra Cruz Navarro, San Jose Elementary School
- Logan Davis, River City Science Academy Innovation
- Adrianna Davis, Darnell Cookman School of the Medical Arts
- Ashling Dawkins, Bridge to Success Academy Middle School
- Emerlito DeGuzman, Palm Avenue Exceptional Student Center
- Denitra Deas-Jay, Englewood High School
- Lisa DeRubeis, Hendricks Avenue Elementary School
- Darby DeVane, GRASP Academy K-8
- Silvino DiBernardo, Atlantic Coast High School
- Jennifer Diangelo, Lone Star Elementary School
- Tatiana Dortch, Bartram Springs Elementary School
- Autumn Drozd, Alfred I. DuPont Middle School
- Emma Dubisky, Mandarian Oaks Elementary School
- Petrice Dunbar, Westview PK-8
- Molly Duncan, Martin Luther King, Jr., Elementary School
- Kelly Fanning, Duval Instructional Academy
- Eric Fields, Mandarin High School
- Kimberly Fifield, Julia Landon College Prep
- Lakesha Frost, KIPP Bold City High School
- Christa Fry, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
- Kristina Gershen, Merrill Road Elementary School
- Holly Goleski, Neptune Beach Elementary School
- Todd Goodman, Fort Caroline Elementary School
- Cindy Gray, Tiger Academy
- Sarah Green, Crystal Springs Elementary School
- Lyvonia Green, Duval MYcroSchool
- Deandrea Gregory, KIPP Impact Academy
- Cedric Hall, The Bridge to Success Academy High School
- Deborah Harbour, Chets Creek Elementary School
- Eryn Harris, Long Branch Elementary School
- Brett Hartley, Crown Point Elementary School
- Latoria Hawkins, Landmark Middle School
- Marisa Hayes, Woodland Acres Elementary School
- Donshay Herbert, Oceanway Middle School
- Roger Herring, Pine Estates Elementary School
- Rita Hill, Dinsmore Elementary School
- Argel Hipol, Westside High School
- Tomia Hodge, Jacksonville Heights Elementary School
- Jerrell Houston, Jean Ribault High School
- Summer Howard, Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School
- Angelita Huber, Duncan U. Fletcher Middle School
- David Johns, Loretta Elementary School
- Nia Johnson, Gregory Drive Elementary School
- Ciera Johnson, Joseph Stilwell Military Academy of Leadership
- Elandra Jones, Pickett Elementary School
- Shantel Jones, Arlington Elementary School
- Julia Kendall, Abess Park Elementary School
- Leigh Kirby, Edward H. White High School
- Alexis Kirk, Greenland Pines Elementary School
- Heather Lamb, Holiday Hill Elementary School
- Rita Larson, River City Science Academy Elementary School
- Antwan Lewey, Springfield Middle School
- Andrew Lodge, San Mateo Accelerated Learning Academy
- Kelly Lomblo, Jacksonville Beach Elementary School
- Devon Lott, Windy Hill Elementary School
- Avia Lucas, Fishweir Elementary School
- Jacinth Lyle, Gateway Community Services
- Jametta Lynch, Whitehouse Elementary School
- Amanda Mahoney, Twin Lakes Academy Elementary School
- Shannon Maxey, Sabal Palm Elementary School
- Julia Mayeshiba, Andrew Jackson
- Tameka Mays, Don Brewer Elementary School
- Adina McCall, Frank H. Peterson
- Marie McKenzie, Timucan Elementary School
- Melissa McKinney, Oceanway Middle School
- Felicia McLaughlin, Rutledge Pearson Elementary School
- Tiffany Melanson, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
- Chassity Miller, Mayport Elementary School
- Sarah Miller, Greenfield Elementary School
- Sharon Mitchell, Louis Sheffield Elementary School
- Andrea Mitchell, Westside Middle School
- Lindsay Moore, Alimacani Elementary School
- Maurice Moore, Grand Park Educational Center #14
- Taylor Morris, Atlantic Beach Elementary School
- Angela Morton, Mattie V. Rutherford Alternative Middle School
- Wendy Mueller, Ruth N. Upson Elementary School
- Caran Mullins, Seabreeze Elementary School
- Sunni Myers, San Pablo Elementary School
- Benjamin Newsom, Ramonda Blvd Elementary School
- Jennifer Norton, John Stockton Elementary School
- Dana Oliva, George Washington Carver Elementary School
- Katelyn Oliver, Oceanway Elementary School
- Terrell Osakue, Spring Park Elementary School
- Latoyia Palmer, Parkwood Heights Elementary #208
- Earnestine Parks, Fishweir Elementary School of the Arts
- Jesica Pearce, Lake Lucina Elementary School
- Rachel Peterson, River City Science Academy Intracoastal
- Tyerra Poole, Annie R. Morgan Elementary School
- Keith Poole, Terry Parker High School
- Amanda Porter, Hyde Park Elementary School
- Sarah Prichard, Normandy Village Elementary School
- Kristin Radzelovage, Enterprise Learning Academy
- Kient Ramos, Mount Herman Elementary School
- Ana Redding Shepherd, Fletcher High School
- Alana Reed, Central Riverside Elementary School
- Rashad Reed, Biscayne Elementary Leadership Academy
- Grace Restivo, Kings Trail Elementary School
- Nzinga Richards, Rufus E. Payne Elementary School
- Yamilette Riedel, Arlington Heights Elementary School
- Chelsi Rivera, North Shore Elementary School
- Nalda Roberts, Smart Pope Livingston Elementary School – Accelerated Primary Learning Center
- Andrea Roberts, Pine Forest School of the Arts
- Heather Rozelle, Paxon School for Advanced Studies
- Angelnita Sappleton, Bayview Elementary School
- Carlyn Schaefer, Arlington Middle School
- Fay Sharpe, Chimney Lakes
- Tamla Simmons, Stanton College Preparatory School
- Karen Simon, Chaffee Trail Elementary
- Ambra Smith, River City Science Academy
- Lauren Smith, Baldwin Middle Senior High School
- Kenneth Solomon, First Coast High School
- Burgandy Souter, A. Philip Randolph
- Carolyn Sowell, Sandalwood High School
- King Tabajonda, Mandarin Middle School
- Amy Take, Alden Road Exceptional Student Center
- Peyton Talley, Brookview Elementary School
- Juan Taplin, New Berlin Elementary School
- Gloria-Grace Taylor, Beauclerc Elementary School
- Catrice Thomas, The Leadership Academy
- Laura Torres, Cedar Hills Elementary School
- Raquel Traill, Sallye B. Mathis Elementary School
- Sadie Travis, Love Grove Elementary School
- Kerri Tuttle, Venetia Elementary School
- James Valentine, S.A. Hull Elementary School
- Kimberly Waddell-Willis, John Love Early Learning Center
- Abbegayle Walker, Highlands Middle School
- Ashley Watkins, J. Allen Axson Montessori School
- Turischeva Way, Henry F. Kite Elementary School
- Natalie Wells, Ortega Elementary School
- Marilynne Wilcox, Fort Caroline Middle School of the Visual and Performing Arts
- Michandra Williams, Highlands Elementary School
- Pamela Williams, Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies
- Terry Woolard, John E. Ford PK-8 English/Spanish Montessori
- Traci Wurzbach, Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary School
- Lynette Yalledy, Mathew W. Gilbert Middle School
- Bryan Zelski, Kernan Middle School