Semi-finalists named for 2017 Florida Blue Duval County Teacher of the Year
12/20/2016
Fifteen outstanding public school teachers today were named semi-finalists for the 2017 Florida Blue Duval County Teacher of the Year.
The semi-finalists were selected from the Teachers of the Year nominated by every public school in Duval County. Thanks to a new partnership with the Deutsche Bank and the Jacksonville Jaguars, the semi-finalists — as well as 2016 Florida Blue Duval County Teacher of the Year Kay Park — will be recognized on the field at the Jacksonville Jaguars game on Saturday, December 24. Fans are encouraged to use #JaxThankATeacher to recognize a teacher in their lives who made a difference.
In the new year, five finalists will be selected, and from them, the winner will be named 2017 Florida Blue Teacher of the Year at the 26th Annual EDDY Awards Gala Dinner on Friday, February 24 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. Tickets to the EDDY Awards, an initiative of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, are available at eddyawardsjax.org and are $75 per person.
The semi-finalists are:
Allison Bear |
J. Allen Axson Montessori School |
Michael Bostic-Jones |
William Raines High School |
Latrece Brown |
Andrew Robinson Elementary School |
Kelly Crayne |
Seabreeze Elementary School |
Melissa Galjour |
Sandalwood High School |
Jacquelyn S. Gandy |
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School |
Vincent H. Hall II |
Twin Lakes Academy Middle School |
Holly Hultgren |
Frank H. Peterson High School |
Aurelio Cruz Lorente |
West Riverside Elementary School |
Simon Michael III |
Kernan Middle School |
Rade Obradovic |
Hyde Park Elementary School |
Brent Sawdy |
Lake Shore International Baccalaureate World Middle School |
Caitlyn Stetson |
Reynolds Lane Elementary School |
Korry VanWagoner |
Twin Lakes Elementary School |
Jeanne Walker |
Waterleaf Elementary School |
Honoring the county’s most exceptional educators, the EDDY Awards have evolved into a year-long initiative building a network of exemplary teachers who are leaders in the community and who work to improve our schools, accelerate student achievement and elevate the teaching profession.
“Every year we are inspired by the example set by these outstanding educators,” said Trey Csar, president of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. “We can’t wait to introduce them in front of thousands of people at Saturday’s Jaguars game.”
Photos of each of the semi-finalists, as well as a full list of teachers of the year from each school, are available at jaxpef.org.