(Editor's Note - This post contains excerpts from a press released provided by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund's press release. The excerpts are used with permission.)
Oct. 26, 2022 – Congratulations to the 167 Duval teachers who have been nominated for the 2023 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year!
The Teacher of the Year program — coordinated by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF) — 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.
“Team Duval is phenomenally fortunate to comprise highly-talented, professional, and passionate teachers who give their all to see students succeed, and I am honored any chance I get to recognize and celebrate these educators,” said Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene. “I see a direct link between the excellence of our teachers and some of the recent academic achievements we have received, including a record-high number of our schools earning the prestigious School Recognition award from the state. To each of our Teacher of the Year nominees, I want to express not just my congratulations, but also my sincere gratitude for your service and dedication to your students, schools, and communities.”
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 process
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.
For more information about the VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year program, visit the Jacksonville Public Education Fund.
The 167 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
Elvin Enriquez, Crown Point Elementary School
Latoria Hawkins, Landmark Middle School
Marisa Hayes, Woodland Acres Elementary 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
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.
