Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to all the Teachers of the Year
A teacher from each school has been honored as a Teacher of the Year by their administration, peers and community as a standout Teacher. These teachers are leaders, mentors and role models, exemplifying excellence inside and outside the classroom.
2024-2025 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR • •
Sophia Kanellopoulos Anona Elementary
Kelly Hefty Azalea Elementary
Jacqueline Conroy Azalea Middle
Nancy Knight Bardmoor Elementary
Elizabeth Basley Bauder Elementary
Ashlee Ford Bay Point Elementary
Jamie Wade Bay Point Middle
April Bradley Bay Vista Fundamental Elementary
Keir Borresen Bayside High
Melissa Shible Bear Creek Elementary
Vincent Trapano Belcher Elementary
Carrie Snyder Belleair Elementary
Christina Kelly Blanton Elementary
Maxine Nicholas Boca Ciega High
Jenelle Crim Brooker Creek Elementary
Thomas Makowski
Calvin Hunsinger Exceptional Student Education Center
Brandy Ashby Campbell Park Elementary
Sonia Duggan Carwise Middle
Magen Przybylski Clearview Adult Education Center
Angela Faiola Clearwater Adult Education Center
Brittany Fuller Clearwater Fundamental Middle
Mallory Eline Clearwater High
Barbara Carmichael Countryside High
Stacy Rouse Cross Bayou Elementary
Natalie Steratore Curlew Creek Elementary
Marcy Streicher Curtis Fundamental Elementary
Elizabeth Williams Hagn
Cypress Woods Elementary
Devlin Pippert
Disston Academy
Maureen Wilson
Douglas L. Jamerson, Jr. Elementary
Debra Geary
Dunedin Elementary
Judith A. Deeley, EdD Dunedin High
Melissa Forsythe
Dunedin Highland Middle
Dana Munson East Lake High
Cristina Fallara East Lake Middle
Timothy Mount Educational Alternative Services
Alison Tripp Eisenhower Elementary
Cher Williger Elisa Nelson Elementary
Ashley Carrington Fairmount Park Elementary
Christina Beaty Forest Lakes Elementary
Kerrie Danler Doughty Frontier Elementary
Kendra Patterson Fuguitt Elementary
Suzanne Daily Garrison-Jones Elementary
Dennis Zuercher
Gibbs High
Jennifer Kelly
Gulf Beaches Elementary Magnet
Dayna Petruccelli
Gulfport Montessori Elementary
Nicole Yakubovsky
High Point Elementary
Leslie Bembnowski
Highland Lakes Elementary
Elizabeth McGowan Hollins High
Daryn Bauer
James B. Sanderlin K-8 IB World
Erin Cardinal
John Hopkins Middle
Karen Hubble
John M. Sexton Elementary
Lauren Piechota
Kings Highway Elementary Magnet
Jane Burgos
Lake St. George Elementary
Lawrence Fawcett
Lakeview Fundamental Elementary
Victoire Heintz
Lakewood Community
Princy Dorsainvil Lakewood Elementary
Christopher Borg Lakewood High
Nicole Shroyer
Largo High
Richard Wells Largo Middle
Sarah Murray Lealman Avenue Elementary
Regina Brown Lealman Innovation Academy
Kele McDonald
Leila G. Davis Elementary
Janet Jackson
Lynch Elementary
Allison Thomson
Madeira Beach
Fundamental K-8
David Villegas
Mangrove Bay Middle School
Richelle Faerber
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Elementary
Emmerson Clarke
Maximo Elementary
Ashley Mehr
McMullen-Booth
Elementary
Tarik Mowatt
Meadowlawn Middle
Sheba Walker
Melrose Elementary
Sarah O'Donoghue
Midtown Academy
Tara Levine
Mildred Helms Elementary
Chelsea Catarelli
Morgan Fitzgerald Middle
Carli McCrary
Mount Vernon Elementary
Bobbie Borys
New Heights Elementary
Ernest Lee
Nina Harris Exeptional
Student Education Center
Rachelle Davis
North Shore Elementary
Kem Mosley
Northeast High
Amanda Johnston
Northwest Elementary
Alyssa Jones
Oak Grove Middle
Marilyn Gars
Oakhurst Elementary
Shana Wolff
Oldsmar Elementary
Laura Kuenn
Orange Grove Elementary
Matthew Clay
Osceola Fundamental High
Jill Shircliff
Osceola Middle
Lyza Rutkoski
Ozona Elementary
Sandy Reigel
Palm Harbor Middle
Kelli Griffis
Palm Harbor University High
Christina McCartney
Pasadena Fundamental Elementary
Debbie Evans
Paul B. Stephens
Exceptional Student Education Center
Kontonia Fowler
Perkins Elementary
Cynthia Bradford
Pinellas Central
Elementary
Dale Milne
Pinellas Gulf Coast Academy
Lyndsay Barrow
Pinellas High Innovation
Julie Sivon
Pinellas Park Elementary
Jessica Luty
Pinellas Park High
Calvin Denecke
Pinellas Park Middle
Regianae Zanardini-Rojas
Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater
John Lambert
Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg
Cara Hamrich
Pinellas Virtual
Tina Hull
Plumb Elementary
Dawn Coleman
Ponce de Leon Elementary
Janet Canfield
Richard L. Sanders
Exceptional Student Education Center
Savannah Wilcox
Richard O. Jacobson
Technical High at Seminole
Dorothea Anderson
Ridgecrest Elementary
Sarah Hartranft
Safety Harbor Elementary
Kaley Olles
Safety Harbor Middle
Amanda Clayton
San Jose Elementary
Holly Mullenix
Sandy Lane Elementary
Dawn Golphin
Sawgrass Lake Elementary
Stacy Taylor
Seminole Elementary
Melissa Brandenburg
Seminole High
Marissa Silkie-Rees
Seminole Middle
Florencia Fouch
Seventy-Fourth Street Elementary
Barbara Lewis
Shore Acres Elementary
Bonnie Ruby
Skycrest Elementary
Tamika Morris
Skyview Elementary
Andrea Ress
Southern Oak Elementary
Anita Green
St. Petersburg High
Miranda France
Starkey Elementary
Suzanne Andropoulos
Sunset Hills Elementary
Melissa Springer
Sutherland Elementary
Jennifer Monteverde
Tarpon Springs Elementary
Alexandra Shontz
Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary
Joseph Priddy
Tarpon Springs High
Shanti Taylor
Tarpon Springs Middle
Natasha Reed
Thurgood Marshall
Fundamental Middle
Sophia Sansone
Tyrone Middle
Julie Christian Walsingham Elementary
Dana Wanek
Westgate Elementary
Rebecca Dupuis
Woodlawn Elementary
Siera Seidl
World Languages
2025 Teacher of the Year Top 10 Finalists
BRANDY ASHBY
Campbell Park Elementary
“I want to inspire students to recognize their potential, build confidence, and embrace lifelong learning. By fostering creativity, empathy, and cultural awareness, I aim to create a supportive environment where they feel valued and empowered to excel.”
KALEY OLLES
Safety Harbor Middle
“Being a classroom teacher means fostering an environment of engagement where students of all levels can be held to high standards. Creating lifelong readers who find themselves in the pages of books they read and write themselves into the stories they have yet to read.”
JUDITH A. DEELEY, EdD
Dunedin High
“The ultimate goal is to develop people who are self-guided learners and who can set and achieve goals they set out to accomplish. I provide tools and strategies for success in the workplace and community.”
JILL SHIRCLIFF
Osceola Middle
“Special Education is important to me. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, regardless of their disability. I find joy in seeing my students overcome challenges and achieve success.”
BRITTANY FULLER
Clearwater
Fundamental Middle
“Being a classroom teacher is what I was born to do. Providing a safe space for my students to make mistakes and learn from them is what I want to instill in my students. I am always pushing my students to be the best version of themselves.”
CARRIE SNYDER
Belleair Elementary
“Being a teacher isn’t just a job; it’s a passion and a way of life. It’s creating lasting relationships with students, colleagues, and parents. Connecting and working towards a common goal, guiding growth, and celebrating victories – big and small.”
KELLY HEFTY
Azalea Elementary
“I want my students to be and feel seen, heard, valued and celebrated. I want them to leave my class filled with confidence, strategies and skills in their educational toolboxes needed to conquer their ‘next.’”
NATALIE STERATORE
Curlew Creek Elementary
“Teaching art is about inspiring students to see the world creatively, unlocking their potential, and shaping who they become. I create a safe, judgment-free space where they feel valued. Art connects subjects, making learning tangible and empowering students to thrive.”
TARIK MOWATT
Meadowlawn Middle
“I want my students to be world-changers. Accepting challenges, embracing mistakes, and loving the learning process.”
DENNIS ZUERCHER
Gibbs
High
“I aim to instill values such as empathy, integrity, and a commitment to lifelong learning so my students will leave with the confidence to pursue their passions, overcome obstacles, and make meaningful contributions to their communities.”
About Pinellas Education Foundation
Established in 1986, Pinellas Education Foundation is a nationally recognized, dynamic non-profit organization committed to transforming students’ lives, empowering them to achieve their full potential, and providing teachers with the resources they need to excel in the classroom. Through innovative initiatives, a strategic
partnership with Pinellas County Schools, and collaboration with community partners, we work tirelessly to accelerate educational achievement for all students.
With a comprehensive approach to education, our programs cover the bookends of learning, beginning with an emphasis on literacy and continuing
through college and career readiness. Improving outcomes, especially for students with the greatest achievement gaps, is pivotal to our work.
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