Dr. Debra Pace has been making her annual “rounds” throughout the district, announcing and surprising, the top ten finalists for teacher of the year, and school-related employee of the year.
The field of nominees for Osceola School District’s Teacher of the Year and School-Related Employee of the Year has been narrowed down to the top ten finalists in both categories, after each school selected their own teacher and school-related employee of year, earlier in late 2022.
The following educators have been named as the top ten finalists for Teacher of the Year:
-
Jackelyn Adkins – Tohopekaliga High – 2D Studio Art Instructor
-
Elizabeth Bullock – Partin Settlement Elementary – 3rd Grade Teacher
-
Kayra Burdette – Mill Creek Elementary – 4th Grade Teacher
-
Jacqueline Hinds – Horizon Middle – Literacy Coach
-
Milagros Mercado – Canoe Creek K-8 – 2nd Grade Teacher
-
Tiffany Perry – East Lake Elementary -5th Grade Teacher
-
Jeremiah Swartz – Gateway High – Math Coach
-
Geoffrey VonRentzell – NeoCity Academy – Digital Multimedia Teacher
-
Elizabeth Weretka – Westside K-8 – 4th Grade Teacher
-
Laura Winstanley – St. Cloud Middle – Varying Exceptionality Teacher
The following employees have been named as the top ten finalists for School-Related Employee of the Year:
- Claudia Guzman – Special Programs – Family Resource Specialist
- David Maxwell – Chestnut Elementary School for Science and Engineering – Paraprofessional
- Nicholas Montalbano – School Operations – Foreman
- Bianca Morales – Business and Finance – Payroll Business Analyst
- Kelly Mott – Narcoossee Middle – Executive Secretary
- Janae Muchmore – Community Relations – Social Media & Digital Storyteller
- Melvin Rivera – Harmony Middle – IT Tech
- Tanya Snellings – Educational Choices and Innovation – Charter Schools Compliance Specialist
- LaShanna Ward – St. Cloud Middle – Dean’s Secretary
- Francis “Dale” Wheeler – Student Services – Judicial Liaison
Judges selected the finalists based on their applications. The name of the district’s Teacher of the Year and School-Related Employee of the Year will be announced at the district’s annual Education Awards ceremony to be held on March 9, 2023, at Osceola Heritage Park.