Congratulations to the 2022 Teacher of the Year, Ashley Brannon from Karen M. Siegel Academy; and the School-Related Employee of the Year, Tiffany Berrien from Rochelle School of the Arts!
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This annual awards program honors approximately 240 outstanding employees from across the district. Along with 12 finalists, the winners receive cash awards and other prizes from event sponsors.
Judges include community members from local organizations and businesses, as well as past winners and finalists. Judges review the applications without knowledge of applicant names or schools. Judging criteria includes leadership and professional development activities, community and school involvement, and teaching style.
Each year, the Florida Department of Education names a Florida Teacher of the Year, choosing an educator who has “demonstrated a superior capacity to inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities.” The Florida School-Related Employee of the Year award recognizes outstanding education support personnel for contributions to their schools and communities. Both of Polk’s winners move on to compete for the state titles.
2022 Honorees
Teachers of the Year are listed first followed by
School-Related Employees of the Year
Alturas
Alturas Elementary – TOY: Angela Cochran; SRE: Nicole Grubbs
Auburndale
Auburndale Central Elementary – TOY: Todd Butler; SRE: Michael D. Matthews
Auburndale Senior High – TOY: Aaron Bellwood; SRE: Jacquelyn Mulford
Clarence Boswell Elementary – TOY: Jennifer Towles; SRE: Alejandro Aranguren
East Area Adult Scool – TOY: Lori Cabrera; SRE: Jeanette Reese
Jere L. Stambaugh Middle – TOY: Shannon Herder; SRE: Fay Walker
Lena Vista Elementary – TOY: Sheila McCarty; SRE: Amelia Jacobo
Walter Caldwell Elementary – TOY: Courtney Howell; SRE: Michelle Lugo
Bartow
Bartow Elementary Academy – TOY: Patricia Katsoulis; SRE: Ronald Duke Jr.
Bartow Middle – TOY: Carmen Bonilla Aponte; SRE: Russell Patterson Jr.
Bartow Senior High/IB/Summerlin – TOY: Lindsey Hanger; SRE: Cynthia Hall
Floral Avenue Elementary – TOY: Nancy Reynolds; SRE: Diana Tinker
Gause Academy of Leadership – TOY: Audrey Armstrong; SRE: Pamela Carter
James E. Stephens Elementary – TOY: Dr. Shaime Cortes Vega; SRE: Lottie Rabb
Jean O’Dell Learning Center – TOY: Amy Fitzgerald; SRE: Oscar Tamayo
Spessard L Holland Elementary – TOY: Shannon Bumpus; SRE: Leah Locklear
Union Academy – TOY: Beth Row; SRE: Aimee Fraker
Davenport
Citrus Ridge: A Civics Academy – TOY: Steven Foxworth; SRE: Brittany Armstrong
Davenport Elementary – TOY: Robynn Hamrick; SRE: Sandra Alls
Davenport School of the Arts – TOY: Amanda Smith; SRE: Donna Michalski
Horizons Elementary – TOY: Susan DeMan; SRE: Sandy Ruiz-Veguilla
Loughman Oaks Elementary – TOY: Melissa Gamache; SRE: Shannon DeGraaf
Ridge Community High – TOY: Philip Holt; SRE: Rosa Rentas Pagan
Dundee
Donald E. Woods Opportunity Center – TOY: Giovanni Rivera Dominger; SRE: Ronda Forgiana
Dundee Elementary Academy – TOY: Viviene Squire; SRE: Lissette Reimundy
Dundee Ridge Middle Academy – TOY: James Rheaume; SRE: Juan Garcia
Eagle Lake
Eagle Lake Elementary – TOY: Deanna Tribeck-Bolden; SRE: Tracy Walling
Lake Region High – TOY: Kent Viles; SRE: Ronald Hodnett
Pinewood Elementary – TOY: Sarah Parmer; SRE: Jessica Roberts
Fort Meade
Fort Meade Middle/Senior High – TOY: Elvin Hanna; SRE: Carol Shiver
Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary – TOY: David Romero; SRE: Elizabeth Stocum
Lewis Elementary – TOY: Stella Hatton; SRE: Sheila Roberts
Frostproof
Frostproof Ben Hill Griffin Jr. Elementary – TOY: Jennifer Welch; SRE: Alice Stinson
Frostproof Middle/High School – TOY: Jennifer Clements; SRE: Jennifer Thompson
Haines City
Alta Vista Elementary – TOY: Laura Guzman; SRE: Leslie A Ramos
Bethune Academy – TOY: Mary Anhalt; SRE: William Beasley Jr.
Daniel Jenkins Academy of Technology – TOY: Tara Boucher; SRE: Lakeisha Gilbert
Eastside Elementary – TOY: Kellie Rogers; SRE: Linda Jones
Haines City Senior/Haines City IB – TOY: Martina White; SRE: Vernessa Kowlessar
Sandhill Elementary – TOY: Misty Rutledge; SRE: Hector Rentas
Shelley S. Boone Middle – TOY: Shecole Edwards; SRE: Taveeta Haynes
Highland City
Highland City Elementary – TOY: Haley Smith ; SRE: Lisa Branam
Lake Alfred
Karen M. Siegel Academy – TOY: Ashley Brannon; SRE: Eric Harrigan
Lake Alfred Elementary – TOY: Janee Jackson; SRE: Bonnie Horne
Lake Alfred Polytech Academy – TOY: Lana Cannon; SRE: Antolin Morales Caldero
Lake Wales
McLaughlin Middle & Fine Arts Academy – TOY: Teneka Downing; SRE: Christopher Massey
Roosevelt Academy – TOY: David Bartos; SRE: Marla Outlaw
Spook Hill Elementary – TOY: Jessica Sousa; SRE: Ronika Mincey
Lakeland
Bill Duncan Opportunity Center – TOY: Deborah Jones; SRE: Kellie Beckett
Carlton Palmore Elementary – TOY: Kristin Maldonado; SRE: Nicolas Diaz Lumpy
Cleveland Court Elementary – TOY: Jamie Monge; SRE: Kristina Clark
Combee Academy of Design and Engineering – TOY: Kelly Jones; SRE: Yadira Fuentes
Crystal Lake Elementary – TOY: Catherine Mack; SRE: Joanna Collier
Crystal Lake Middle – TOY: Jennifer Peacock; SRE: Pamela Cornelia
Dixieland Elementary – TOY: Beatriz Medina; SRE: Jon Rozier
Doris A. Sanders Learning Center – TOY: Linda Campbell; SRE: Aces Rempart
Dr. NE Roberts Elementary – TOY: Debbie Taylor; SRE: Amanda Monroe
Edgar L. Padgett Elementary – TOY: Kyle Murphy; SRE: Dalimar Ayala Figueroa
George W. Jenkins Senior High – TOY: Sherry Scott; SRE: Emily Higgins
Griffin Elementary – TOY: Adrianna Herbert; SRE: Rene Perez
Harrison School for the Arts – TOY: Amy Benningfield; SRE: Kelly James
Highlands Grove Elementary – TOY: April McWhirter; SRE: Laura Tanis
James W. Sikes Elementary – TOY: Lara Price; SRE: Roger Martin
Jesse Keen Elementary – TOY: Alyssa Rose; SRE: Norma Clark
Kathleen Elementary – TOY: Andrea White Borden; SRE: James Teixeira
Kathleen Middle – TOY: Amanda Fleming; SRE: Elana Tedrick
Kathleen Senior High – TOY: Steven Grasso; SRE: Terri Edinger
Lake Gibson Middle – TOY: Lori Baranowski; SRE: Crystal Myers
Lake Gibson Senior High – TOY: Jennifer Campbell; SRE: Roseline Vilsaint
Lakeland Highlands Middle – TOY: Kourtney Feagle; SRE: Deanna Ortiz
Lakeland Senior High – TOY: Debbie Allen; SRE: Frances Kenny
Lawton Chiles Middle Academy – TOY: Shelly Gerber; SRE: LeAnn Stalvey
Lincoln Avenue Academy – TOY: Monica Stoltz; SRE: Patsy Muzidal
Medulla Elementary – TOY: Virginia Aranda; SRE: Marlene Hudson
North Lakeland Elem. School of Choice – TOY: Jessica Curatolo; SRE: Cappie Walker
Oscar J. Pope Elementary – TOY: Keyshonna Kemp; SRE: Charlene Tributino
Philip O’Brien Elementary – TOY: Caren Hiam; SRE: Marie Sagnella
Polk GRAD Academy – TOY: Kimberly Morrison; SRE: Julie Williams
Polk Virtual School – TOY: Renee Vaughn; SRE: Keelie de Loera
R. Bruce Wagner Elementary – TOY: Shelley Camp; SRE: Lori Armstrong
R. Clem Churchwell Elementary – TOY: Kailyn Reynolds-Keller; SRE: Lisa Lindsay
R.E.A.L. Academy – TOY: Nathan Hatzer; SRE: Charysse Graham
Rochelle School Of The Arts – TOY: Ashley Lamb; SRE: Tiffany Berrien
Rosabelle W. Blake Academy – TOY: Dawn Thompson; SRE: Eileen Boatman
Scott Lake Elementary – TOY: Tracy SIngle; SRE: Iman Mustafa
Sleepy Hill Elementary – TOY: Oreen Hajec; SRE: Tammie Lott
Sleepy Hill Middle – TOY: Aric Kroon; SRE: Melodie Brown
Socrum Elementary – TOY: Teno Dawson; SRE: Jeanita Sykes
Southwest Elementary – TOY: Tiffany Beardsley ; SRE: Jessica Love
Southwest Middle – TOY: Samantha Surrency; SRE: Betty Goldwire
Tenoroc High – TOY: Lauren Gossen; SRE: Lawrence Young
Traviss Technical College – TOY: Christopher Hallock; SRE: Donna Pepper
Valleyview Elementary – TOY: Jessica Booker; SRE: Jessica Woodham
Wendell Watson Elementary – TOY: Meagan Watkins; SRE: Jessica Gainey
West Area Adult School – TOY: Matthew Wilkinson; SRE: Shirley McGinnis
Winston Academy of Engineering – TOY: Elizabeth Cox; SRE: Patricia Delise
Mulberry
Mulberry Middle – TOY: Carlos Garcia; SRE: Dale Thorpe
Mulberry Senior High – TOY: Courtney Brinton; SRE: Latarsha Jennings
Purcell Elementary – TOY: Alison Owens; SRE: Sherease Lewis
Poinciana
Lake Marion Creek Middle – TOY: Zoe Massas; SRE: Kesha Williams
Laurel Elementary – TOY: Norma E. Velez Arvelo; SRE: Jose Torres – Marrero
Palmetto Elementary – TOY: Almarys Ramos-Esteves; SRE: Carlos Torres
Polk City
Polk City Elementary – TOY: Catherine Ness; SRE: Paula Ureste
Winter Haven
Chain Of Lakes Elementary – TOY: Wendy Ulch; SRE: Clarissa Payano
Denison Middle – TOY: Natalie Chin-Watson; SRE: Roneiqua Wright
Elbert Elementary – TOY: Kyle Catrett; SRE: Courtney Haynes
Frank E. Brigham Academy – TOY: Penny Lundquist; SRE: John Winghart
Fred G. Garner Elementary – TOY: Takelia Moore; SRE: Lisa Barrios
Garden Grove Elementary – TOY: Danyel Ward; SRE: Christina Hernandez
Inwood Elementary – TOY: Christina Bass; SRE: Serena Dunn
Jewett Middle Academy Magnet – TOY: Lourdes Santiago Gutierrez; SRE: Josue Negron Rivera
Jewett School of the Arts – TOY: John Aaron Meyers; SRE: Nicole Carr
John Snively Elementary – TOY: Kimberly White; SRE: Veronia Calderon
Lake Shipp Elementary – TOY: Catherine Hughes; SRE: Scott Tanner
Ridge Technical Academy – TOY: Dawn Edinger
Ridge Technical College – TOY: Hilda Ringley; SRE: Wanda Desiree
Wahneta Elementary – TOY: Zulma Leon Bermudez; SRE: Adriana Cruz
Westwood Middle – TOY: Rochelle Hancock; SRE: Pamela Holman
Winter Haven Senior High – TOY: Austin Dollison; SRE: Gina Cea
Photos:
Visit the 2022 Teacher and School-Related Employee of the Year photo gallery to see photos of this year’s nominees, “prize patrol” photos and event photos.
Please share your photos on social media using the hashtag #LovePolkSchools.
Platinum Sponsors:
- Lakeland Automall
- MIDFLORIDA Credit Union
Gold Sponsors:
- ARAMARK
- BlueCross BlueShield of Florida
- Boswell & Dunlap LLP
- Legoland Florida Resort
- Mosaic
- Polk Education Association
- Publix Super Markets Charities
- TECO
Silver Sponsors:
- Ben Hill Griffin, Inc
- Florida Southern College
- Huntington Learning Center
- Joe Fisher/Mid-State Educators Insurance, A Horace Mann Agency
- Lakeland Magic
- Orlando Health
- Polk State College
