Florida Teacher of the Year Statewide Finalists Surprised in Classrooms during Teacher Appreciation Week

May 8, 2015

DOE Press Office
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Florida Teacher of the Year Statewide Finalists Surprised in Classrooms during Teacher Appreciation Week

Tallahassee, Fla., May 8, 2015 – Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart, joined by Macy’s representatives, traveled the state this week to announce the five statewide finalists for the 2016 Florida Department of Education/Macy’s Teacher of the Year. Each teacher was honored with a surprise presentation in his or her classroom. The Florida Teacher of the Year program honors the contributions of outstanding classroom teachers who have demonstrated a superior capacity to inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities.

“Educators across the Sunshine State work hard every day to ensure Florida students have access to the best education possible,” said Commissioner Stewart. “I am pleased to recognize the finalists for the Florida Department of Education/Macy’s Teacher of the Year for being the kind of teachers whose impact far exceeds the classroom walls. Congratulations to each finalist on a job well-done.”

The finalists are:

• Catherine Beaudoin, W.C. Pryor Middle School, Okaloosa County School District;
• Brian Furgione, Milwee Middle School, Seminole County Public Schools;
• Ceola Graham, Madison County Central School, Madison County School District;
• Diane McKee, Williams Middle Magnet School, Hillsborough County Public Schools; and
• Ashlynn Ramirez, Hernando Elementary School, Citrus County School District.

“At Macy’s, we feel teachers are our state’s greatest human resource. That’s one reason why we’re proud of our long-standing commitment to education in Florida,” said Darlene Hanes, Macy’s executive vice president and regional director of stores. “The Teacher of the Year program gives us the opportunity to honor the best educators in the state as well as motivate teachers to strive for excellence in their own communities.”

Each District Teacher of the Year will receive a cash award of $750 and $250 for their respective schools. The five finalists for Teacher of the Year each receive an award of $5,000 and a $1,000 grant for their schools provided by the Macy’s Foundation, along with a $500 Macy’s gift card. In addition, the Florida Department of Education provides over $70,000 annually to support the Teacher of the Year program.

The Florida Teacher of the Year, selected from the five statewide finalists, will be announced at an awards gala in Orlando on July 9. The top teacher will receive a $10,000 cash award and an all-expense paid trip to New York City for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

The Florida Teacher of the Year also serves as the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education, a goodwill ambassador representing the Florida Department of Education and teachers throughout the state for the Teacher of the Year program.

To learn more about the Florida Department of Education programs to recognize the contributions of outstanding school administrators, classroom teachers and education support personnel, visit Recognition Awards.

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