Florida's Teacher of the Year to be Named Tomorrow Night
DOE: Jennifer Hartshorne 850-294-1884
Macy's: Georgi Pipkin
305-577-1973
Florida's Teacher of the Year to be Named Tomorrow Night
Tallahassee, Fla., July 9, 2014 - First Lady Ann Scott and Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart, along with Macy's President Mike Krauter and Macy's Executive Vice President and Regional Director of Stores Darlene Hanes, will announce the winner of the 2015 Florida Department of Education/Macy's Teacher of the Year tomorrow night at a gala awards ceremony at Hard Rock Live in Orlando. The winner will be chosen from among five finalists.The Florida Department of Education/Macy's Teacher of the Year is chosen from more than 189,000 public school teachers by a selection committee comprised of teachers, principals, parents, and the business community. Florida's top educator is selected on the basis of their outstanding ability to teach and communicate knowledge of the subject taught, professional development, philosophy of teaching, and exceptional school and community service. The winner must also show a superior capacity to inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities.
The five Teacher of the Year finalists are below.
- Jill Espinosa, an ESOL Teacher at Belle Terre Elementary School in Flagler County;
- Lyndsey Matheny, a K-6 Science and Math Teacher at Citrus Elementary School in Indian River County;
- Kevin Ford, Performing Arts, Band Director and Music Teacher at Tarpon Springs High School in Pinellas County;
- Christie Bassett, a K-12 Art Teacher at Highlands Grove Elementary School in Polk County; and
- Daryl Cullipher, an English Language Arts and Teaching Academy Teacher at St. Augustine High School in St. Johns County.
What: Teacher of the Year Awards Gala
When: Thursday, July 10, 2014
6:30 p.m. - Gala begins
Where: Hard Rock Live at Universal Studios Orlando
6050 Universal Boulevard
Orlando
Note: Interested media should RSVP to Georgi Pipkin at Georgi.Pipkin@macys.com to make coverage arrangements.
Live Stream begins July 10 at 6:25 p.m. EDT to the end of the Awards Ceremony between approximately 8:30-9:00 p.m.