Governor Scott Announces Sarasota Educator Named Teacher of the Year Finalist
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Governor Scott Announces Sarasota Educator Named Teacher of the Year Finalist
Sarasota, Fla. - Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that Katrin Rudge, a marine science teacher at Riverview High School in Sarasota, is a 2014 Department of Education/Macy's Teacher of the Year finalist. She is one of five educators from throughout the state who will compete for the title. Florida's Teacher of the Year will be named on July 11, 2013 at Hard Rock Live at Universal Studios CityWalk in Orlando.
Governor Scott said, "Congratulations to Katrin Rudge for being a Teacher of the Year finalist. Florida's teacher's are the backbone of our education system and are on the frontlines every day preparing Florida's students for college or a career. That is why we worked with the Legislature to ensure that every Florida teacher can get pay raise. Thank you to Katrin, and all Florida teachers for making a difference in our student's lives.
"The ability to transform children's lives is the highest privilege any of us can aspire to," said Florida Commissioner of Education Dr. Tony Bennett. "Katrin Rudge brings creativity and abundant energy to her classroom fostering an environment where students love to learn."
Rudge has been teaching Marine Science and dual enrollment Marine Biology at Riverview for the past 13 years and previously taught science in the Environmental Science Academy at Booker High School. She formed a partnership with the Mote Aquaculture Research Park to develop Riverview's Aquascience Program and created the Aquadome portion of the Stars to Starfish program. Rudge earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences with an emphasis on Marine Biology, and a Master of Science degree in the Marine Estuarine Environmental Science program, both from the University of Maryland. She is actively involved with state and local professional associations related to her field.