Governor Scott Announces Lee County Educator Named Teacher of the Year Finalist
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Governor Scott Announces Lee County Educator Named Teacher of the Year Finalist
Tallahassee, Fla. - Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that Patricia Gair, a dance, advanced placement English, and theater history teacher at Cypress Lake High School in Ft. Myers, 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, "Our Florida teachers work tirelessly each day to help students reach higher levels of achievement and prepare for college, and their future careers. I am proud to recognize Patricia Gair as a Teacher of the Year finalist. Her hard work and positive influence is helps to make Florida students some of the most well-trained in the country."
"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. "Patricia Gair has demonstrated a strong commitment to ensure her students excel in their course work."
Gair has been teaching at the Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts since 1994 and is also an Adjunct Professor of Dance and Performing Arts at Florida Gulf Coast University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts with an English concentration from Florida Gulf Coast University, earned a Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Teacher Leadership from Grand Canyon University, and is nationally board certified in career and vocational education. Gair is head of the school's Dance Department, serves on the School Advisory Council and is active in local and state professional associations related to her field.