Teacher of the Year finalists chosen; winner to be announced in February
The 2023 Lake County Teacher of the Year finalists have been decided on.
The Schooling Basis of Lake County alongside with reps from the Lake County College Board and sponsors surprised 4 Lake teachers in their school rooms on Wednesday with the honor.
The finalists are Jessica Woods of Windy Hill Middle Faculty, Patrick Kelly of Leesburg Significant Faculty, Danielle Newton of Leesburg Elementary School and Courtney Stokes of Tavares Substantial College.
“We are privileged to have fantastic academics in Lake County, and right now it was an honor to figure out a couple of of our incredibly best for their professionalism and perseverance to scholar achievement,” Superintendent Diane Kornegay stated. “I am thrilled for them and so appreciative of all they have performed and continue to do. I look ahead to the big announcement, when we title our district’s Trainer of the 12 months. Possibly of these 4 would characterize us perfectly.”
The winner will be declared through the Instructor of the 12 months banquet on Feb. 3. The prime teacher will also generate off with a 2021 Nissan Rogue courtesy of Jenkins Auto Team.
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Jessica Woods
Woods is a literacy mentor for grades six as a result of eight at Windy Hill Middle School in Clermont. She has been teaching for 18 several years, 13 of all those in Florida and 3 in her present position.
“This is so amazing and interesting to be acknowledged by my friends,” Woods claimed Wednesday. “It’s great to have their assistance. I want to thank my admin team in this article. Absolutely everyone has been so supportive during the ups and downs and just with me in the trenches.”
Woods reported her preferred aspect of instructing is looking at the lightbulbs convert on in kids and currently being a portion of their journey.
“So many college students wander into a classroom by now sensation defeated,” Woods reported in her application essay. “I related with these college students as I felt the exact was when I was in faculty. My challenge as en educator is to instill self esteem in these learners. When I enable a pupil make a connection or know they can master a thing they assumed was extremely hard, I am impressed to go on the perform that I do just about every and just about every day.”
Patrick Kelly
Kelly is a science and math instructor at Leesburg Higher University who has been educating for about eight an a fifty percent decades. His mom, Gayle, is also a trainer at Leesburg Substantial and was proud to be present for his recognition.
“I am so confused,” Kelly claimed. “This was so unexpected. Each day I arrive and do my very best. It is an honor to be identified. I want to thank my mom who has been listed here for 15 years. She’s definitely the reason I am where I am nowadays.”
Kelly stated his most loved section of educating is observing the success of his students after they go away his classroom.
“When we experienced weak AP exam final results and a realign doorway of AP calculus lecturers, I grew to become Math 6-12 certified mainly because I realized I could be a resolution,” Kelly mentioned in his application essay. “I question myself, ‘how can I expect my learners to display the determination and bravery to problem on their own if I do not do the same?’”
Danielle Newton
Newton is a 3rd grade teacher at Leesburg Elementary University where she has taught for 8 a long time. While she was ill the day of the announcement, she was named in through Zoom to get her recognition.
“It’s an awesome option to signify in this way,” Newton stated. “I want to thank my grandmother and my spouse for usually supporting me.”
Newton reported her most loved aspect of training is building interactions with her pupils and looking at the influence she has on their lives.
“For as extensive as I can try to remember my heart has been in training and enriching the lives of kids,” Newton explained in her software essay. “Education is far more than just instructing pupils standards and hoping they go the quality you train. I genuinely think that as an educator, I am liable for producing the complete child and by way of that, they will most undoubtedly study the standards.”
Courtney Stokes
Stokes is a science teacher at Tavares Higher University, wherever she has been for 6 many years. As a Leesburg Superior graduate, she reported she is very pleased to represent Lake County.
“I’m genuinely honored for the reason that there are so numerous wonderful academics,” Stokes mentioned. “I want to thank all my administration, especially in the science field, for their astounding assist. This is a workforce work for sure.”
Stokes mentioned her favorite aspect of educating is inspiring the children in science, showing them that science isn’t challenging or monotonous, but inspiring them to glance at the world with much more curiosity.
“I am also motivated when students increase above their possess estimation of their skills,” Stokes said in her application essay. “Watching them grow and notice they can attain matters they didn’t imagine they could do is immensely fulfilling. Viewing understanding dawning in the eyes of a university student that felt that way at the starting of the yr is a superb experience.”
