Story and photo courtesy of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund.
Nov. 14, 2025 - More than 175 outstanding Duval County teachers are being celebrated for their dedication and impact in the classroom this school year. One of them will be named the 2026 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year at the EDDY Awards, presented by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF), on Jan. 24, 2026.
The Teacher of the Year program seeks to recognize, elevate and empower Duval County's best public school teachers by offering unique programming to elevate the teaching profession throughout the year. Teachers selected by their schools as Teacher of the Year are given the opportunity to participate in the teacher leadership initiative offered by JPEF.
After schools submit their nominees for Teacher of the Year, a diverse selection committee convened by JPEF narrows the field down to 15 semifinalists. The semifinalists are further narrowed down to five finalists through a selection process that includes observing the teachers in the classroom. The final Teacher of the Year will be announced at the EDDY Awards Gala on Jan. 24 at the Hyatt Regency. The winner will go on to compete for the Florida Teacher of the Year award.
“Every day, these outstanding educators go above and beyond to ignite a love of learning and help students reach their full potential,” said Rachael Tutwiler Fortune, president of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. “The Teachers of the Year represent the very best of Duval County. They are dedicated, creative, and deeply committed to our children’s success. We look forward to celebrating their incredible impact and stories of excellence at the 2026 EDDY Awards.”
VyStar believes in doing good and leading by example, especially when it comes to supporting local education foundations and their efforts to celebrate and elevate teachers in their communities. VyStar is the title sponsor for the EDDY Awards.
“At VyStar, we believe that great teachers are the heart of thriving communities,” said Patricia McElroy, senior vice president and Foundation President, VyStar Credit Union. “We are honored to support the EDDY Awards and celebrate the incredible educators who inspire, uplift, and transform lives every day. Their dedication to excellence in the classroom shapes the future of our region, and we are proud to stand beside them in this important work.”
“Every one of these teachers is a part of the reason Duval County is an ‘A’-rated school district,” said Dr. Christopher Bernier, superintendent of Duval County Public Schools. “Our success is rooted in their hard work and because of them, our students are excelling, growing, and achieving like never before. Each of them is a Teacher of the Year to us at Duval County Public Schools, and together they’re shaping an exciting future for education in Duval County—one filled with innovation, inspiration, and endless possibilities for our students.”
The Teachers of the Year are:
Karen Wade, A. Philip Randolph College & Career Academies
Lynn Simmons, Abess Park Elementary School
Erin Harwick, Alden Road Exceptional Student Center
Dasia Stevenson, Alfred I. duPont Middle School
Allyson McAlister, Alimacani Elementary School
Brittany Barbatelli, Anchor Academy Elementary School
Kenya Smarr-White, Andrew Jackson High School of Advanced Technology
Shirley Anderson, Andrew Robinson Elementary School
Misty Herbert, Arlington Elementary School
Rachel Shuert, Arlington Heights Elementary School
Monica Gold, Arlington Middle School
Kaylee Carlin, Atlantic Beach Elementary School
Robert Jackson, Atlantic Coast High School
Richard Kennedy, Baldwin Middle-Senior High School
Priscilla Anderson, Bartram Springs Elementary School
Heather Edmonds, Bayview Elementary School
Nicole Kolbeck, Beauclerc Elementary School
Chereen Murray Forsythe, Biltmore Elementary School
Ronda Bridgeman, Biscayne Elementary Leadership Academy
Natalie Hutchinson, Bridge to Success Academy High School
Megan Cantrell., The Bridge to Success Elementary and Middle School
Shawnie Hodgson, Brookview Elementary School
Tricia Carter, Cedar Hills Elementary School
Amanda Jones, Central Riverside Elementary School
Allison Blount, Chaffee Trail Elementary School
Stephanie Leca, Chaffee Trail Middle School
Roberta Matthews, Chets Creek Elementary School
Tonya Ahnemiller, Chimney Lakes Elementary School
Marianthi Angjellari, Crown Point Elementary School
Fosteria Haigler, Crystal Springs Elementary School
Tori Tremble, Darnell Cookman School of the Medical Arts
Zetosha Williams, Dinsmore Elementary School
Diana Dingle, Don Brewer Elementary School
Michelle Flores, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
Amber Adams, Duncan U. Fletcher High School
Norma Kameko Ramirez, Duncan U. Fletcher Middle School
Tara Rovolis, Duval Virtual Instructional Academy
Nicole Matthews, Edward H. White High School
Denise McFarland, Englewood Elementary School
Devon Norris, Englewood High School
Shikara Arnold, Enterprise Learning Academy
Denita Blunt, First Coast High School
Jennifer Kitt, Fishweir Elementary School of the Arts
Robin Peterson, Fort Caroline Elementary School
Dr. Carissa McCray, Fort Caroline Middle School of the Visual and Performing Arts
Matthew Rodgers, Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology
Elisa McFadden, Garden City Elementary School
Jaelyn Morris, George Washington Carver Elementary School
Dolores Davis, Grand Park Education Center
Melva Batts, GRASP Academy
Leyla Salinas, Greenfield Elementary School
Jaimie O’Brien, Greenland Pines Elementary School
Atierani McIntyre, Gregory Drive Elementary School
Caron Prisby, Hendricks Avenue Elementary School
Susan Jeffers, Hidden Oaks Elementary School
Sherry Bolden, Highlands Estates Academy
Valerie Arline-Brown, Highlands Middle School
Pamela Owens, Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary School
Lauren Skipper, Holiday Hill Elementary School
Leteia Pennington, Hospital Homebound
Donna Conroy, Hyde Grove Elementary School
Vicki Everson, Hyde Park Elementary School
Amanda Confiado, J. Allen Axson Montessori School
Jennifer O'Brien, Jacksonville Beach Elementary School
Tracy Fusilier, Jacksonville Heights Elementary School
George Teuber, James Weldon Johnson College Prep Middle School
Dr. Mari Richardson, Jean Ribault High School
Monet Baker, Jean Ribault Middle School
Jason Williams, John E. Ford PK-8 English/Spanish Montessori
Hattie Anthony, John Love Early Learning Center
Leah McCorvey, John Stockton Elementary School
Terrence Rodgers, Joseph Stilwell Military Academy of Leadership
Marshall Rivers, Julia Landon College Preparatory and Leadership Development School
Carrie Prince, Kernan Middle School
Laura Ulloa, Kernan Trail Elementary School
Lisette Boyd, Lake Lucina Elementary School
Delia Smith, Landmark Middle School
Ariela Valdez, LaVilla School of the Arts
Silimona Hamrick, Lone Star Elementary School
Alanna Conyers, Long Branch Elementary School
Jennifer Anderson, Loretto Elementary School
Tracie Chaffee, Louis Sheffield Elementary School
Serena Maerkl, Love Grove Elementary School
Heather Sharp, Mamie Agnes Jones Elementary School
Kim Rolfe, Mandarin High School
Dionicio Pacpaco, Mandarin Middle School
Deborah Scarbrough, Mandarin Oaks Elementary School
Leon Crawford, Matthew W. Gilbert Middle School
Wanda Williams, Mattie V. Rutherford Alternative Middle School
Ariana Khalili, Mayport Coastal Sciences Elementary School
Loravie Howell, Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School
Kelly Ogram, Merrill Road Elementary School
Wilmer Suficiencia, Mount Herman Exceptional Student Center
Pamela Levine, Neptune Beach Elementary School
Justina David, New Berlin Elementary School
Jessica Mauch, Normandy Village Elementary School
Donnasha Waters, North Shore Elementary School
Francine Rodriques, Northwestern Legends Elementary School
Asha Armstrong, Oak Hill Academy
Patricia Campbell, Oceanway Elementary School
Candyce Horton, Oceanway Middle School
Timothy Young, Ortega Elementary School
Elaine Vinluan, Palm Avenue Exceptional Student Center
Marissa Norwood, Parkwood Heights Elementary School
Melissa Trujillo, Paxon School for Advanced Studies
Sharon Andreu, Pickett Elementary School
Johanna Figueroa, Pine Forest School of the Arts
Carlene Hibbert, Pinedale Elementary School
Kimberly Godwin, Pre-Trial Detention Center
Jazmin Richo, Ramona Blvd Elementary School
PeTika Tave, Reynolds Lane Elementary School
Cyteria Boykins-Carter, Richard L. Brown Gifted and Academically Talented Academy
Danielle Ross, Riverside High School
Willysa Jones, Rufus E. Payne Elementary School
Stacy Terrazzano, Ruth N . Upson Elementary School
Valerie Pitts-Wilson, Rutledge H. Pearson Elementary School
Andrie Phillips, S.A. Hull Elementary School
Pallavi Chakraborty, Sabal Palm Elementary School
Grace Tumamak, Sadie T. Tillis Elementary School
Paula Seymore, Sallye B. Mathis Elementary School
Laura Parnes, Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies
Fanivel Rosario, San Jose Elementary School
Denise Shely, San Mateo Elementary School
Amy Waters, San Pablo Elementary
Rachael Holland, Sandalwood High School
Christina Chacon, Seabreeze Elementary School
Shalonda Small, Smart Pope Livingston Elementary School
Martin Scott, Southside Estates Elementary School
Jeanette Settle, Southside Middle School
Jenny Morales Ontiveros, Spring Park Elementary School
Kayla Jackson, Springfield Middle School
Caleb Smith, Stanton College Preparatory School
Jeria Camp, Terry Parker High School
LaStocia Drayton-Jones, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
Angela Copeland, Timucuan Elementary School
Kendall Zona, Twin Lakes Academy Elementary School
Latoya Campbell, Twin Lakes Academy Middle School
Rodilyn Bacho-Logsdon, Venetia Elementary School
Cassandra Sassor, Waterleaf Elementary School
Robin DePriest, West Riverside Elementary School
Christopher McNealy, Westside High School
Kennerly Cotton, Westside Middle School
Christie Kaye Ondiano, Westview PK-8
Elena Smalls-Holland, Whitehouse Elementary School
Douglas White, William Marion Raines High School
Hasna Fathallah, Woodland Acres Elementary School
Darryn Floyd, Young Men's and Women's Leadership Academy
The Jacksonville Public Education Fund is an independent think-and-do tank that believes every student should graduate high school inspired and prepared for success in college or a career and life. JPEF serves as a bridge in support of public education, activating community support, connecting partners, and advancing effective ideas for the success of all students. For more information: Visit www.jaxpef.org. Or contact Amy Henderson Communications & Marketing Director, at (404) 387-0624 or amy@jaxpef.org.