HCA Florida and Okaloosa County school launch monthly Thank a Teacher program

FORT WALTON BEACH — Officials from HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and the Okaloosa County School District on Monday announced the beginning of a new program that will celebrate a teacher each month for the rest of the 2023-24 school year.

"Every day, our teachers make a difference as they help prepare students to make the next step in life, whether it is college, the military, or the workforce, and they are sometimes the unsung heroes who do so much behind the scenes without seeking recognition,” Superintendent Marcus Chambers said in a news release. “To that end, we are grateful and appreciative of the partnership with HCA Florida Healthcare to allow our parents and students to nominate teachers for their dedication to the teaching profession and daily positive impacts on students' lives."

Nominations for the initiative began on Monday. At the end of each month, the teacher who is selected will receive $250 from HCA Florida Healthcare. Each teacher who wins will be recognized on a social media post and nominees with receive a special email with messages from the people who created the nomination.

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"We are thankful for the continued partnership with the Okaloosa County School District and look forward to helping students and parents recognize the impact teachers make on the students and our community," said Zach McCluskey, CEO of HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, in the release. "The only thing left to be answered by Okaloosa County is, 'Who are you going to nominate?'"

To nominate a teacher, visit www.okaloosaschools.com/page/thank-a-teacher and fill out the online application.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Okaloosa School District and HCA Florida begin Thank a Teacher Program