Volusia Schools names 2022-2023's five Teacher of the Year finalists
The Volusia County school district has selected its five finalists for the 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year award.
Each school nominates a teacher for the top prize each year. From there, a committee narrows it down to five finalists, who were notified on Thursday morning by Superintendent Scott Fritz, School Board members and district staff.
Last year: Volusia's Teacher of the Year shows students it's OK to make mistakes
More: Volusia's Teacher of the Year named finalist for state's top teaching award
This year's finalists are Eli Freidus, a science teacher at Seabreeze High; Kristie Long, a science teacher at Mainland High; Madison Miller, academic coach at Chisholm Elementary; Keisha Wallace, a math coach at Campbell Middle; and John Wheeler, a blended pre-K teacher at Pathway Elementary.
The Volusia County Schools Teacher of the Year will be announced at a ceremony in January, and will be selected by a sub-committee that observes the teachers in their classrooms. The winner will be nominated for the state Teacher of the Year program.
The current Volusia County Teacher of the Year — Citrus Grove Elementary art teacher Frank Garaitonandia — was previously one of the five finalists for the state award.
Here's the full list of Volusia's Teacher of the Year nominees, alphabetical by school:
Michael Plummer, Alt. Education – Daytona Juvenile Residential Facility
Kari Nagus, Atlantic High
Sara Ambrosio, Beachside Elementary
Barbara Rankins Stevens, Blue Lake Elementary
Keisha Wallace, Campbell Middle
Erica Bond, Champi on Elementary
Madison Miller, Chisholm Elementary
Ryan K. Spears, Citrus Grove Elementary
Kim Quigley, Coronado Beach Elementary
Kristin Bender Polizzi, Creekside Middle
Camille Long, Cypress Creek Elementary
Brittany LaCorte, DeBary Elementary
Brittany Braly, DeLand High
Tammy Fletcher, DeLand Middle
Joseph Brennan, Deltona High
Wendy Warfield, Deltona Lakes Elementary
Hyacinth Forrest Ellison, Deltona Middle
Amanda B. Griggs, Discovery Elementary
Casie M. Mort, Edgewater Public Elementary
Amy Cervantes, Edith I. Starke Elementary
Paige Shinsky, Enterprise Elementary
Kelly Boulware, Forest Lake Elementary
Tracy Kruszeski, Freedom Elementary
Dylan Campbell, Friendship Elementary
Amanda Whited, Galaxy Middle
Laura K. Hoard, George W. Marks Elementary
Holly Glaspie, Heritage Middle
Joseph M. Vetter, David C. Hinson, Sr. Middle
Jennifer Samar, Holly Hill School
Sherry Williams, Horizon Elementary
Kim Brislenn, Hospital Homebound
Crissy Norman, Indian River Elementary
Courtney Parlett, R. J. Longstreet Elementary
Kristie J. Long, Mainland High
Nicole Eck, Manatee Cove Elementary
Wayne A. Smith, Louise S. McInnis Elementary
Raquel Heath, New Smyrna Beach High
Ann Bellantoni, New Smyrna Beach Middle
Megan Foster, Orange City Elementary
Candace E. Haynes, Ormond Beach Elementary
Natalie M. Demchak, Ormond Beach Middle
Heather B. LeFils, Osteen Elementary
Amanda Talton, Palm Terrace Elementary
Joan Wheeler, Pathways Elementary
Rosita Cosio, Pierson Elementary
Christina M. Goodin, Pine Ridge High
Bobbi Reamer, Pine Trail Elementary
Anna McComb, Port Orange Elementary
Melanie Roberts, Pride Elementary
Lucy Altmann, Read-Pattillo Elementary
Trae Weiss, River Springs Middle School of Technology & Innovation
Eli Freidus, Seabreeze High
Suzanne Boss, Silver Sands Middle
Kelly H. Miller, South Daytona Elementary
Jennifer Raynor, Southwestern Middle
Mikeeta Ephraim, Spirit Elementary
Vanessa Emers, Spruce Creek Elementary
Shon Duncan, Spruce Creek High
Gary Van Auken, Sugar Mill Elementary
June Black, Sunrise Elementary
Lisa Kiesel, Sweetwater Elementary
Kinsey J.H. Berger, T. DeWitt Taylor Middle-High
Deanna Deyne, Timbercrest Elementary
Mindy Moor, Tomoka Elementary
Nikki Metakes, Turie T. Small Elementary
Brandon Haught, University High
Mariana Bianco, Volusia Online Learning
Jaaqua R. Hunt, Volusia Pines Elementary
Meshia Bolden, Westside Elementary
Abigail Fisher, Woodward Avenue Elementary
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia Schools names 5 Teacher of the Year finalists
