This annual awards program honors approximately 240 outstanding employees from across the district. Along with 12 finalists, the winners receive cash awards and other prizes from event sponsors.

Judges include community members from local organizations and businesses, as well as past winners and finalists. Judges review the applications without knowledge of applicant names or schools. Judging criteria includes leadership and professional development activities, community and school involvement, and teaching style.

Each year, the Florida Department of Education names a Florida Teacher of the Year, choosing an educator who has “demonstrated a superior capacity to inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities.” The Florida School-Related Employee of the Year award recognizes outstanding education support personnel for contributions to their schools and communities. Both of Polk’s winners move on to compete for the state titles.

2023-2024 District Winners

Elizabeth Ashmore — 2023-2024 Polk County Teacher of the Year

Elizabeth Ashmore used to count her degrees and certifications among her most significant accomplishments. But as a PCPS educator, she takes even more pride in how she uses that knowledge to benefit her students and school. Ashmore has deep connections to Padgett Elementary: Her mother and sister both served there as teachers. It’s no surprise that she contributes so much to the school.

Ashmore serves as a teacher ambassador, providing support and mentorship to new educators at Padgett. In addition, administrators say she takes special care to consider the unique needs of each student, and celebrate their progress. About eight years ago she created a program called Level Up that helps encourage positive behavior, and ease testing pressure. Ashmore also helps organize parent nights and other events at Padgett. When it comes to doing the little things that make a big difference, that’s where she excels.

 

Richard Reich — 2023-2024 Polk County School-Related Employee of the Year

Richard Reich was once a GED student himself, so he understands the importance of adult education and helping people succeed in life. As the registrar at East Area Adult School, he enjoys being part of a team that keeps the campus running smoothly. He played an essential role during COVID of assisting students with the transition to online learning. He also has spent time doing research and making improvements to services for East Area students.

Administrators say Reich is part of the reason why East Area’s enrollment has increased. They also can rely on him for his technology and data expertise. Perhaps best of all, Reich is known around campus as an empathetic friend and colleague who is always willing to offer his knowledge and support. Whether it’s fellow employees or East Area students, he just wants to see other people flourish.

2023 - 2024 District Finalists

Congratulations to the PCPS finalists for Teacher of the Year: Christina Wainwright (Medulla Elementary), Sherrie Blackwood (Citrus Ridge: A Civics Academy), Kelly Larrow (Mulberry Middle), Robert Brown (Winter Haven High) Kara Holt (Sleepy Hill Middle), and Kelsea Matthews (Pinewood Elementary).

And congratulations to our district’s finalists for School-Related Employee of the Year: Teri Whitehead-Richardson (Lakeland High), Alberto L. Cosme (Boone Middle), Angela Love (Fort Meade-Middle Senior), Debra Glisson (Griffin Elementary), Matthew Brojanowski (Roosevelt Academy), and Laura Kovachy (Lake Gibson Middle).

2024-2025 Honorees

Teachers of the Year (TOY) are listed first followed by School-Related Employees (SRE) of the Year

Alturas

Alturas Elementary - TOY: Christina Sparkman; SRE: Kristy Wright

Auburndale

Auburndale Central Elementary - TOY: Chamaria Ashantis Unique Ward; SRE: Maria Torres West
Auburndale Senior High - TOY: Jodi Johnson; SRE: Cheryl Summerall
Clarence Boswell Elementary - TOY: Grace Evans; SRE: Johanna Cruz
East Area Adult School - TOY: Mary Luz Ramirez Valencia; SRE: Ashley Reich
Jere L. Stambaugh Middle - TOY: Laura Lopez; SRE: Amanda Kempson
Lena Vista Elementary - TOY: Stefanee Lopez; SRE: Francisco Javier Centeno Perez
Walter Caldwell Elementary - TOY: Sherry Blue; SRE: Irene Meyer

Bartow

Bartow Middle - TOY: Debralee Silva; SRE: Judith Rohrback
Bartow/IB/Summerlin - TOY: Daniel Soto; SRE: Ingram Sinanan
Floral Avenue Elementary - TOY: Heather Kunze; SRE: Rafael Pineda
Gause Academy of Leadership - TOY: Cheryl Rittall; SRE: Rebecca Fortin
James E. Stephens Academy - TOY: Lisa Lee; SRE: Dhiman Bhattacharjee
Jean O'Dell Learning Center - TOY: Kristina Bojalad; SRE: Gerad L. Hunt
Spessard L Holland Elementary - TOY: Genevieve Gaston; SRE: Marisol Rodriguez
Union Academy - TOY: Derisha Sanders; SRE: Ana Delgado

Davenport

Bella Citta - TOY: Christine Lawrence; SRE: Neysha Calmet
Citrus Ridge: A Civics Academy - TOY: Heather Carlson; SRE: Simone Reid
Davenport Elementary - TOY: Kristen Aanerud-Smith; SRE: Marshaa Murdock
Davenport High School - TOY: Ashley Gambrell-Mercado; SRE: Patricia Wright
Davenport School of the Arts - TOY: Hilda Feliciano-Figueroa; SRE: Iris Figueroa
Horizons Elementary - TOY: Jose Pagan Calderon; SRE: Ray Nieves
Loughman Oaks Elementary - TOY: Rafael Espada Ortiz; SRE: LaVerne DesRoches
Ridge Community High - TOY: Harry Lyon; SRE: Heather Hannon

Dundee

Donald E. Woods Opportunity Center - TOY: Gerald L. Colbert; SRE: Brenda Silvera
Dundee Elementary Academy - TOY: Stephanie Bishop; SRE: Tia Crosthwaite
Dundee Ridge Middle Academy - TOY: Tamera Reams; SRE: Holly Kirby

Eagle Lake

Eagle Lake Elementary - TOY: Ra Shonda Polite; SRE: Michelle Bell
Lake Region High - TOY: Kyle Yerkes; SRE: Lyannibel Arizmendi Primero
Pinewood Elementary - TOY: Adam Block; SRE: Arelys Borbonet-Rodriguez

Fort Meade

Fort Meade Middle/Senior High - TOY: Carmen Gobble; SRE: Alicia Velasquez
Lewis Anna Woodbury/Lewis PK-3 - TOY: Dana Kobylarz; SRE: Kimberly Jernigan

Frostproof

Frostproof Ben Hill Griffin Jr. Elementary - TOY: Elvia Espinoza; SRE: Winona Smith
Frostproof Middle/Senior High - TOY: Jonathan Carter; SRE: Susan Henson

Haines City

Alta Vista Elementary - TOY: Lindsay Angell; SRE: Elizabeth Arredondo-Vargas
Bethune Academy - TOY: Kesha Fogle-Brown; SRE: Rebecca Martinez
Daniel Jenkins Acad. of Tech. Middle - TOY: Kay Earls; SRE: Cruz Rivera-Quinones
Eastside Elementary - TOY: Marti Elizabeth Missimer; SRE: Ana Cruz Rosario
Haines City Senior/IB - TOY: Madhu Thomas; SRE: Luis Miguel Chaidez Cardenas
Sandhill Elementary - TOY: Jenepher Woods; SRE: Lenord Washington
Shelley S. Boone Middle - TOY: Cyrus McKinnie; SRE: Maria Santiago Albaladejo

Lake Alfred

Karen M. Siegel Academy - TOY: Angela Bottom; SRE: Ryan Garner
Lake Alfred Elementary - TOY: Lakeshia Brown; SRE: Bonnie Horne
Lake Alfred Polytech Academy - TOY: Belinda Smelser; SRE: Yamilette Toledo

Lake Wales

McLaughlin Academy of Excellence - TOY: Paula Spiker; SRE: Tamekia Stevenson
Roosevelt Academy - TOY: Molly Thompson; SRE: Nancy Bell
Spook Hill Elementary - TOY: Cynara Appling; SRE: Angel Pagan

Lakeland

Bill Duncan Opportunity Center - TOY: Deborah Jones; SRE: Jamario Powell
Carlton Palmore Elementary - TOY: Kimberly Rivera; SRE: Julia Barrett
Cleveland Court Elementary - TOY: Tristi R. Wren; SRE: Sarah Lindgren
Combee Academy of Design and Engineering - TOY: Victoria Parks; SRE: Jordan Loyd
Crystal Lake Elementary - TOY: Karina Garcia-Hughes; SRE: Manami Naito
Crystal Lake Middle - TOY: David Murphy; SRE: Nydeshwia Fils
Dixieland Elementary - TOY: Gracemay Rabang; SRE: Shari Thomas
Doris A. Sanders Learning Center - TOY: Nicole Passarella; SRE: Emily Roney
Dr. NE Roberts Elementary - TOY: Demeteria Patterson; SRE: Natalia Ayala
Edgar L. Padgett Elementary - TOY: Nicole Nichols; SRE: Daysi Garzon
George W. Jenkins Senior High - TOY: Brian Robichaud; SRE: Son Mays
Griffin Elementary - TOY: Jill Steinbauer; SRE: Adrienne Colas
Harrison School for the Arts - TOY: Casey Ryan Hall; SRE: Carlos Lumpuy Garcia
Highland City Elementary - TOY: Erin Morris; SRE: Gloria Salas
Highlands Grove Elementary - TOY: Jennifer Anderson; SRE: Jenilee Morris
James W. Sikes Elementary - TOY: Nicole Snell; SRE: Katherine Wright
Jesse Keen Elementary - TOY: Cynthia Morris; SRE: James Clayton
Kathleen Elementary - TOY: Tonijean Monroe; SRE: Scott Severinghaus
Kathleen Middle - TOY: Lori Raymond; SRE: Audrea Brandi Stewart
Kathleen Senior High - TOY: Jeannette Cesareo; SRE: Angelia Johnson
Lake Gibson Middle - TOY: Emily Brun; SRE: Carol Soto
Lake Gibson Senior High - TOY: Michelle Meyers; SRE: Janet Miller
Lakeland Highlands Middle - TOY: Daniel Laforce; SRE: Cheryl Wiggins
Lakeland Senior High - TOY: Nicole Farley; SRE: Norma J Watson
Lawton Chiles Middle Academy - TOY: Elaine Chilson; SRE: Janet Hughes
Lincoln Avenue Academy - TOY: Jene' Perry; SRE: Monae Driver
Medulla Elementary - TOY: Tonya Sharrett-Shoemaker; SRE: Timothy Ritchey
North Lakeland Elem. School of Choice - TOY: Venecia Arias-Gowdy; SRE: Alexia Gardner
Oscar J. Pope Elementary - TOY: Ronald Shell Jr.; SRE: Patricia Torpey
Philip O'Brien Elementary - TOY: Chloe Carpenter; SRE: Stephanie Eady
Polk Virtual School - TOY: Kelly Garcia; SRE: Misty Lynn
R. Bruce Wagner Elementary - TOY: Meredith Irwin; SRE: Jill M. Slighter
R. Clem Churchwell Elementary - TOY: Tiffany Evans; SRE: Patrick Mills
R.E.A.L. Academy - TOY: Shandrea Hill; SRE: Sewanda Smith
Rochelle School Of The Arts - TOY: Melissa Smith; SRE: James Christopher Halman
Rosabelle W. Blake Academy - TOY: Karey Lipham-Thomas; SRE: Mary Fisher Mahathirash
Scott Lake Elementary - TOY: Abby Sexton; SRE: Brenda Montalvo
Sleepy Hill Elementary - TOY: Melissa Hamm; SRE: James Teixeira
Sleepy Hill Middle - TOY: Duane C. Holliday; SRE: Hannah Chambers
Socrum Elementary - TOY: Katelin Padden; SRE: Willie Baker
Southwest Elementary - TOY: Cheri Legg; SRE: Cynthia Bencz
Southwest Middle - TOY: Ericka Canon; SRE: Kathleen O'laughlin
Tenoroc High - TOY: Lauren Gossen; SRE: Susan Davis
Traviss Technical College - TOY: Scott Allen; SRE: Nichole Ricciardo
Valleyview Elementary - TOY: Tracy Garcia; SRE: Dawn Bazemore
Wendell Watson Elementary - TOY: Makayla Thompson; SRE: Dolores Mckennie
West Area Adult School - TOY: Cheryl Parker; SRE: Shirley Mcginnis Carrasquillo
Winston Academy of Engineering - TOY: Alison Pearson; SRE: Susanne Neumann

Mulberry

Mulberry Middle - TOY: Tiffanie Jackson; SRE: Tamika Kelly
Mulberry Senior High - TOY: Helen G. Maffett; SRE: Joaida Kist
Purcell Elementary - TOY: Tavarous Faniel Jenkins; SRE: Robin Perry
Willow Oak School - TOY: Danielle Emmons; SRE: Jennifer Weber

Poinciana

Lake Marion Creek Middle - TOY: Dr. Gladymar Maldonado Santini; SRE: Paola Pazmino Suazo
Laurel Elementary - TOY: Tania I. Ocasio; SRE: Amy Checkley
Palmetto Elementary - TOY: Ashley L. Ray; SRE: Maribel Velez Garcia

Polk City

Polk City Elementary - TOY: Jacqueline Hinojos Chavira; SRE: Brenda Shirah

Winter Haven

Chain Of Lakes Elementary - TOY: Margaret O'Neal; SRE: Jennifer Hendrix
Denison Middle - TOY: S. Denai Porter Ardis; SRE: Sherice Hadley
Elbert Elementary - TOY: Karen Palmer; SRE: Antolin Morales Caldero
Frank E. Brigham Academy - TOY: Mia Holden; SRE: Hope Griffin
Fred G. Garner Academy - TOY: Marie Lillard; SRE: Ralph Greer Jr.
Garden Grove Elementary - TOY: Travis Douglas; SRE: Cheryl Beloncik
Inwood Elementary - TOY: Salaam Mustafa; SRE: Pamela Holman
Jewett Middle Academy Magnet - TOY: Kailah Ruffen; SRE: Sharon Tarver
Jewett School of the Arts - TOY: Abdel Rodriguez-Rivera; SRE: Ervie Louis
John Snively Elementary - TOY: Susan Banner; SRE: Alcira Mcconnell
Lake Shipp Elementary - TOY: Malissa Mason; SRE: Brenda Colon Cruz
Ridge Technical College - TOY: Clinton Roberts; SRE: Cynthia Webb
South Pointe Elementary - TOY: Ashley Hall-Rodriguez; SRE: Eva Boychak
Wahneta Elementary - TOY: Hope Fox; SRE: Marta Diaz
Westwood Middle - TOY: Yvonne Sprinkle; SRE: Keyanha Lewis
Winter Haven Senior High - TOY: Amanda Carpenter; SRE: Benito Renelique

Photos:

Visit the 2023-24 Teacher and School-Related Employee of the Year photo gallery to see photos of nominees, “prize patrols” and the awards program.

Please share your photos on social media using the hashtag #LovePolkSchools.

Platinum Sponsors:

  • MIDFLORIDA Credit Union
  • Jarrett Gordon Ford

Gold Sponsors:

  • ARAMARK
  • BlueCross BlueShield of Florida
  • Boswell & Dunlap LLP
  • Legoland Florida Resort
  • Mosaic
  • Publix Super Markets Charities
  • TECO

Previous Award Winners