The field has narrowed to five for Orange County Public Schools 2015 Teacher of the Year. The winner will be announced in an awards ceremony Feb. 26, 2014 at the Rosen Centre from 4 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. The finalists are:
Jean Bevan – Dr. Phillips Elementary. She is a second-grade teacher. For over 26 years, Jean Bevan has devoted her life to educating children and has been an inspiration to not only her students, but also to her fellow teachers, parents and the community. Teaching is more than just a job to her. Her passion is to go above and beyond to enrich the lives of her students and to be a contributing member of an exceptional team of educators that positively impacts our future leaders.
Laura Cool – Ocoee Elementary. She is a fourth-grade teacher. Laura Cool is a teacher with a thorough understanding of the Common Core Standards and teaching practices. She instructs rigorously in reading as smoothly as she does math. She is an enthusiastic learner, seeking out new, effective strategies, and an enthusiastic teacher as she shares her knowledge with others. Her efforts strengthen her team and her school. Not only does she educate students, she forms a bond with them as she helps them to become self-motivated and self-confident learners.
Nancy Dale – Camelot Elementary. She is a fourth-grade teacher. Nancy Dale is an innovative teacher who knows no boundaries when it comes to student achievement. Her colleagues say she is a shining example of what it means to have high expectations for all students. She does not rest until each student has met his or her greatest potential. Ms. Dale is passionate, enthusiastic, dedicated, creative, and inspirational educator. She works daily to challenge her students and her colleagues.
Kristen Iannuzzi – West Orange High. She is a language arts teacher. Kristen Iannuzzi is a teacher with veteran skills that far surpass her seven years of teaching. Her colleagues say she is an innovative teacher who collaborates with colleagues for the good of all students. She motivates in the classroom like a master coach. Kristen is the only female head wrestling coach in Florida and has led West Orange to a district championship. She is also the school’s SADD advisor and CTA representative.
Patricia Odham – Princeton Elementary. She is a K-5 teacher for visually-impaired students. With close to four decades in the classroom, Mrs. Odham encourages her visually-impaired students to adopt a philosophy of life-long learning, set high goals for themselves, and live a life without limits. She has been instrumental in setting the bar high for her students to achieve braille skills and to use them to their fullest. Mrs. Odham has also helped develop the district’s Vision Department. She co-authored the OCPS Assessment Protocol for the Expanded Core Curriculum.
The winner will be announced during the OCPS Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony on February 26, 2014. The winner will be the district’s nominee for the 2015 Florida Department of Education/Macy’s Teacher of the Year. The program recognizes and honors the contributions of outstanding classroom teachers who have demonstrated a superior capacity to inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities.
