OCPS: 5 Finalists for 2011 Florida Teacher of the Year

Orange County Public Schools has selected five teachers as finalists for the district’s 2011 Teacher of the Year. The winner will be announced during the OCPS Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony on Feb. 22, 2010 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Hotel. The winner will be the district’s nominee for the 2011 Florida Department of Education/Macy’s Teacher of the Year. This year’s finalists are:

Jennifer Michaels-Gesundheit, Bonneville Elementary, is a resource teacher in Exceptional Student Education (ESE).  She has been the ESE team leader for three years at Bonneville and has been teaching in Florida for 10 years. Her colleagues say she is inspiring to all students of all backgrounds and learning disabilities. Gesundheit was also the Rookie Teacher of the Year for the Council for Exceptional Children of Orange County.

Patti MacLeish Gordon, Princeton Elementary, is a resource teacher in the gifted education program. She believes in teaching through hands-on activities and service learning projects. Gordon uses modern technology whenever she can in her instruction. She leans heavily towards starting programs geared towards students such as an afterschool science club and a Green Team. Gordon is a National Board Certified Teacher who was also selected earlier this year by Lifestyle Magazine as one of Central Florida’s “Top Teachers.”

Pamela Guyton, Lake Nona Middle, is a math teacher with 17 years instructional experience. She believes in teaching with the latest tools and strategies to help students better understand mathematics. Her teaching philosophy is that every student should be taught to be a critical thinker. This year Guyton started two new programs at Lake Nona Middle: a math honors club and the Reading for Pleasure Club.

John Ho A Yun, Stonewall Jackson Middle, is an earth space science honors teacher. He says becoming a teacher after working in his brother’s mechanic shop was the best move he has ever made. Ho A Yun changed careers 10 years ago and has never looked back. He is described as a scientist with a passion for teaching. His colleagues say his students are dazzled and captivated by his energetic classroom science demonstrations as he nurtures their love of science.

Lisa Hewitt, Westbrooke Elementary, is a music teacher. She has taught in Florida for 25 years. Hewitt is a National Board Certified Teacher who believes all children deserve the experience of a quality music program that blends cultures, promotes creativity and mutual respect. She says every child entering her classroom deserves the extra steps, time and understanding in order for him or her to learn. Hewitt has also been chosen Teacher of the Year at three previous schools.

The teacher selected as the OCPS Teacher of the Year will go on to the 2011 Florida Department of Education/Macy’s Teacher of the Year event to be held in July 2010. This 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.

The Florida Teacher of the Year receives an award check of $2,500 from the Department of Education and serves as the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education. In this role, she or he serves as a goodwill ambassador representing the Department of Education and teachers throughout the state. The Teacher of the Year may conduct workshops, address fellow teachers, parents, business and community leaders at conferences and meetings and talk to student groups about careers in education.