Governor Rick Scott Recognizes Seven Educators with the Governor’s Shine Award
June 14, 2017
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Governor Rick Scott Recognizes Seven Educators with the Governor’s Shine Award
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, during a meeting of the Florida Cabinet, Governor Rick Scott recognized seven outstanding educators with the Governor’s Shine Award. The Shine Award is presented to teachers and administrators in Florida who make significant contributions to the field of education. The educators honored today are the 2017 District Teachers of the Year and 2018 State Teacher of the Year Finalists.
Governor Scott said, “The hard work and commitment of these outstanding educators has been recognized in their schools and districts and I’m proud to present them with the Governor’s Shine Award today. I applaud their dedication to ensuring students across Florida are prepared for success in college and a future career.”
The following educators were presented with the Governor’s Shine Awards:
Latrece Brown, Duval County – Latrece Brown has been teaching for four years at Andrew Robinson Elementary School in Jacksonville, where she teaches mathematics and science. Latrece is Andrew Robinson Elementary’s 2017 Teacher of the Year and Duval County’s 2017 District Teacher of the Year.
Katelyn Fiori, Indian River County – Kate Fiori teaches fourth grade at Vero Beach Elementary School and has been teaching for seven years. Kate is the Indian River County 2017 District Teacher of the Year and one of five statewide finalists for the 2018 Department of Education/Macy’s Teacher of the Year.
Juan “Diego” Fuentes, Marion County – Juan “Diego” Fuentes teaches sixth through twelfth graders at Hillcrest School, a school for special needs students in Ocala. An 18-year teaching veteran, Diego is the 2017 Hillcrest School Teacher of the Year, the 2017 Marion County District Teacher of the Year, and one of five statewide finalists for the 2018 Department of Education/Macy’s Teacher of the Year.
Janeen Gibson, Hardee County – Janeen Gibson has been teaching for 23 years, including 19 years at Wauchula Elementary School. Janeen is Wauchula Elementary’s 2017 Teacher of the Year and Hardee County’s 2017 District Teacher of the Year.
Tammy Ross Jerkins, Lake County – Tammy Jerkins teaches mathematics to students in grades eighth through twelfth at Leesburg High School. During her 18-year career, Tammy has taught Algebra I, Geometry, Informal Geometry, Algebra II, Algebra II Honors, Applied Math, Intensive Mathematics, Liberal Arts Mathematics I, Liberal Arts Mathematics II, Math for College Readiness and Pre-Calculus Honors. Tammy is Lake County’s 2017 District Teacher of the Year and one of five statewide finalists for the 2018 Department of Education/Macy’s Teacher of the Year.
Lyndita Saunders, Collier County – Lyn Sanders teaches grades eighth through twelfth in English at Phoenix Immokalee, an alternative school in Naples. She has been teaching for 17 years. Lyn was the 2014 Harns Marsh Middle School Teacher of the Year, a Lee County Teacher of Distinction in 2013 and is Collier County’s 2017 District Teacher of the Year.
Kristen White, Santa Rosa County – Kristen White has been teaching for 11 years at East Milton Elementary School in Santa Rosa County where she is a Reading Interventionist and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) teacher. Kristen is the 2017 Santa Rosa County District Teacher of the Year.
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