Brevard Schools Foundation announces finalists for 2022 Teacher of the Year

Bailey Gallion, Florida Today

January 11, 2022 at 6:01 AM·3 min read

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The Brevard Schools Foundation has announced its finalists for 2022 Brevard Public Schools Teacher of the Year.

The winner, along with the winners for this year's BPS Employee and Volunteer of the Year awards, will be announced during the foundation's annual "Applauding Brevard's Champions" (ABC) celebration during the first week of February.

“We are delighted to honor the dedicated teachers, staff and volunteers who persevered during a tremendously challenging time,” said Janice Kershaw, president and CEO of the Brevard Schools Foundation. “This important community event recognizes the everyday heroes who are dedicated and passionate about preparing our students for the future. We applaud their inspiring commitment to the education profession.”

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Each BPS school has named a teacher and employee of the year, and a committee has picked finalists. Schools have also been able to nominate a Rookie Teacher of the Year, an Emerging Teacher of the Year and a Volunteer of the Year.

The Brevard Schools Foundation will hold three invitation-only celebrations: the Employee of the Year Celebration on Feb. 1 at the Rockledge Country Club; the Teacher Summit on Feb. 2 at the Rialto Hilton, Melbourne; and the ABC Awards Gala on Feb. 3 at the Rialto Hilton, Melbourne.

Teacher of the Year Finalists

Anita Jordan is a fifth grade teacher at Oak Park elementary school

Anita Jordan, fifth grade teacher at Oak Park Elementary.

Sara Murano is an exceptional student education teacher for Palm Bay Magnet High School

Sara Murano, exceptional student education teacher at Palm Bay High Magnet School.

Lisa Rickett is a math teacher for DeLaura Middle School

Lisa Rickett, math teacher at DeLaura Middle School.

Ruby Riviera is a specific learning disabilities teacher at Discovery Elementary School.

Ruby Riviera, specific learning disabilities teacher from Discovery Elementary School.

Meghan Roberts is a behavior specialist at Discover Elementary School

Meghan Roberts, behavior specialist at Suntree Elementary School.

Alexandria Wicker is a science teacher at DeLaura Middle School

Alexandria Wicker, science teacher at Jackson Middle School.

Employee of the Year Finalists

Lannie Bravo, instructional assistant, McNair Magnet School.
Pete Baxley, tech network associate, Central Middle School.
Officer Jennifer Imperato, school resource officer, Ocean Breeze Elementary School.
Devin Smith, cafeteria manager, Freedom 7 Elementary School.
Jessica Diana Wangh, school secretary, Westside Elementary School.
Christian Wright, bookkeeper, Hoover Middle School.

Rookie Teacher of the Year Finalists

Taylor Jenkins, Cambridge Elementary Magnet School.
Andrew West, Jackson Middle School.
Cheyenne McCully, Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School.

Emerging Teacher of the Year Finalists

Karl Webb, Discovery Elementary School.
Alexandria Wicker, Jackson Middle School.

Administrators of the Year Winners

The Principal’s Achievement Award for Outstanding Leadership and the Outstanding Assistant Principal Award recognizes exemplary principals and assistant principals for their contributions to their schools and communities. Awards were announced earlier in the school year and will be formally recognized during ABC Awards Week. The winners are:

Principal Achievement Award for Outstanding Leadership: Jud Kaminski, Palm Bay Magnet High School.
Outstanding Assistant Principal Achievement Award Denise (Catherine) Stewart, Cocoa High School.

Volunteers of the Year

Each school can select a volunteer in each category: youth, adult, and senior. The district-wide winners will be announced during ABC Awards Celebration Week.

Bailey Gallion is the education reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallion at 321-242-3786 or bgallion@floridatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard Schools Foundation will announce 2022 Teacher of the Year

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