2025 Cindy Edelman Excellence in Teaching Fellows Announced

Thirteen Duval County public school teachers will be embarking on the professional learning experience of their dreams and bringing what they learn back to their classrooms, thanks to the Cindy Edelman Excellence in Teaching Fellowship. Supported by an endowed fund housed at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida and administered by the JPEF, the fellowship provides opportunities for teachers to develop their own professional learning opportunities to enhance their classroom teaching and benefit their school community. This is the greatest number of teachers to be awarded the fellowship since the program began in 2019.  

The teachers will be spending the summer break learning from institutions across the United States and the globe, from Costa Rica, to Japan, to London. These learning experiences are made possible by philanthropists Cindy and Dan Edelman.    

Dan Edelman initiated the fellowship to honor his wife Cindy, an impassioned public education champion. The Cindy Edelman Excellence in Teaching Fellowship is intended to identify and reward excellence in teaching and support a program of professional development or research, providing up to $6,500 per teacher or $10,000 per teacher team.  

A selection committee comprised of the Edelman family, former teachers, and community leaders select the fellows each year. A key component of the fellowship is the impact the experience will have on students, schools, and the broader community.  

The new Cindy Edelman Excellence in Teaching Fellows are: 

Argel Hipol and Michele Beck, biology teachers at Atlantic Coast High School, will attend the TESOL International Conference in California. Their goal is to foster inclusive and equitable learning environments that support language acquisition and student success.  

Laurie McDonald and Rebecca Taylor, mathematics teachers at Atlantic Coast High School, will use the fellowship experience to create equitable opportunities for students to succeed in advanced mathematics. They plan to attend the Mathematics Leadership Summit with Jo Boaler at Stanford University. Their proposal focuses on expanding access to higher-level mathematics for a broader range of students.  

Brandon Cox, a film teacher at Stanton College Preparatory School, wants to foster a deeper appreciation for global storytelling and cultural narratives among his students. He will travel to Japan for a one-week cultural immersion experience. He plans to enhance his students’ understanding of cultural context in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Film curriculum.  

Vernita Moore, a 7th and 8th-grade comprehensive science teacher at Jean Ribault Middle School, plans to embark on an immersive scientific learning experience in Costa Rica and the Grand Canyon. Her project, Expanding Scientific Horizons, is designed to increase student engagement and academic outcomes in science by integrating real-world ecological and geological exploration into her teaching.   

Mya Bass, a 2nd-grade math and science teacher at Becoming Collegiate Academy, plans to attend the State of Black Learning Conference in Pittsburgh, Penn., with the goal of creating a more equitable and supportive educational environment for historically underserved students. 

Garold Harris, a mathematics teacher at Matthew W. Gilbert Middle School, will attend The Creativity Workshop in New York City. His fellowship experience focuses on enhancing student engagement in mathematics by incorporating creativity into instruction through storytelling, visualization, and hands-on activities.  

Aaron Leatherbarrow, an English Language Arts teacher at Wayman Academy of the Arts, will use his Edelman Fellowship opportunity to attend the National Writing Project’s Summer Institute at UC Berkeley. His proposal focuses on enhancing creative writing and digital storytelling instruction to empower students as confident and expressive writers.  

Alexandra Hall and Stephanie White, both 5th-grade science and math teachers at River City Science Academy Innovation, will participate in an Ecology Project International program in Costa Rica as part of their Edelman Fellowship experience. Their proposal focuses on integrating real-world environmental issues into their curriculum by engaging in hands-on research. By developing cross-curricular lessons connecting their students to local conservation efforts, they aim to enhance engagement, particularly among low-income and minority students. 

Lou Ann Brown, a gifted education teacher at River City Science Academy Mandarin, plans to travel to London and explore the world of Sherlock Holmes with the goal of creating an interdisciplinary curriculum for her gifted students that blends literature, history, and STEM. 

Marques Reynolds, a 12th-grade English teacher and test prep specialist at Jean Ribault High School, will explore travel to London to study the historical, cultural, and linguistic origins of prefixes, suffixes, and roots. His proposal aims to enhance students’ reading comprehension and vocabulary mastery for standardized tests by incorporating real-world, context-rich experiences.  

Cindy Edelman, a former art history educator who has been deeply involved with JPEF since its founding and who chaired its Board of Directors in 2012 and 2013, personally visited the winners in their schools to make the announcement.  

“When I was teaching AP Art History, my husband Dan saw how important professional development was to my growth as a teacher. As a result, several years later, he surprised me by creating this fellowship, which recognizes the need for public school teachers in Duval County to have opportunities for professional growth,” she said. “I’m delighted to see so many teachers using the Fellowship to enhance their teaching and sharing what they learn with their colleagues.” 

“As a committee, we’re looking for projects that are going to develop teachers’ understanding of subject areas, and also deepen student engagement and understanding,” said Mrs. Edelman. “Professional development should be transformative for teachers, students and the broader community.” 

“JPEF is honored to be part of this transformative opportunity for Duval County public school teachers to elevate their leadership and impact,” said JPEF President Rachael Tutwiler Fortune. “These dedicated teachers have designed powerful learning experiences that will not only enhance their own growth but also strengthen their school communities and improve student outcomes. Through the Edelman Fellowship, they are forging a bridge from bold innovation to lasting achievement.” 

Teachers who would like to learn more about the eligibility criteria and consider applying for next year’s fellowships can visit www.edelmanfellowship.org.