Teachers nominated for VyStar 2025 Duval County Teacher of the Year

The search for the 2025 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year has begun!Principals from nearly 180 Duval County schools nominated a teacher to be named the Teacher of the Year for Duval County. The 2025 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year will be announced at the EDDY Awards, presented by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF), Saturday, January18, 2025.

The Teacher of the Year program seeks to recognize, elevate and empower Duval County's best public-school teachers by offering unique programming to elevate the teaching profession throughout the year. Teachers selected by their schools as Teacher of the Year are given the opportunity to participate in the Teacher Leadership Initiative offered by JPEF.

After schools submit their nominees for Teacher of the Year, a diverse selection committee convened by JPEF narrows the field down to 15 semifinalists. The semifinalists are further narrowed down to five finalists through a selection process that includes observing the teachers in the classroom. The final Teacher of the Year will be announced at the EDDY Awards Gala on Jan. 18 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront and will go on to represent Duval County in the Florida Teacher of the Year process.

“We congratulate these amazing teachers and are excited to host them at the 2025 EDDY Awards in January,” said JPEF President Rachael Tutwiler Fortune. “It’s appropriate that the EDDY Awards will take place during Martin Luther King, Jr., weekend when we focus on being of service to others. Our public-school teachers show what service to others means every single day, and we could not be more honored to celebrate what they are doing on behalf of our students and our community.”

VyStar believes in doing good and leading by example, especially when it comes to supporting local education foundations and their efforts to celebrate and elevate teachers in their communities. VyStar is the title sponsor for the EDDY Awards.

“VyStar Credit Union is honored to support the Jacksonville Public Education Fund and its mission to recognize, elevate, and empower Duval County’s best public school teachers,” said Patricia McElroy, senior Vice President and Foundation President at VyStar Credit Union. “In addition to celebrating these exceptional educators at the EDDY Awards, VyStar collaborates with teachers through our High School Branch Program across the communities we serve. We are deeply grateful for their tireless efforts in guiding and inspiring students every day. Please join us in recognizing and thanking these extraordinary individuals who elevate the teaching profession throughout the year.”

“I’m thrilled to join our community in honoring and recognizing these outstanding educators,” said Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier. “These nominees represent the countless teachers across our district who selflessly devote themselves to educating, nurturing, and encouraging our students every single day. Our success is rooted in their hard work and because of them, our students are excelling, growing, and achieving like never before. I look forward to seeing each of these Teacher of the Year nominees get the city-wide recognition they deserve.” 

The Teachers of the Year are:  

  • Anthony Ragans, A. Philip Randolph Career Academies
  • Melanie O'Brien, Abess Park Elementary School
  • Eterna Edmond, Alden Road Exceptional Student Center
  • Myra Vonn, Alfred I. duPont Middle School
  • Jacqueline Matchett, Alimacani Elementary School
  • Christine Haldenwang, Anchor Academy Elementary School
  • Ryan Kelley, Andrew Jackson High School of Advanced Technology
  • Kendra Owens, Andrew Robinson Elementary School
  • Nicola Gibson, Annie R. Morgan Elementary School
  • Michelle Bradner, Arlington Elementary School
  • Tarisha Christopher, Arlington Heights Elementary School
  • Precilla Richard, Arlington Middle School
  • Kristen Edwards, Atlantic Beach Elementary School
  • Nicole Frick, Atlantic Coast High School
  • Amy Pellicer, Baldwin Middle Senior High School
  • Danielle Simone, Bartram Springs Elementary School
  • Dezaray Fenner, Bayview Elementary School
  • Vanessa Lopez, Beauclerc Elementary School
  • Lyndaziah Roberts, Becoming Collegiate Academy
  • Courtney Grissett, Biltmore Elementary School
  • Henry Coleman, Biscayne Elementary Leadership Academy
  • Randolph Myrie, Bridge to Success Elementary and Middle School
  • Kaitlin Harris, Brookview Elementary School
  • Vincent Taylor, Cedar Hills Elementary School
  • Dustin Fredericks, Central Riverside Elementary School
  • Lori Palisoc, Chaffee Trail Elementary School
  • Tiffany Murray, Chaffee Trail Middle School
  • Chevaugn Sasso, Chets Creek Elementary School
  • Sharmaine Grant, Chimney Lakes Elementary School
  • Tami Zipperer, Cornerstone Classical Academy
  • Amy Sanchez, Crown Point Elementary School
  • Tracey Benford, Crystal Springs Elementary School
  • Meghan Matson, Darnel Cookman School of the Medical Arts
  • Elizabeth Mayernick, Dinsmore Elementary School
  • Suzan E. Friedel, Don Brewer Elementary
  • Michael Steinhardt, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
  • Holly Meyerowich, Duncan U. Fletcher Middle School
  • Brittany Debski, Duval Charter School at Southside
  • Dayatra Stroman, Duval MYcroSchool
  • Trentonio Wynn, Edward H. White High School
  • Emily Meacham, Englewood Elementary School
  • Jordan Padilla, Enterprise Learning Academy
  • Alexa Caron, First Coast High School
  • Ana Hodges, Fishweir Elementary School of the Arts
  • Christine Andrews, Fletcher High School
  • Nicole Neeley, Fort Caroline Elementary School
  • Megan Broderick, Fort Caroline Urban Arts Academy
  • Cory Jeffords, Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology
  • Katrina Rock, Garden City Elementary School
  • Tiffany Scott, George Washington Carver Elementary School
  • Suzzanne Fonner, Global Leadership Academy Arts
  • Eddie Randolph, Global Leadership Discovery Campus
  • Amanda Holloway, Global Leadership Academy High School
  • Tiffany Davis, Grand Park Educational Center
  • Kendall Spurr, GRASP Academy
  • Nicole Baker, Greenfield Elementary School
  • Aubrey Albaracin, Greenland Pines Elementary School
  • Latanya Abney, Gregory Drive Elementary School
  • Caroline Spottswood, Hendricks Avenue Elementary School
  • Ivy Sagal, Hidden Oaks Elementary School
  • Macenzee Schwab, Highlands Estates Academy
  • Moses Evans, Highlands Middle School
  • Tara Cochran, Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary School
  • Claudia Jordan, Holiday Hill Elementary School
  • Katherine Wonnell, Hospital Homebound
  • Catharine Wright, Hyde Grove Elementary School
  • Crystal Williamson – Moxey, Hyde Park Elementary School
  • Francesca Scott, IDEA Bassett Academy
  • Miranda Osuji, IDEA Bassett College Prep
  • Veda Blanche, IDEA River Bluff Academy
  • Lena Lyles, IDEA River Bluff College Prep
  • Tara Budd, J. Allen Axson Montessori School
  • Heather Despain, Jacksonville Beach Elementary
  • Andrew Wilmot, Jacksonville Heights Elementary School
  • Jessica Rigdon, James Weldon Johnson College Prep Middle School
  • Renita Moxey, Jean Ribault High School
  • Seanta Jones-Sumter, Jean Ribault Middle School
  • Elizabeth Cosme, John E. Ford PK-8 English/Spanish Montessori School
  • Melanie Davis, John Love Early Learning Center
  • Taylor Gourley, John Stockton Elementary School
  • Dwayne Howard, Joseph Stilwell Military Academy of Leadership
  • Jamicell Clark, Julia Landon College Preparatory and Leadership Development School
  • Stephanie Hargrove, Kernan Middle School
  • Crystal Workman, Kernan Trail Elementary School
  • Crystal Rodriguez, Kings Trail Elementary School
  • Monique Lockett, KIPP Bessie Coleman Academy
  • Luke Jean, KIPP Bold City High School
  • Marva Alexander, KIPP Impact Academy
  • Emma Webber, KIPP VOICE Academy
  • Melissa Floyd, Lake Lucina Elementary School
  • Valerie Ibanez, Lakeshore Middle School
  • Jacorey Hagger, Landmark Middle School
  • Theresa Moreau, LaVilla School of the Arts
  • Elizabeth Thies, Lone Star Elementary School
  • Janine Berry, Lone Star MycroSchool
  • Eryn Harris, Long Branch Elementary School
  • Kimberly Niebauer, Loretto Elementary School
  • Brianne Biegun, Louis Sheffield Elementary School
  • Lovelyn Villar, Love Grove Elementary School
  • Kelli Wilms, Mamie Agnes Jones Elementary School
  • Brittany Rollins, Mandarin High School
  • Ibeth Amaya, Mandarin Middle School
  • Tiffany Johns, Mandarin Oaks Elementary School
  • BuansatieRamadhar, Matthew W. Gilbert Middle School
  • Dwayne Butler, Mattie V. Rutherford Alternative Middle School
  • Hillary Pearson, Mayport Coastal Sciences Elementary School
  • Latisha Brown, Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School
  • Jennifer Keller, Merrill Road Elementary School
  • Jacqueline Heslin, Mt. Herman Exceptional Student Center
  • Melissa Paquette, Neptune Beach Elementary School
  • Felicia Lammi, New Berlin Elementary School
  • Kristen Baker, Normandy Village Elementary School
  • Tiffany Tucker, North Shore Elementary School
  • Sandra Williams, Northwestern Legends Elementary School
  • Zachary Carter-Best, Oak Hill Academy
  • Emily Hill, Oceanway Elementary School
  • Rhosalee Mangalindan-Stewart, Oceanway Middle School
  • Erin Mullen, Ortega Elementary School
  • Melvin Smith, Palm Avenue Exceptional Student Center
  • Tasha Cummings, Parkwood Heights Elementary School
  • Krystal Culpepper, Paxon School for Advanced Studies
  • Alicia Palacios, Pickett Elementary School
  • Laurel Ledoux, Pine Forest School of the Arts
  • Brittany Alexander, Pinedale Elementary School
  • Latory Burch, Pre-Trial Detention Center
  • Yolanda McCray, R.V. Daniels Elementary School
  • Edith Smith, Reynolds Lane Elementary School
  • Stephanie Horne, River City Science Academy Elementary School
  • Alexandra Hall, River City Science Academy Innovation
  • Christy Peiffer, River City Science Academy Intracoastal K-8
  • Holley Traverso, River City Science Academy Mandarin
  • Moriah Taylor, River City Science Academy Middle High 

Heather Bruce, River City Science Academy Southeast 

Kelly Sly, RL Brown Academy 

Angela Rochay, Rufus E. Payne Elementary School 

Patreace Heard, Ruth N. Upson Elementary School 

Lauren Freeman, Rutledge H. Pearson Elementary School 

Sarah Buss, Sab Pablo Elementary School 

Jessica Caton, Sabal Palm Elementary School 

Lauren Henderson Young, Sadie T. Tillis Elementary School  

Kirk Altman, Sallye B. Mathis Elementary School 

Girleaner Rouse-Mingo, Samuel A Hull Elementary School 

Michelle Wolrich, Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies 

Stephanie Weathington, San Jose Elementary School 

Aaron Avery, San Jose Prep 

Christina Hanjora, San Jose Primary 

Teresa Kelley, San Mateo Elementary School 

Tabitha Tuggle, Seabreeze Elementary School 

Fabian Taylor, Smart Pope Livingston Elementary School 

Eliza Israel, Southside Estates Elementary School 

Ashley Fecca, Southside Middle School 

Anthoinette Taylor, Spring Park Elementary School 

Annalisa Robinson, Springfield Middle School  

Mary Krieger, Stanton College Preparatory School 

Olivia Carmichael, Susie E. Tolbert Elementary School 

Sara Stolkner, Terry Parker High School 

Deveon Brewton, The Bridge to Success Academy High School 

Caitlin Ybarra, The Leadership Academy 

Jennifer Jones, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School 

Torin Span, Tiger Academy 

Delena Lambert, Timucuan Elementary School 

Tracey Wesley, Twin Lakes Academy Elementary School 

Laura Crumbly, Twin Lakes Academy Middle School 

Lillian Gaddy, Venetia Elementary School of the Medical Arts 

Erin Eaton, Waterleaf Elementary School 

Beverly James, Wayman Academy of The Arts 

Damaris Lopez Maldonado, West Riverside Elementary School 

Brigid Begg, Westside High School 

Georgia Cordero, Westview K-8 

Crystal Mirkowski, Whitehouse Elementary School 

Ronique Harris, William Marion Raines High School 

Morgan Williams, Windy Hill Elementary School 

 

About the Jacksonville Public Education Fund 

The Jacksonville Public Education Fund is an independent think-and-do tank that believes in the potential of all students. We work tirelessly to close the opportunity gaps in public education. We convene educators, school system leaders, and the community to pilot and help scale evidence-based solutions that advance school quality in Duval County. 

 

About VyStar Credit Union  

VyStar Credit Union is the second-largest credit union headquartered in Florida, with over 80 branches and is reaching 1,000,000 members with assets of over $14 billion. VyStar is the top mortgage lender in Northeast Florida and a major employer in the region with over 2,500 employees across the communities it serves. VyStar membership is open to everyone who lives or works in the 49 contiguous counties of Central to North Florida, 29 Georgia counties, and past and present military members and their families all over the world. For more information, visit vystarcu.org, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram,  X (Twitter), and LinkedIn.