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Volusia School District Names Emily Edwards
Teacher of the Year!
Emily Edwards, a 4th grade teacher from Starke Elementary School, is Volusia County Schools' Teacher of the Year for 2014. She will serve as Volusia County's Teacher of the Year throughout this school year and next, representing all of Volusia's teachers.
Ms. Edwards received her award before an audience of 900 friends of public education at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort on Friday, January 25, 2013. The announcement was made at a celebration co-hosted by FUTURES Foundation and the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce.
"The teachers and educators in Volusia County are absolutely amazing, innovative and passionate about the students of Volusia County," said Chris Hill, FUTURES Foundation President. "Year in and year out they exceed the expectations set and mandated by either the state or federal government. It is a privilege and a pleasure to work with dedicated invididuals through the county and witness first hand their impact on the students. "Futures Foundation's primary goal is to serve and to support these hard working and often underappreciated torch bearers for education. Our Board and our Chamber feel strongly that our teachers need to be praised, validated and celebrated as an incredible group of professionals."
Ms. Edwards began her career at Starke Elementary in 2009, after graduating from Stetson University. She is a fourth grade classroom teacher and, in 2010 and 2011, was charged with teaching writing to the entire fourth grade. In Ms. Edwards' opinion, thinking, designing and implementing new ways to teacher her students is the most creatively satisfying aspect of teaching. Being charged with teaching writing to the entire fourth grade, she attended trainings and created exciting ways to engage her students so they would not only perform well on the FCAT, but develop a love of writing.
Described as creative, motivated and committed to lifelong learning, Ms. Edwards succeeds Leslie Birney, a 4th grade teacher from Citrus Grove Elementary School, who was Volusia County's 2013 Teacher of the Year.
In addition to Ms. Edwards, four other teachers received special recognition as finalists:
- Jami L. Atkinson, ESE consultation teacher/academic coach, Heritage Middle School
- Melanie Kestory, 3rd grade, DeBary Elementary School
- Amber Leahey McAndrew, 4th/5th grade gifted, Tomoka Elementary School
- Jonathan Pearce, history/civics, DeLand Middle School
The Teacher of the Year celebration, presented by Halifax Health, was co-hosted by FUTURES Foundation and the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce. Major sponsors included, ARAMARK, Bank of America, Kennedy Space Center Credit Union, Nova Southeastern University, Volusia County Council of PTAs, Daytona Beach Hilton, Dean Stewart Photography, Diamond Suzuki, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Express Printing, Impressions by Naomi, Jostens and Mary's Flower Shoppe. Craig Conway of Diamond Suzuki besides donating the car for the winner to drive all year, also gave a check for $500 to the winner to use for expenses during her rein as Teacher of the Year 2014!
More than 100 businesses and organizations in Volusia County also contributed donations of goods and services to Volusia's Teacher of the Year program: Program Donor page.docPresenting Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor Bronze Sponsors
Nova Southeastern University
Volusia County Council of PTA's
In-Kind Sponsors
Daytona Beach Hilton
Dean Stewart Photography
Diamond SuzukiEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityExpress Printing
Impressions by Naomi & Downtown Daytona BeachJostens
Mary's Flower Shoppe
School Board of Volusia County
The Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort
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