Volusia Schools Select Teachers of the Year

Volusia County Schools’ 70 Teachers of the Year were announced and honored in a special outdoor ceremony at Jackie Robinson Stadium on October 14, 2021. The event was hosted by VCS, the FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools, The Daytona Tortugas, and presented by AdventHealth, the official healthcare champion of VCS.

Each of Volusia's public schools completes a formal process to select its Teacher of the Year. The winners, chosen by their peers, are nominated to compete for the honor of Volusia County Schools’ 2023 Teacher of the Year, to be announced on January 23. The current Volusia County Teacher of the Year is Frank Garaitonandia, who teaches art at Citrus Grove Elementary School. Garaitonandia was also recognized as a Top 5 finalist for Florida Teacher of the Year.

Garaitonandia and 2020 VCS Teacher of the Year Ian Jackson were among the VIP speakers at Thursday evening’s all-star-themed Teacher of the Year reception held at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. School Board Chair Linda Cuthbert brought greetings on behalf of the School Board, and Superintendent Dr. Scott Fritz praised the Teachers of the Year for exemplifying excellence in teaching. FUTURES President Heather Bond Vargas thanked the many sponsors who make the Teachers of the Year program possible.

The 2023 district Teacher of the Year winner will be announced in January and will be nominated for the state Teacher of the Year program. The Teacher of the Year nominees and their schools are:

Michael Plummer, Alt. Education – Daytona Juvenile Residential Facility
Kari Nagus, Atlantic High
Sara Ambrosio, Beachside Elementary
Barbara Rankins Stevens, Blue Lake Elementary
Keisha Wallace, Campbell Middle
Erica Bond, Champion Elementary
Madison Miller, Chisholm Elementary
Ryan K. Spears, Citrus Grove Elementary
Kim Quigley, Coronado Beach Elementary
Kristin Bender Polizzi, Creekside Middle
Camille Long, Cypress Creek Elementary
Brittany LaCorte, DeBary Elementary
Brittany Braly, DeLand High
Tammy Fletcher, DeLand Middle
Joseph Brennan, Deltona High
Wendy Warfield, Deltona Lakes Elementary
Hyacinth Forrest Ellison, Deltona Middle
Amanda B. Griggs, Discovery Elementary
Casie M. Mort, Edgewater Public
Paige Shinsky, Enterprise Elementary
Kelly Boulware, Forest Lake Elementary
Tracy Kruszeski, Freedom Elementary
Dylan Campbell, Friendship Elementary
Amanda Whited, Galaxy Middle
Laura K. Hoard, George Marks Elementary
Holly Glaspie Heritage Middle
Joseph M. Vetter, David C. Hinson, Sr. Middle
Jennifer Samar, Holly Hill School
Sherry Williams, Horizon Elementary
Kim Brislenn, Hospital Homebound
Crissy Norman, Indian River Elementary
Courtney Parlett, R.J. Longstreet Elementary
Kristie J. Long, Mainland High
Nicole Eck, Manatee Cove Elementary
Wayne A. Smith, Louise S. McInnis Elementary
Raquel Heath, New Smyrna Beach High
Ann Bellantoni, New Smyrna Beach Middle
Megan Foster, Orange City Elementary
Candace E. Haynes, Ormond Beach Elementary
Natalie M. Demchak, Ormond Beach Middle
Heather B. LeFils, Osteen Elementary
Amanda Talton, Palm Terrace Elementary
Joan Wheeler, Pathways Elementary
Rosita Cosio, Pierson Elementary
Christina M. Goodin, Pine Ridge High
Bobbi Reamer, Pine Trail Elementary
Anna McComb, Port Orange Elementary
Melanie Roberts, Pride Elementary
Lucy Altmann, Read-Pattillo Elementary
Trae Weiss, River Springs Middle School of Technology & Innovation
Eli Freidus, Seabreeze High
Suzanne Boss, Silver Sands Middle
Kelly H. Miller, South Daytona Elementary
Jennifer Raynor, Southwestern Middle
Mikeeta Ephraim, Spirit Elementary
Vanessa Emers, Spruce Creek Elementary
Shon Duncan, Spruce Creek High
Amy Cervantes, Edith I. Starke Elementary
Gary Van Auken, Sugar Mill Elementary
June Black, Sunrise Elementary
Lisa Kiesel, Sweetwater Elementary
Kinsey J.H. Berger, T. DeWitt Taylor Middle-High
Deanna Deyne, Timbercrest Elementary

Mindy Moor, Tomoka Elementary
Nikki Metakes, Turie T. Small Elementary
Brandon Haught, University High
Mariana Bianco, Volusia Online Learning
Jaaqua R. Hunt, Volusia Pines Elementary
Meshia Bolden, Westside Elementary
Abigail Fisher, Woodward Avenue Elementary