FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools announced its 2021 First Year Teacher Award nominees. To be considered for the recognition, nominees must have earned a Baccalaureate degree, started a full-time teaching career on or after Jan. 1, 2020, performed outstandingly based on standards established by Volusia County Schools and been nominated by their school principal.
“The First Year Teacher Awards is an opportunity to celebrate the new teachers in our school district and highlight their success stories. As first year teachers, these nominees accepted the challenges that came along with the pandemic and rose above the adversity to teach, support, and love their students,” said Christy Mahaney, Volusia County Schools’ Coordinator of Recruitment & Retention.
From these 47 nominees chosen to represent their schools, the 2021 Elementary and Secondary award winners will be announced at FUTURES Foundation’s annual First Year Teacher Awards Celebration on Tuesday, April 6, at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Volusia United Educators (VUE) has joined FUTURES Foundation in sponsoring this celebration.
In speaking about these nominees, Superintendent Dr. Scott Fritz shared, “These amazing First Year Teacher Award nominees are at the top of their first-year class. They are shining examples of excellence in education at the start of their teaching careers. We want our First Year Teacher nominees to know how much we value how hard they have worked, and we are proud to have them on our team.”
FUTURES Foundation Board President Bob Ludlow added, “FUTURES Foundation has a strong 36-year tradition of recognizing and awarding excellence within Volusia County Schools through programs like the First Year Teacher Awards. We are proud to honor this year’s award nominees who have skillfully navigated their first year of teaching during the pandemic. We applaud them for their dedication in excelling within their classrooms during this uniquely challenging year.”
This year’s 29 Elementary First Year Teacher nominees include:
Marlena McNeil – Blue Lake Elementary
Lori Moulton – Champion Elementary
Carmen Mele – Chisholm Elementary
Brian Levine – Citrus Grove Elementary
Paula Ramirez – Coronado Beach Elementary
Gina Calbeto – DeBary Elementary
Kennedy Lawrence – Discovery Elementary
Katie Zinzi -Edith I. Starke Elementary
Brittney VanPatten – Enterprise Elementary
Judith Gonzalez – Forest Lake Elementary
Brianna Cupp – Freedom Elementary
Angela Williams – Friendship Elementary
Bryan Rush – Manatee Cove Elementary
Jasmin Felix – Louise S. McInnis Elementary
Amy Smith – Orange City Elementary
Brooke Turulski – Palm Terrace Elementary
Courtney LeCates – Pathways Elementary
Mayra Galvan – Pierson Elementary
Savannah Fischer – Port Orange Elementary
Ciana Desimini- South Daytona Elementary
Kelsey Maldonado – Spirit Elementary
Kila Ortiz – Sugar Mill Elementary
Foley M. Flood – Sunrise Elementary
Kayla Manchette – Timbercrest Elementary
Benjamin Corn – Tomoka Elementary
Sheanna James – Turie T. Small Elementary
Christina Morgan – Westside Elementary
Michelle Hudimac – Woodward Elementary
This year’s 18 Secondary First Year Teacher nominees include:
Chelsea Chaya Ward – Atlantic High
Bree’shawn S. Watson – Campbell Middle
Shane Story – David C. Hinson Middle
Shelby Radford – DeLand High
Keith L. Strickland – DeLand Middle
Isabella Glessner – Deltona High
Kelvin Kerrutt – Galaxy Middle
Sheldon Martin – Heritage Middle
Emily Weiss – Holly Hill School K-8
Karina Victoria Nunez – Mainland High
Crystal McCaddon – New Smyrna Beach High
Megan Paytas – Pine Ridge High
Heather Picos – River Springs Middle
Christy Transier – Seabreeze High
Kimberly George – Spruce Creek High
Dayana Hughes – University High
Amy Graydon – Volusia Online Learning
FUTURES Foundation is a nonprofit, direct support organization founded in 1985 to support Volusia County Schools. Its mission is to engage business and civic leaders to promote and achieve educational excellence for Volusia County Public Schools. The Foundation’s 26-member board of directors consists of area business and civic leaders who direct and raise funds to facilitate a variety of programs in the school district. Through business and individual donations, FUTURES presents programs such as the First Year Teacher Awards.
For additional information about FUTURES, please contact Executive Director Cynthia Ramirez at 386.255.6475, ext. 50730, or caperric@volusia.k12.fl.us, or visit its website at www.FUTURESVolusia.org.
