Teacher of the Year Finalists Surprised at Three Sarasota County Schools

Three Sarasota County teachers were surprised Thursday, Nov. 14, when they were revealed as finalists for the district’s elementary, middle and high school 2020 Teacher of the Year honors. The 2020 finalists are: Heather Young, Venice Elementary School; Marissa Dobbert, Sarasota Military Academy Prep; Josh Grant, Venice High School. (Note: More information about teacher finalists and surprise school visits follows.) One of the three finalists will be named the overall Sarasota County 2020 Teacher of the Year at the Education Foundation of Sarasota County’s Ignite Education Awards Celebration on Dec. 11 at The Westin Sarasota. The district Teacher of the Year will represent Sarasota County Schools at the Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year Program and will serve as a spokesperson for and representative of the teaching profession at various events throughout 2020. The annual Teacher Tribute Tour team travels to each finalist’s school. This year’s team included Sarasota County Schools’ (SCS) Assistant Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer Laura Kingsley; SCS board members Jane Goodwin, Eric Robinson, and Caroline Zucker; Education Foundation of Sarasota County (EFSC) Board Chair Britt Riner, President Jennifer Vigne, and other EFSC board members; EFSC founder Shirley Ritchey; 2019 Teacher of the Year finalists Tessa Healy, Ashlee Middleton, and Shane Swezey; other representatives of the foundation and school district, sponsors and special guests. The team congratulated finalists as their families, students, principals and fellow teachers joined the surprise tributes. First Stop: The first stop for the Teacher Tribute Tour was Venice Elementary School where a schoolwide assembly of students and teachers erupted in cheers when Heather Young was announced as Elementary School Tribute Tour surprises Teacher of the Year Finalists, cont’d (MORE) Teacher of the Year. Young’s parents, husband, daughter, and other family members joined in the surprise. Young, a 22-year veteran teacher in Sarasota County Schools and graduate of Venice High School who previously taught gifted students, is in her first year as a K-5 visual arts teacher. She thanked her colleagues and administrators at Venice Elementary School for the opportunity to teach art as a method to level the playing field and facilitate problem-solving, risk-taking and creative decision-making skills in students. Young earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and has done work in gifted and leadership education at the University of South Florida. In addition to teaching, she serves in various leadership roles, including mentoring new teachers. Second Stop: Next, the bus pulled into Venice High School (VHS) where the school band struck up a rousing song when the High School Teacher of the Year, Josh Grant, walked in expecting to help with a school video project. When Grant’s young daughter rushed up to him amid cheers from the Tribute Team and students and a student read a letter she had written to recommend Grant for the Teacher of the Year honor, the former high school football player was visibly moved. Grant has taught for seven years, the last four at VHS. After teaching English and journalism, he switched to career and technical arts this school year. He is passionate about using productive discussion to teach students to state clear and cogent arguments, understand another point of view and respond appropriately, and make sound decisions. Grant earned his teaching certification through State College of Florida’s alternative certification program after completing his bachelor’s in British and American Literature at University of South Florida. Third Stop: The final stop on the tour was Sarasota Military Academy. Student cadets, in uniforms, lined up in the school’s courtyard and, as the American flag waved in the background, they celebrated middle school math teacher Marissa Dobbert as Middle School Teacher of the Year. Dobbert’s parents, sisters, grandparents and cousin were on hand to witness the surprise. Dobbert has taught since 2015 and has been head of the math department for two years. She currently teaches sixth and seventh grades and leads the mentoring program for 12 new teachers in different subject areas. Dobbert has a master’s degree from National Louis University and a bachelor’s degree from Florida Gulf Coast University. In addition to teaching and leadership responsibilities, Dobbert achieved ESOL and Reading Endorsements and has been a summer course recovery teacher since 2016. Tribute Tour surprises Teacher of the Year Finalists, cont’d (MORE) The overall district Teacher of the Year for 2019 will be announced from among the three finalists at Ignite Education Teacher of the Year Awards Celebration held from 10:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 11 at The Westin Sarasota. More information and tickets are available at http://www.EdFoundationSRQ.org/ignite. To further amplify the importance of teachers on their students and the community, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County also will recognize the nominees and crown the recipient of the second annual Alumni of Distinction award.