Illuminate, our teacher recognition program, honors every school’s Teacher of the Year and celebrates the outstanding educators who brighten the future for students every day. We host two events annually:
Celebrating Excellence in Education
Honoring Teachers of the Year: A special luncheon that celebrates all school-based Teachers of the Year across Pinellas County Schools.
Evening of Excellence: A celebratory dinner honoring the top 10 finalists for Pinellas County Schools’ Teacher of the Year, culminating in the announcement of the district-wide honoree. This inspiring evening of recognition shows the power of teaching and the lasting impact of those who lead with light.
Sponsorships
For event inquiries, please contact Kiersten Keely at 727-588-4816, ext. 2111 or [email protected].
- 2025-26 Pinellas County Schools Teachers of the Year -
Elementary Schools
Anona Elementary
Davis Hall
Azalea Elementary
Sara Burt
Bardmoor Elementary
Holly Stuck
Bauder Elementary
Michele Wanger
Bay Point Elementary
Brandy Dickerson
Bay Vista Fundamental
Darcy Webb
Bear Creek Elementary
Nicole Umukoro
Belcher Elementary
Amanda Larkin
Belleair Elementary
Aldo Novaro
Blanton Elementary
Lauren Hammons
Brooker Creek Elementary
Amy Schwabe
Campbell Park Elementary
Bobby Coston, Jr.
Cross Bayou Elementary
Jennifer Ward
Curlew Creek Elementary
Jamie Bunting
Curtis Fundamental
Jessica Circle
Cypress Woods Elementary
Nancy Slater
Douglas L. Jamerson, Jr. Elementary
Kaitlyn Johnson
Dunedin Elementary
Christina Roush
Eisenhower Elementary
Idellia Cole
Elisa Nelson Elementary
Sarabeth Phoebe
Fairmount Park Elementary
Kelly Jackson
Forest Lakes Elementary
Ellen Choinacky
Frontier Elementary
Amanda Layner
Fuguitt Elementary
Nicole Bellotte
Garrison-Jones Elementary
Mariangelie Vazquez Llanis
Gulf Beaches Elementary
Kayla Copley
Gulfport Elementary
Amy Skinner
High Point Elementary
Renee Hague
Highland Lakes Elementary
Catherine Cooper
Kings Highway Elementary
Jerylin Brown
Lake St. George Elementary
Katharine Kershaw
Lakeview Fundamental
Kim Bieber
Lakewood Elementary
Carol Fisher
Lealman Avenue Elementary
Emily Hanten
Leila Davis Elementary
Alexandria Ellerbee
Lynch Elementary
Kerri Gonzalez-Roberts
Maximo Elementary
Ronald Anderson, Jr.
McMullen-Booth Elementary
Sarah Brooke
Melrose Elementary
Natasha Baker
Midtown Academy
Heather Sapienza
Mildred Helms Elementary
Leigh Loveland
M.K. Rawlings Elementary
Heidi Fletcher
Mount Vernon Elementary
Alyssa LaValla
New Heights Elementary
Kaley Foley
North Shore Elementary
Megan Hanewinkel
Northwest Elementary
Tina Marion
Oakhurst Elementary
Janet Nickse
Oldsmar Elementary
Francine Campogni
Orange Grove Elementary
Zorka Stanimirovic
Ozona Elementary
Jennifer Narkier
Pasadena Fundamental
Karen Larzelere
Perkins Elementary
Colette Timson
Pinellas Central Elementary
Jessica Rosenberg
Pinellas Park Elementary
Deborah Mayer
Plumb Elementary
Jenny Kampf
Ponce de Leon Elementary
Gina Sciolino
Ridgecrest Elementary
Mary Riscigno
Safety Harbor Elementary
Deborah McVeigh
San Jose Elementary
Karen Laughlin
Sandy Lane Elementary
Kelley Oster
Sawgrass Lake Elementary
Taylor Curtis
Seminole Elementary
Linda Bell
Seventy-Fourth St. Elementary
Michelle Myers
Sexton Elementary
Gina Broadbear
Shore Acres Elementary
Christine Marr
Skycrest Elementary
Amber Sipe
Skyview Elementary
Alicia Ayala
Starkey Elementary
Emily Ossi
Sunset Hills Elementary
Dautie Craig
Sutherland Elementary
Angela Lutz
Tarpon Springs Elementary
Elaine Koursiotis
Tarpon Springs Fundamental
Shannon McConville
Westgate Elementary
Deborah Bleckley
Woodlawn Elementary
Jenna Harshbarger
Middle Schools
Azalea Middle
Maria Thomas
Bay Point Middle
Jennifer Giuffre
Carwise Middle
Elizabeth Hamilton
Clearwater Fundamental
Kinnan Johnston
Dunedin Highland Middle
Kathleen Earle
East Lake Middle
Tracy Smith
John Hopkins Middle
Kira Guyotte
Largo Middle
Mariel Edwards
Mangrove Bay Middle
Mark Dallavalle, Jr.
Meadowlawn Middle
Farah Ben Allal
Morgan Fitzgerald Middle
Jourdan Rogers
Oak Grove Middle
Christian Harrington
Osceola Middle
Sarah Floener
Palm Harbor Middle
Caitlyn Bortolini
Pinellas Park Middle
Jarred Shaw
Safety Harbor Middle
Joshua Klay
Seminole Middle
Riley Walsky
Tarpon Springs Middle
Lorraine Manley
Thurgood Marshall Middle
Lisa Turini
Tyrone Middle
Karissa James
K-8 Schools
James B. Sanderlin
Denise White
Madeira Beach Fundamental
Kelsey Hayes
Walsignham Oaks
Brent Gaskill
High Schools
Boca Ciega High
Melissa Russell
Clearwater High
Matthew Chappell
Countryside High
Allison Loy-Brussow
Dunedin High
Amanda Murphy
East Lake High
Julie Adrian
Gibbs High
Dustin Hinzman
Hollins High
Teresa Zemaitis
Lakewood High
Delia Doss
Largo High
Dorothy Baker
Northeast High
Zachary Minasian
Osceola Fundamental High
Jared DiMaggio
Palm Harbor University
Adam Kersey, Ed.D
Pinellas Park High
Teresa Godcharles
Richard O. Jacobson Technical High
Deborah Germann
Seminole High
John Zvoncheck
St. Petersburg High
Erika Miller
Tarpon Springs High
Kristin Sponaugle
Adult Education
Clearview Adult Education
Tanja Vurunic
Clearwater Adult Education
Amanda Groshans
Lakewood Community
Maria Wallen
Pinellas Technical College Clearwater
Gerard Beaulieu
Pinellas Technical College St. Petersburg
Brian Minkin
Education Alternative Services
Bayside High
Matt Merryman
Calvin Hunsinger
Melissa Wininsky
Disston Academy
Natasha Sandman
Lealman Innovation Academy
Iroma Heard
Pinellas High Innovation
Tyrhonda Hill
Pinellas Virtual
Marcia Pascual
Richard L. Sanders
LaFara Williams
Exceptional Student Education
Nina Harris
Mary Litherland
Paul B. Stephens
Ileana Liss
“Teaching means building relationships with students, understanding their unique needs, and fostering an environment where they feel safe, valued, and motivated to learn. It is helping students reach their full potential by nurturing their growth and teaching them the skills they need to be successful.”
– Dennis Zuercher, 2025 Teacher of the Year
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
