(May 6, 2021) The fifth-graders in Sarah Painter’s Eisenhower Elementary School class let out an audible gasp as they watched the adults armed with balloons and posters stream into their classroom.

They didn’t know what the group wanted. But their class has a philosophy when confronted by a challenge: Find joy.

That’s exactly what they did when Jacob Oliva, the state’s public schools chancellor, made his big reveal that Painter is one of five finalists for 2022 Florida teacher of the year. (Continue reading)