INK! launches 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year and Rookie Teacher of the Year awards and fundraiser

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Dec. 14, 2020 - PRLog -- INK!'s (Investing in Kids) Teacher of the Year and Rookie Teacher of the Year awards campaign is currently underway as a special recognition program that honors educators in St. Johns County, Fla. public schools. The St. Johns County Education Foundation, which operates as INK! and two separate groups of panelists will interview nominees from each school to select one teacher with more than three years in the classroom along with a rookie teacher who has less than three years in the classroom. The formally named St. Johns County Teacher of the Year winner will have an opportunity to apply for the Florida Teacher of the Year program.

An inaugural yearbook fundraiser will include Teacher of the Year and Rookie of the Year nominees and finalists along with testimonials from the community, sponsors, and more. The book will be in full color with photo collages and lighthearted moments all reflecting teacher and student life, and campaign highlights, to name a few. Comments collected with online messages about heartfelt thanks to area teachers will be featured in the yearbook with the submitter's name, family, and business with each entry. INK! is asking for the public's participation by leaving an inspiring message to be shared in the yearbook. Visit https://ink-stjohns.org/teacher-of-the-year to leave comments.

Lori Price, St Johns County Teacher of the Year for 2019 through 2020 was teaching at The Webster School in St. Augustine and now teaches first grade at Ocean Palms Elementary School in Ponte Vedra, Fla. She applauds INK! for supporting schools and instructors, especially with the recent challenges of virtual classroom teaching during the pandemic. Price remains optimistic about motivating parents, students, and other teachers to help children learn while traversing new online curriculums and in school assignments during the current unprecedented challenges in the classroom.

According to Mia Bahr, an eighth-grade teacher for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) and additional course studies at Pacetti Bay Middle School and Rookie Teacher of the Year for 2019 through 2020, educators work extremely hard to ensure student success. "This year is particularly challenging because many teachers are required to instruct inside the classroom and online at the same time. The INK! awards symbolize the community's appreciation and much-needed recognition and honors for our most outstanding teachers," she said.

Contact David "Davey" Hartzel, INK!'s Director of Fund Development at 904-547-7120 or email David.Hartzel@stjohns.k12.fl.us. Visit the website at www.ink-stjohns.org.