INK! names five finalists for St. Johns County 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year award

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Dec. 26, 2022 - PRLog -- The Investing in Kids 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year campaign is a special recognition program to honor educators in St. Johns County, Fla. public schools. The St. Johns County Education Foundation, which operates as INK!, hosts the annual campaign to acknowledge and commemorate excellence in teaching, and emphasize the importance and impact of the profession.

On Tuesday, December 20, INK! board members, staff and volunteers along with St. Johns County School District Superintendent Tim Forson and former Teacher of the Year finalists visited five local schools and recognized the following teachers as finalists for outstanding demonstration of instructional skills, student interaction, professional excellence, and importance in the lives of hundreds of students.

Finalist recipients include Tracy Clauson, a seventh and eighth grade teacher at Sebastian Middle School with more than 12 years of teaching students in English, Spanish, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and reading.

Amanda Devany teaches kindergarten through fifth grade students at Osceola Elementary School with more than 12 years as an educator in elementary education from kindergarten through 12th grades.

Teresa McCormick, a seventh and eighth grade social science teacher at Valley Ridge Academy has more than 15 years of experience as an educator.

Brianne Seplocha, is a fifth-grade teacher at Picolata Crossing Elementary School with more than 14 years of teaching experience.

Gomati Sutaria is a fifth-grade teacher at Liberty Pines Academy with more than eight years of experience in elementary education, reading and ESOL.

The countywide awards program builds community awareness of the region's best educators. The announcement of the St. Johns County District Teacher of the Year will be made on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort. The St. Johns County District Teacher of the Year will be considered as a candidate for the Florida Teacher of the Year program and will receive various awards including a new car from Beaver Toyota St. Augustine.

The St. Johns County Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 education foundation, which operates as Investing in Kids (INK!). INK! promotes academic success for all St. Johns County public school students by providing innovative programs, teacher support and classroom resources to benefit more than 50,000 students and approximately 3,200 teachers. For more information, contact Donna Lueders at Donna.Lueders@stjohns.k12.fl.us or 904-547-7120. Visit the website at www.ink-stjohns.org.