ECPS Office of Community Involvement Announces
School-Based Teacher of the Year Nominees
Pensacola, FL – The Office of Community Involvement for the Escambia County (FL) Public Schools is proud to announce the Teachers of the Year selected to represent their respective schools. Nominated teachers will compete for selection as the school district’s overall Teacher of the Year.
Jim Allen Elementary – Michelle (Shelly) Helton
Bellview Elementary – Teswanna Johnson
Beulah Elementary – Shelly Mitchell
Blue Angels Elementary – Trinity Barnett
Bratt Elementary – Angela Stuart
Brentwood Elementary – Sarah Long
Hellen Caro Elementary – Lori Walsh
N. B. Cook Elementary – Megan Habayeb
Cordova Park Elementary – Brittany Foster
Ensley Elementary – Susannah Wright
Ferry Pass Elementary – Nikki Cole
Global Learning Academy – Whitney Osborne
Holm Elementary – Etter Wright
Kingsfield Elementary School – Melissa Venable
Lincoln Park Elementary – Ashley Phillips
Lipscomb Elementary – Courtney Geiger
Longleaf Elementary – Gena Keszthelyi
McArthur Elementary – Laura Sellers
Molino Park Elementary – Chad Hetherington
Montclair Elementary – Felicia Hudson
Myrtle Grove Elementary – Brigit McAroy
Navy Point Elementary – Jana Arnett
Oakcrest Elementary – John Herber
Pine Meadow Elementary – Tara Garic
Pleasant Grove Elementary – Carol Larsen
Scenic Heights Elementary – Amanda Pinckard
O.J. Semmes Elementary – Jessica Zent
Sherwood Elementary – Bridget Wakeman
A. K. Suter Elementary – Juliana Barrett
Warrington Elementary – Christina Myers
C. A. Weis Elementary – Julia Hodo
West Pensacola Elementary – Debra Jewell
Bailey Middle School – Cameron Peters
Bellview Middle – Clareta Broadnax
Beulah Middle – Kenneth Atkinson
Brown Barge Middle – John Blackwelder
Ernest Ward Middle – Megan Bryan
Ferry Pass Middle – Velvet Kalber
Ransom Middle – Holly Kendrick
Workman Middle – Quintarries Upshaw
Escambia High School – Kristy Davis
Northview High School – Brandon Korinchak
Pensacola High School – Lora Fairhurst
Pine Forest High School – David Dawson
Tate High School – Richard Coleman
Washington High School – Kathryn Cody
West Florida High School – Tyler Mertz
Alternative Education – Adam Stumpf
Beulah Academy of Science – Molly Villanueva
Achieve Academy – Brenda Baldwin
Success Academy – Gregory Steen
Escambia Virtual Academy – Tristan Harris
Escambia Westgate – Kimberly Ripley
ESE – Joyce “Kelton” Boykin
Hope Horizon – Tara Hagan
George Stone Technical College – Maria Moultrie
Pensacola Beach Charter – Kimberley Talbert
SANTA ROSA TEACHERS OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED
Santa Rosa County, FL – Santa Rosa Education Foundation is pleased to announce the thirty-seven nominees for Santa Rosa Teacher of the Year.? Nominees were selected by their peers at schools throughout the district.
Audra Hughes, Avalon Middle;
Cassie McCoy, Bagdad Elementary;
Katie Rode, Berryhill Elementary;
Davina Carroll, Central;
Jessica Strickland, Chumuckla Elementary;
Katherine Jackson, Dillon Administrative Center;
Bethany Crossley, Dixon Intermediate;
Margo Schlessman, Dixon Primary;
Sandra Kale, East Bay K-8;
Josh Shelton, East Milton Elementary;
Bobbie Jo Cueno, Exceptional Student Education;
Alessandra Cardoso, Gulf Breeze Elementary;
Earle McAuley, Gulf Breeze High;
Patricia Coady, Gulf Breeze Middle;
Merrie Weekley, Hobbs Middle;
Anna Prindle, Holley-Navarre Intermediate;
Brian Meeker, Holley-Navarre Middle;
Erin Lanpher, Holley-Navarre Primary;
Aaron Lowry, Jay Elementary;
Bayleigh Upton, Jay High;
Katheryn McBrien, King Middle;
Wayne Stallworth, Locklin Technical College;
Dayna Hood, Milton High;
Lauren “Lou” Barnard, Navarre High;
Karen Naquin, Oriole Beach Elementary;
Meagan Blevins, Pace High;
Anna Dawson, Pea Ridge Elementary;
Amy Frizzell, Rhodes Elementary;
Beth Coogle, Russell Elementary;
Dawn Kaunike, Santa Rosa High & Adult;
Meredith Powers, Santa Rosa Online Academy;
Kevin Ricks, Sims Middle;
Sharon Benware, TR Jackson;
Tracy Dixon, Wallace Lake K-8;
Charity Forsberg, West Navarre Intermediate;
Tracey Strength, West Navarre Primary;
Brian Paradise, Woodlawn Beach Middle
The Santa Rosa Teacher of the Year will be announced on Friday, January 16, 2026. Nominees will be recognized at Santa Rosa’s Golden Apple Awards celebrating all Santa Rosa educators on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at The Saenger Theatre, Pensacola. For sponsorship
information visit www.santarosaeducationfoundation.org
