INFORMATION IS EMBARGOED UNTIL DEC. 6.
PLEASE DO NOT RELEASE THE FINALISTS’ INFORMATION UNTIL AFTER THEIR RESPECTIVE SURPRISE VISITS.
Who: Hillsborough Education Foundation
What: Surprise Patrol for the 2020 Excellence in Education Awards, presented by Suncoast Credit Union
When: Friday, December 6, 2019
School arrival times are listed with finalist information below; please bring your driver license and check in at the front office. Live-tweeting/posting the announcements is okay, but please do not give away a finalist’s name or school by publicizing it before their surprise visit. We want each visit to be a surprise for the finalist.
(Dec. 5, 2019) TAMPA – The Hillsborough Education Foundation will travel to schools around the county on Friday, December 6 to surprise 13 top-notch educators as finalists for this year’s Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year, Instructional Support Employee of the Year and Teacher of the Year awards. The 13 finalists represent the best of the best in Hillsborough County Public Schools. A winner in each category will be named at the 2020 Excellence in Education Awards presented by Suncoast Credit Union on Jan. 23 at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.
Surprise announcements will be made to each of the finalists by Hillsborough Education Foundation, school district and Suncoast Credit Union representatives on Friday, along with the major sponsors of the individual awards: Amscot Financial and Caspers Company McDonald’s Restaurants. More than 200 schools nominated educators for the awards.
2020 Excellence in Education Facts:
o Total Nominees – 709
o Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year (IDA) – 235
o Instructional Support Employee of the Year (ISEOY) – 234 o Teacher of the Year (TOY) – 240
o Finalists–13(four finalists for IDA, four finalists for ISEOY, five finalists for TOY)
o You are also invited to our Excellence in Education Awards presented by Suncoast Credit Union and hosted by the Hillsborough Education Foundation and Hillsborough County Public Schools on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts (Reception begins and 4:30 p.m. and the Awards Program begins at 6:00 p.m.)
One finalist from each category will be announced as the winner during the awards ceremony.
Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year 2020 Surprise Patrol:
Hillsborough Education Foundation Contact: Mike McCollum, Cell Phone: (321) 217-1550
• Julie Snyder – Migrant Advocate Teacher – Arrival at school: 8:00 a.m.
o Robinson Elementary School, 4801 S. Turkey Creek Road, Plant City 33567
▪ Principal: Alicia Wilkerson
• Heidi Meyer – Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Teacher – Arrival at school: 9:05 a.m.
o Lopez Exceptional Center, 315 W. Old Hillsborough Avenue, Seffner 33584
▪ Site Administrator: Joe Hilbush
• James Martinez – Industrial Education Teacher – Arrival at school: 9:45 a.m.
o Hillsborough High School, 5000 Central Avenue, Tampa 33603
▪ Principal: Gary Brady
• Keyada George – Wilson Middle 7th Grade English Language Arts Teacher – Arrival at field trip location: 11:15 a.m.
*Please note, we will be surprising Ms. George at a field trip location:
o Altitude Trampoline Park, 4340 West Hillsborough Avenue, Suite 350, Tampa 33614
▪ Principal: Colleen Faucett
Instructional Support Employee of the Year 2020 Surprise Patrol:
Hillsborough Education Foundation Contact: Paul Casebolt, Cell Phone: (813) 951-8699
• Shirley Rosario – Principal’s Secretary – Arrival at school: 9:15 a.m.
o Farnell Middle School, 13912 Nine Eagles Drive, Tampa 33626
▪ Principal: Dr. Tim Binder
• Eliane Broche – Head Custodian – Arrival at school: 9:55 a.m.
o Claywell Elementary School, 4500 Northdale Boulevard, Tampa 33624
▪ Principal: Robert Jones
• Natosha Bagley – Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Paraprofessional – Arrival at school: 10:35 a.m.
o Witter Elementary School, 10801 N. 22nd Street, Tampa 33612
▪ Principal: Susan Persbacker
• Angela White – Sign Language Interpreter – Arrival at school: 1:00 p.m.
o Colson Elementary School, 1520 Lakeview Avenue, Seffner 33584
▪ Principal: Orestes Mendez
Teacher of the Year 2020 Surprise Patrol:
Hillsborough Education Foundation Contact: Kendra Oestreich, Cell Phone: (813) 944-9510
• Sommer SanFilippo – Reading Resource Teacher – Arrival at school: 7:45 a.m.
o Mendenhall Elementary School, 5202 Mendenhall Drive, Tampa 33603
▪ Principal: Cristina Fernandez
• Chanell Newell – 6th Grade Reading Teacher – Arrival at school: 8:20 a.m.
o Woodson Leadership Academy PK-8, 8715 N. 22nd Street, Tampa 33624
▪ Principal: Ovett Wilson
• Samantha Hartman – First Grade Teacher – Arrival at school: 8:55 a.m.
o Mort Elementary School, 1806 East Bearss Avenue, Tampa 33616
▪ Principal: LaTiecea Hailey-Brown
• Miranda Harwood – Fourth Grade Teacher – Arrival at school: 10:45 a.m.
o Brooker Elementary School,812 Dewolf Road, Brandon 33511
▪ Principal: Julie Kelly
• Megan Thomas – Biology Teacher – Arrival at school: 11:45 a.m.
o Riverview High School,11311 Boyette Road, Riverview 33569
▪ Principal: Danielle Shotwell
If you cannot make it to the surprise location, please follow Hillsborough Education Foundation’s Twitter: twitter.com/Hillsedufnd and Hillsborough County Public Schools’ Twitter: twitter.com/HillsboroughSch to confirm the surprise has been completed before sharing the embargoed information publicly. Thank you for your understanding.
For more information about the 2020 Excellence in Education Awards, presented by Suncoast Credit Union, visit educationfoundation.com/excellence-in-education-awards.
About the Hillsborough Education Foundation
Established in 1987, the Hillsborough Education Foundation (HEF) is a nonprofit focused on strengthening public education by supporting teachers and empowering students to achieve academic and personal success. HEF’s resources and financial support enrich K–12 educational experiences by providing opportunities for all students, regardless of background or economic status. Together with our community partners, HEF strategically invests in initiatives that impact teaching quality and increase graduation rates, bolstering a thriving workforce of tomorrow and the sustainable prosperity of Tampa Bay. Learn more at educationfoundation.com.
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