Two graduates of the University of South Florida (USF) College of Education were recently named teacher of the year in the university’s partner school districts.
Both recipients will serve as their school district’s nominee for the Florida Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year Program later this year.
“We are incredibly proud of our College of Education alumni who are recognized as Teacher of the Year in their school districts,” said R. Anthony Rolle, PhD, dean of the USF College of Education. “The accolades our alumni continue to receive for their work are a testament to the staying power of the College of Education and our graduates in K-12 schools across the Tampa Bay region and beyond.”
Laura Widerberg, Science Education `99 | Credit: Hillsborough County Public Schools
Laura Widerberg, Science Education `99
USF alumna Laura Widerberg, Science Education `99, was named Hillsborough County Public Schools’ 2022 Teacher of the Year in January. Widerberg is a biology teacher at Armwood High School in Tampa and has worked for the school district for 16 years. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she has also participated in programs including the Amgen Biotech Experience and STEMposium.
Jennifer Jaso, MAT `06 | Credit: Education Foundation of Sarasota County
Jennifer Jaso, MAT `06
USF alumna Jennifer Jaso, MAT `06, was named Sarasota County Schools’ 2022 Teacher of the Year in December. Jaso is a graduate of USF’s Master of Arts in Teaching in Social Science Education and later went on to earn her Doctor of Education from Argosy University. She currently teaches social studies and critical thinking teacher at Sarasota Middle School.
Several College of Education graduates were also nominated as finalists for their district’s Teacher of the Year awards, including:
- Melissa Bondoc, Elementary Education `05, was named a finalist for Teacher of the Year in Hillsborough County Public Schools. Bondoc is a second-grade teacher at Summerfield Elementary School in Riverview, Fla.
- Christian Davis, Elementary Education `00, was nominated as a finalist for Teacher of the Year in the School District of Manatee County. Davis is a STEM Teacher at Sea Breeze Elementary School in Bradenton, Fla.
- Robynn Hamrick, Elementary Education `03, was named a District Two Teacher of the Year Finalist in Polk County Schools. Hamrick is a kindergarten teacher at Davenport Elementary School in Davenport, Fla.
- Lorna Kelley, MS `15, was named a finalist for Teacher of the Year in Pinellas County Schools. Kelley is a math teacher at Tyrone Middle School in St. Petersburg, Fla.
- Sonya Kelly, Elementary Education `09, was named a finalist for Teacher of the Year in Hillsborough County Public Schools. Kelly is a third-grade teacher at Tampa Palms Elementary School.
- Jennifer Price, MAT `15, was named a finalist for Teacher of the Year in Hillsborough County Public Schools. Price is a fifth-grade teacher at Lanier Elementary School in Tampa.
- Kailyn Reynolds-Keller, Physical Education `14, was named a District Five finalist for Teacher of the Year in Polk County Schools. Reynolds-Keller is a PE teacher at R. Clem Churchwell Elementary in Lakeland, Fla.
- Sarah Swoch, MA `12, was named a finalist for Teacher of the Year in Pinellas County Schools. Swoch is a science teacher at Pinellas Park Middle School in Pinellas Park, Fla.
- Melissa Walls, Early Childhood Education `00 & MA `01, was named a finalist for Teacher of the Year in Pinellas County Schools. Walls is a third-grade teacher at Safety Harbor Elementary School in Safety Harbor, Fla.
- Trista Willard, Elementary Education `14, was named a finalist for Teacher of the Year in Hillsborough County Public Schools. Willard is a third-grade teacher at Mendenhall Elementary School in Tampa.