Local teachers recognized for excellence

Some days, for teachers, are better than others.

Dec. 16 was a good day for Valrico Elementary School teacher Amanda Newman and Seffner Elementary Exceptional Student Education specialist Cassandra E. Davis.

Both learned that morning that they are among the finalists for the Hillsborough Education Foundation's Teacher of the Year and Educator of the Year, respectively, sponsored by the Verizon Foundation.

In a county with some 14,000 teachers, that's a big deal.

The Surprise Patrol, made up of representatives from the education foundation and its sponsors, visited each of the 15 county finalists for this year's Ida S. Baker Educator of the Year, Instructional Support Employee of the Year and Teacher of the Year awards.

"I had no idea," Newman said after the Surprise Patrol trooped in to her second-grade classroom to give her the news and a bouquet of flowers. "I'm shaking. This is very exciting. I'm honored."

Valrico Principal Mary Knox had fabricated a story so Newman would know she would be having guests, but did not know of her finalist status.

"It's hard to narrow down one thing she does better than average," Assistant Principal Russell Wallace said. "Everything she does is above and beyond."

Newman is on the cutting edge of new programs, he said. And her students and peers love her.

Davis showed her surprise, too, as the entourage walked into a special education classroom where she was assisting.

"You got me," she said to Seffner Principal Liz Giles. "You really got me."

Giles said Davis is a stand-out in every way.

"She has so many different duties, providing services, working with teachers, writing education plans. She's the safety patrol sponsor and is highly motivated." On her off time, she's a band parent and an excellent cook, Giles said.

"How many things can you be good at?" Giles said. "She's good at all of them."

Winners for each Excellence in Education awards category will be announced during the 2011 ceremony, presented by the Verizon Foundation at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts Jan. 27.

Some 2,600 people are expected to attend the annual awards ceremony.

yhammett@tampatrib.com

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