Teacher honored 3rd time

When her classroom door opened and the stream of visitors filed in, Jene Bell thought they had come to observe her teaching style.

But then she saw someone bearing balloons and flowers.

"I was like, uh oh, is this what I think it is?" she said.

The "Surprise Patrol" had arrived.

Bell, an English teacher at Chamberlain High School, was among 15 educators the Hillsborough Education Foundation shocked last week with announcements that they were finalists for the foundation's excellence in education awards. Teams popped into classrooms with cameras to tell teachers and support employees they were the top in Hillsborough County.

From those 15, the foundation will name the Teacher of the Year, the Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year and the Instructional Support Employee of the Year at a ceremony Jan. 28.

More than 200 public schools submitted nominees for the awards, and the district helped whittle down the submissions to five finalists in each of the three categories. The Baker award, named for the first black woman to serve as a high school principal in Lee County, recognizes teachers who promote diversity and encourage students' academic success.

Bell is one of the Baker finalists. She is in her seventh year at Chamberlain, and she had been nominated two other times for the Baker award.

"We're proud to have Chamberlain in the running," said School Board member Jack Lamb, who attended the announcement.

Bell, 38, said she emphasizes in her classes that all students can learn, regardless of their ethnicity, religion or socioeconomic status. She shares her experiences of moving to Florida from Los Angeles and likes to build on "teachable moments" when the teens bring up something they want to discuss.

She lives and teaches by the Golden Rule and encourages students to treat others the way they want to be treated. She said she tries not to show favoritism and wants students to be respectful of their differences.

The other Baker finalists are Kimberly Duran of Foster Elementary, Japera Helene Hodges of Witter Elementary, Michael Oliver of Youth Services and Karen Willis-Barrett of Greco Middle.

The teacher of the year candidates are Crystal Dukes of Freedom High, Ryan Kinser of Turkey Creek Middle, Emily Marrero of Philip Shore Elementary, Marcy Ringdahl of Alafia Elementary and Holly Sinclair of Gorrie Elementary.

Instructional support employee of the year finalists are Susan Marie Blackmon, Oak Park Elementary; Julie Harris, Broward Elementary; Suzie Morse, Chiles Elementary; Valerie Pearce, LaVoy Exceptional Center; and Kelly Jean Zelaya, Stewart Middle Magnet.