County celebrates excellence in education

Hillsborough County Public Schools and the Hillsborough Education Foundation honored three teachers Thursday night during the inaugural Excellence in Education Awards.

Karen Willis-Barrett of Greco Middle School, 6925 East Fowler Ave., won the Ida S. Baker diversity educator of the year award. Kelly Jean Zelaya of Stewart Middle Magnet School, 1125 Spruce St., was named instructional support employee of the year.

The district's teacher of the year is Emily Marrero of Philip Shore Elementary Magnet School, 1908 E. Second Ave. in Ybor City.

Organizers also recognized the 700 teachers - one from every school in the district - who were nominated for the awards.

This is the first year the event encompassed all three awards and also the first time such a ceremony for educators was held at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts Center.

"Our audience is about three times the size it normally is," Melinda Dale of the education foundation said.

Handing out the awards on the same evening was a way to "show how everybody works together" to educate students, Dale said.

Students in the culinary arts program at Sickles and Wharton high schools catered the reception. Others from Blake, Chamberlain and Gaither high schools and Orange Grove Middle School provided a drum line and jazz band, dance troupe and choir performances.

The 15 finalists for the three awards were:

•Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year - Jene Bell, Chamberlain High; Kimberly Duran, Foster Elementary; Japera Helene Hodges, Witter Elementary; Michael Oliver, Youth Services; and Karen Willis-Barrett, Greco Middle.

•Instructional Support Employee of the Year - 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.

•Teacher of the Year - Crystal Dukes, Freedom High; Ryan Kinser, Turkey Creek Middle; Emily Marrero, Philip Shore Elementary; Marcy Ringdahl, Alafia Elementary; and Holly Sinclair, Gorrie Elementary.