Zele, who teaches math at Azalea Middle School in St. Petersburg, was given a hero's welcome when he arrived at the front of the school by limousine on Thursday, following the award ceremony at the Mahaffey Theater Wednesday night when he was surprised with the award.
Adam Zele is crowned as Pinellas Teacher of the Year to applause and cheers. ANGELICA EDWARDS | Times
Adam Zele reacts with his former student, Julia Mara, a student at St. Petersburg High, as he is crowned the 2022-23 Pinellas County Schools Teacher of the Year. ANGELICA EDWARDS | Times
Adam Zele speaks after he is crowned the 2022-23 Pinellas County Schools Teacher of the Year. ANGELICA EDWARDS | Times
Students hold up signs welcoming Adam Zele, a math teacher at Azalea Middle School in St. Petersburg, as he arrives on campus in a limousine the morning after being crowned the 2022-23 Pinellas County Schools Teacher of the Year. ANGELICA EDWARDS | Times
Adam Zele steps out of the limousine to a big welcome by students and staff at Azalea Middle School. ANGELICA EDWARDS | Times
This gallery continues below...
Advertisement
Students crowd around Zele as they celebrate his being crowned the 2022-23 Pinellas County Schools Teacher of the Year. ANGELICA EDWARDS | Times
Adam Zele, a math teacher at Azalea Middle School, tears up while being welcomed on campus. ANGELICA EDWARDS | Times
Zele enters the school to a hero's welcome. ANGELICA EDWARDS | Times
Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Kevin Hendrick speaks during the Evening of Excellence event by the Pinellas Education Foundation before announcing the Teacher of the Year at the Mahaffey Theater on Feb. 8, 2023, in St.Petersburg. ANGELICA EDWARDS | Times
Adam Zele, a math teacher at Azalea Middle School, speaks after he is crowned the 2022-23 Pinellas County Schools Teacher of the Year. He now is eligible to compete for the statewide honor. ANGELICA EDWARDS | Times
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/3HKEO4VXZFEWRCY2FPUXLIRYYE.JPG "Adam Zele is crowned as Pinellas Teacher of the Year to applause and cheers.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/V4YGNQVCHFEQZCPLSJKUTJ534Y.JPG "Adam Zele reacts with his former student, Julia Mara, a student at St. Petersburg High, as he is crowned the 2022-23 Pinellas County Schools Teacher of the Year.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/PGRHLJZDIFB2TCWGQMLP4RGNQE.JPG "Adam Zele speaks after he is crowned the 2022-23 Pinellas County Schools Teacher of the Year.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/FIJI5ELQE5EGBHQRDCJPF4AOFM.JPG "Students hold up signs welcoming Adam Zele, a math teacher at Azalea Middle School in St. Petersburg, as he arrives on campus in a limousine the morning after being crowned the 2022-23 Pinellas County Schools Teacher of the Year.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/M542IUPW4JB73BTRUKJ7QF4RZQ.JPG "Adam Zele steps out of the limousine to a big welcome by students and staff at Azalea Middle School.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/Y7GHZM2S5BBBBGFTI7KP6DVNAI.JPG "Students crowd around Zele as they celebrate his being crowned the 2022-23 Pinellas County Schools Teacher of the Year.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/FEMEJ27Q5VEDLP622YK77ETVCI.JPG "Adam Zele, a math teacher at Azalea Middle School, tears up while being welcomed on campus.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/RJLKSK5NDFEC5CWKMGAB4VIWUQ.JPG "Zele enters the school to a hero's welcome.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/T45GJ3JWYBAMBACPTFXSSCKP3A.JPG "Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Kevin Hendrick speaks during the Evening of Excellence event by the Pinellas Education Foundation before announcing the Teacher of the Year at the Mahaffey Theater on Feb. 8, 2023, in St.Petersburg.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/BNDS6K3WIRES5MWSTCAPUQXYAQ.JPG "Adam Zele, a math teacher at Azalea Middle School, speaks after he is crowned the 2022-23 Pinellas County Schools Teacher of the Year. He now is eligible to compete for the statewide honor.")
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/4e3062b5-221f-4868-97ca-6fcbd83ea42c.png "Angelica Edwards - Photographer")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/Cre8y70W1wIwdzm5SZACVox-FpA=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/MDVGH7O2FJBDBGDM3XDV6334CE.jpg "What happened when a St. Petersburg mom saw violence at her son’s middle school")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/EkYPiM0GAPWRnZyy_IRiasvZpaw=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/6LGEF3A3ZOJMZ3SAF2BGB7PP4A.jpg "New College can pay Interim President Richard Corcoran through June. Then what?")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/GXvfQc_9vJeyIiKvLLJIiv1qb7M=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/NYH3XCVTVZAUNKUUELOVCSJEXA.jpeg "Florida lawmakers target personal pronoun use in schools")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/OAbxSRqaq_1mqwjc1vaxJOIW11Q=/fit-in/1200x675/smart/filters:fill(000)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/WFLDAE4RBFB2LIDIB2ERGFJSKI.jpg "Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg announces new executive director and CEO")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/gtXzzTt0s8RwUzlRaw5nXf6gdPk=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/H5LKIRUT3JH2XAYBQLKGDLYCK4.jpg "2 Pinellas assisted living workers arrested, accused of battery on residents")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/RHMJBz_idWg24Xj1ByDOCvizM6s=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/YFFJPOG5VJFITEFV6NUFCV3GAQ.jpg "Lawmakers push for return to elected superintendent for Hernando schools")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/rWuZbOKQrETHx9m7kCCppxNmtnc=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/46W42Q34QJDGLGW3MV7RWL3KV4.jpg "Largo music teacher died during the pandemic. Next weekend, she’ll be remembered.")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/DIUp2MST9738tqULEgO-6EmYY3I=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/6IVZ2TPKQFEF5GR7KRMJ236MN4.JPG "Here are the Pinellas County municipal election results")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/J-1RX3NKjWdEK9aL7OduQE9Xz_M=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/6UN2MAGJOUI6TMRBPAY4DVT77I.jpg "Florida school districts see superintendent shifts, with more coming")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/Bx6X0CAGwM2Vg9cRVRYbQxQkQ8U=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/3CSGRMSNMVDT5IPB3NK4XMD5HQ.jpg "With a thumbs up and fist pump, Pinellas K-9 deputy shot by suspect leaves hospital")