TAMPA — Fourteen Hillsborough County school district employees have been named finalists for the 2016 Excellence in Education awards, including seven who are vying for Teacher of the Year.
The finalists were notified of the news in surprise visits at their school. The winners of the Instructional Support Employee of the Year, Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year and Teacher of the Year awards will be named at a March 23 banquet at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. Last year's teacher winner, Diane McKee, went on to become Florida's Teacher of the Year.
The Hillsborough's Teacher of the Year finalists for 2016:
• Jessica Addington, 37, Grade 5, Lockhart Elementary Magnet School
• Nicholas Catania, 28, Grade 5, Gorrie Elementary School
• Maria Gonzalez, 33, Spanish, Hillsborough High School
• Emily Porteus, 26, gifted math, Williams Middle Magnet
• Mary Beth Radigan, 62, Exceptional Student Education, Plant High School
• Dawn C. Rubin, 41, reading, Sligh Middle Magnet
• Gregory Verrill, 44, lead teacher, Lomax Elementary Magnet
The Ida S. Baker finalists:
• Sherri Alvarez, 42, writing resource teacher, DeSoto Elementary School
• Martha Cobb, 56, Exceptional Student Education, Graham Elementary School
• Angela McKinnon, 44, guidance counselor, Young Middle Magnet School
• Maybelly Pabon, English for speakers of other languages, Dickenson Elementary School
The Instructional Support Employee of the Year finalists:
• Wayne Moore, school security, Just Elementary
• Beth Roshaven, 45, secretary, Lomax Magnet Elementary
• Sharon Gilmore-Barton, 61, assistant teacher, Lennard High School
Contact Marlene Sokol at (813) 226-3356 or msokol@tampabay.com. Follow @marlenesokol
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