Who are the best school teachers in Manatee County? See the finalists for 2023 awards
The Manatee County School District has chosen its finalists for educator of the year and support staff of the year in Manatee County.
The Educator of the Year 2023 award winner will be nominated for the Florida Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year program.
The winner of the support role will advance to the Florida School-Related Employee of the Year program.
Last year, Deelah Jackson, a fourth-grade teacher at Samoset Elementary School, earned the county’s educator of the year award.
Jackson has gone on to be honored as one of the 74 best teachers in the state.
Here are the eight finalists selected for educator of the year and support staff of the year:
Educator of the year finalists
• Tiffany Barrett-Greer, 2nd Grade Teacher at Braden River Elementary School
• Kendall Carrier, Director of Bands (Music Teacher) at Parrish Community High School
• Michelle Dowell, Biomedical Science Teacher at Palmetto High School
• Kelly Smith-Williams, Anatomy and Physiology Teacher at Lakewood Ranch High School
Support employee of the year finalists
• Gena Case, guidance clerk at Myakka City Elementary School
• Brianna Hall, clerical assistant at Lincoln Memorial Middle School
• Marisol Hernandez, school secretary at Braden River High School
• Latisha Jones, guidance clerk at Southeast High School
The winners will be announced at 7 p.m. Feb. 7 during the Excellence in Education Awards, held at Parrish Community High School.
