Optimist Club honors area's Teachers of Year
BY BETTY ARCHER ALLEN Gulf Breeze News betty@gulfbreezenews.com

The major focus of the Feb. Gulf Breeze Optimist Club meeting was the presentation of the Teacher of the year awards for schools in the Gulf Breeze area.

The awards chairman was Bob Stratford who with the able assistance of Optimist president Marguerite Burr acted as Master of Ceremonies for the event.

The winners were presented a plaque and a check for $100. Karen Murray, Principal of Gulf Breeze Elementary presented Pat Davidson as the winner from her school.

Davidson teaches Physical Education which includes line dancing and wellness. She is primarily responsible for the success of the running club that was established at the elementary school.

Sherry Diamond Principal of Oriole Beach Elementary introduced Erin Tracy as the winner her school.

Tracy teaches the gifted children at Oriole Beach School. She was one of the three finalists for the Santa Rosa County Teacher of the Year!

Richard Cobb, Assistant Principal of Gulf Breeze Middle, announced Kate Walker as the winner from his school.

Walker teaches advanced language arts primarily to gifted students at the school.

Sylvan Ladner, Principal of Gulf Breeze High, introduced Eric C. Miles as the winner from his school.

Miles teaches Advanced Placement Government, Micro-Economics and Government/Economics.

He presently serves as GBHS varsity girls soccer coach and has led the team to the state championship series every year, including a state runner up finish in February. Miles coached boys JV for two years prior to taking the helm of the girls' varsity teams.

Conni Carnley, Principal, and Penny Duffey, winner of the Teachers Award, of Woodlawn Beach Middle School were unable to attend. Duffey teaches seventh grade language arts.

Following the awards Santa Rosa School District Superintendent John Rogers congratulated the winners and spoke on the importance of parents understanding the challenges that today's schools present.

He announced that each child in Santa Rosa County will be bringing home a DVD that is sponsored by the Florida Department of Education, the Florida PTA, and other Partners in Education of the state.

The purpose of this DVD is to help parents meet the challenges that today's schools presents in with the changes that technology, accountability expectations, and continuous improvement have made in education.