Pate top SRC teacher

Edward Pate (center) beams after Santa Rosa Schools Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick (right) surprised him Friday morning with the news of his selection as county teacher of the year. Gulf Breeze High School Principal Sylvan Ladner looks on. Joe Culpepper/Gulf Breeze News Attorney Edward Pate left the hustle and bustle of New York City a decade ago for a career change and slower lifestyle in the South.

But there still are times when he’s reminded of his 15 years in the Big Apple.

“When I step into the hallways here between classes, it’s like being in a New York subway,” Pate chuckled last Friday. “I still have skills getting around the hallways that the kids don’t have.”

Pate’s good humor came Jan. 29 shortly after he learned of his selection as Santa Rosa County Teacher of the Year for 2010. Members of the Santa Rosa Education Foundation (SREF), the Santa Rosa School Board and Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick surprised Pate in his classroom. Pate, a former attorney, now teaches English III and dualenrollment English at GBHS and will represent Santa Rosa County in the state Teacher of the Year competition this spring.

Beth Lees, last year’s Santa Rosa County Teacher of the Year, congratuates Ed Pate for his 2010 selection. Joe Culpepper/GBN Pate was all smiles as visitors and the media descended onto his first-period class for the surprise announcement.

“This has been an amazing process,” he said. “Thank you! It’s not always easy to do what you love, but moments like this make all the sacrifices worth it.”

Pate emerged as Teacher of the Year from a field of 34 teachers representing more than 1,000 educators in the county. He and Gulf Breeze Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Chloe Vignes were finalists along with Sherri Ward of Russell Elementary in Milton.

Fenner Pate and each school’s outstanding teacher will be honored Feb. 26 during the SREF’s Golden Apple Banquet at New World Landing.

Wyrosdick said the selection committee studied Pate’s teaching qualities “like six ways from Sunday.” Pate was observed at work in his classroom, and colleagues including administrators and fellow teachers were interviewed.

“The committee appreciated what he does and how he does it,” Wyrosdick said. “He represents us well. He’s someone we all want to emulate.”

Pate was humbled by his selection.

“I was hoping the committee would see and hear what they needed during the evaluation process,” he said. “I’m very glad they selected me. I’m very much looking forward to going into the next phase with this and representing Santa Rosa County at state.”

Pate’s selection also is a significant honor for Gulf Breeze High, Principal Sylvan Ladner said.

“We’ve had three or four teachers of the year in the past,” Ladner said. “It’s always an honor to have the teacher of the year at your school. Ed is a tremendous teacher. He has such an influence on the students and the faculty as a whole. We love having him here, and we are certainly proud of him. It’s a great honor for him and us.”

Pate also coaches the school’s boys golf team. He led the Dolphins to the district championship, and the squad produced a college signee under Pate’s tutelage.

Pate garnered much student support when the selection process began last fall. His English III class whooped with joy as the announcement was made.

“He’s a very outgoing teacher,” said student Angelina Fenner, 16. “He does have his rules, but he interacts very well with the students. He listens to and respects our points of view. If we need help, he’s always there.

“We write a lot of papers, but we know it will help us in the long run. It’s a lot of fun being in his class.”