KEY LARGO SCHOOL TEACHER RECEIVES STATE EDUCATION AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

KEY LARGO SCHOOL TEACHER RECEIVES STATE EDUCATION AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

KEY LARGO, Fla. – Florida Department of Education officials presented Key Largo School’s Samantha Hopper the Mary J. Brogan ‘Excellence in Teaching’ award at the FLDOE Teacher of the Year Roundtable. Ms. Hopper has been an educator for six years, teaching fourth grade at KLS.

The ‘Excellence in Teaching’ award goes to “extraordinary educators who instill passion, joy and love of learning in their students.” FLDOE officials reported, the award goes to a district teacher of the year who goes above and beyond the classroom experience.

Ms. Hopper said the time spent at the 2018 Teacher of the Year Roundtable promoted collaboration. “The roundtable allows for passionate teachers to collaborate with more passionate teachers from all over our great state. It is an opportunity to be inspired by others, ask questions, celebrate successes, and plan for our future students and future endeavors in education. It is an opportunity to learn from each other and start to think about how teacher leaders can have a positive impact on students beyond our own classrooms.”

She said the biggest takeaway for her focused on the effect she could have on her students and their teaching and learning environment. “My mindset has shifted from not only thinking about the students in my class, but to also think about all of “our” students. I hope to inspire and learn from more great teachers in our district and around our state with continued student achievement and success at the heart of everything I do. I would like to impact as many students as I can by being a mentor to new teachers, by constantly seeking out ways to improve my own practice (including participating in a coaching opportunity at the start of this year with the DOE and TNTP), collaborating with great teachers in our county and in Florida, observing as many teachers as possible, and welcoming teachers into my own classroom at any time.”

Ms. Hopper joined 73 teachers out of the 195,000 teachers in the state as Monroe County’s District Teacher of the Year. The teachers had a chance to participate in workshops, network with Florida Department of Education officials like Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart, and attend an awards gala.

“It is great to see one of our best recognized in this way at the state level.  Samantha represents so many other outstanding teachers in the Monroe County Schools.  We are pleased and proud of her accomplishments,” Superintendent Mark Porter stated.

The Monroe County School District serves approximately 8,600 students throughout the upper, middle, lower keys, and Key West.  The accredited school district consists of 10 public schools, six charter schools, as well as alternative and virtual programs. For more information about the district’s vision and mission, visit www.keysschools.com. Follow us on Facebook @MYMCSD, and follow the Superintendent on Twitter @supt_porter, for Monroe County School District updates.

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