Volusia County Schools announces finalists for Teacher of the Year.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News 

Dr. Carmen Balgobin, Superintendent of Volusia County Schools, and the school board surprised five teacher nominees with the news of their selection as finalists for Volusia County School District’s Teacher of the Year.

According to a release, a full committee comprised of parents, business owners, community members, teachers, and administrators, selects the five finalists. Another sub-committee ranks the finalists after observing them in their classrooms and conducting individual interviews.

The five finalists for the 2023-2024 school year are:

• Dodi Gaines, Facilitator Cambridge AICE, Seabreeze High School

• Tamika Harvard, Math Coach, Westside Elementary School

• Valerie Marcus, Fifth Grade Teacher, DeBary Elementary School

• Vonda Morris, Probability & Statistics / AP Statistics Teacher, Spruce Creek High School

• Cassandra Stewart, Media Specialist, R.J. Longstreet Elementary School

Each school nominates a teacher who completes an application to vie for the district title. The winner’s name is kept confidential until the announcement at a celebration in January.

The Volusia County Schools Teacher of the Year title winner will be nominated for the state Teacher of the Year program and serves as Volusia’s representative of quality education. Madison Miller is the current Teacher of the Year for Volusia County Schools. She is now an Assistant Principal at Palm Terrace Elementary School.