Carrollwood's Teacher of the Year Finalists

This year's 2013 Teacher of the Year finalists were recently named. Two of the teachers hail from Claywell Elementary.

They are:

• Cindy Nuñez – Kindergarten Assistant at Claywell Elementary.
• Sharon S. Smith – EET Mentor; 1st Grade (Inclusion) at Claywell Elementary.

To see a full list of finalists go here: 2013 Teacher of the Year: A List of Finalist Contenders

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What To Know About Hillsborough's Teacher Of The Year Program

• The annual Teacher of the Year Award program starts with nominees at each of Hillsborough’s public schools, which leads to the selection of one top teacher at each school.

• In turn, those teachers become the nominees for the district’s list of finalists.

• “All schools in the district are invited to nominate one teacher at their site whom they feel is the most well-rounded and professional,” according to a notice posted on the Hillsborough Education Foundation website. “Finalists are selected by a district committee and individually interviewed. One winner is then selected for the prestigious honor of being named Hillsborough County’s Teacher of the Year.”

• The district’s top teacher goes on to compete for Florida State Teacher of the Year.

• The state’s top teacher then enters the national Teacher of the Year contest.

• Yolanda Whitehead Driskell, a teacher at Hillsborough High School, was named the 2012 Teacher of the Year.

• Cynthia Folsom Crim, a teacher at Palm River Elementary, was named the 2011 Teacher of the Year.

• Emily Marrero, a teacher at Philip Shore Elementary School, earned the honor in 2010.

• Cleveland Elementary School teacher Megan Allen in 2009 won not only Hillsborough’s Teacher of the Year award, but also advanced as a finalist in the National Teacher of the Year contest by earning the state’s top-teacher title.