By Wes Locher
The Star, Port St. Joe
Posted Dec. 23, 2015 at 8:18 AM
Updated Dec 23, 2015 at 8:49 AM
She never saw it coming, at least not for the holidays.
In a surprise ceremony held last week Gulf District Schools
named Wewahitchka Elementary School’s Anita Askew as Gulf
District’s Teacher of the Year.
Members of the school board accompanied by friends and family
descended on the sixth-grade teacher’s classroom to deliver the
good news and a bouquet of flowers.
“Thank you so much,” Askew told the unexpected visitors, clearly
surprised to be recognized as Teacher of the Year for a second
time. “It’s an honor to be a teacher. It’s something my heart
called me to. I appreciate it so much.”
Superintendent of Schools Jim Norton and WES principal Tracy
Bowers, the Teacher of the Year two years ago, shared thoughts
on what made Askew the perfect choice.
“(Askew) has the natural gifts that any great teacher
possesses,” Bowers said. “She comes to work each day with a
passion and she’s an asset to Wewahitchka Elementary. She’s a
blessing.”
In addition to receiving a stipend for her hard work and
dedication, the teacher will meet Gov. Rick Scott at a ceremony
held in the new year.
The Teacher of the Year award recognizes those faculty members
who go above and beyond the call of duty as nominated by their
peers. From the four nominees the final decision was made by an
outside council which reviewed each teacher’s accomplishments.
“We have an outside council that interviews the nominated
teachers and out of that lot comes one winner,” Bowers said.
“It’s probably not an easy process.”
Nominated for the award at Wewahitchka Jr./Sr. High School was
Misty Wood.
“As a colleague for many years, and more recently as her
supervisor, I have had the opportunity to watch Misty grow into
a fantastic instructor,” said WHS principal Jay Bidwell. “Misty,
though young, is already quite an accomplished teacher and it is
my belief that she will go down as one of our all-time greats.”
First-grade instructor Shelly Oliver was nominated from Port St.
Joe Elementary School.
“Shelly is an awesome first grade teacher,” said PSJES principal
Sandra Cook. “She provides structure to each child’s life while
loving each and every one of them. She is very committed to
providing the best education she can every day to our children.
“She’s one of the first teachers here every morning and one of
the last to leave in the afternoon.”
At Port St. Joe Jr./Sr. High School NJROTC instructor Marty
Jarosz was nominated for the title.
“Marty is an extraordinary teacher and even a
better individual,” said PSJHS principal Duane McFarland. “His
leadership and expertise has resulted in his NJROTC cadets
receiving outstanding ratings every year.
“His energy and passion is infectious and everyone in the
building respects and appreciates what he brings to Port St. Joe
High School every day.”
*Non-Instructional Employee of the Year*
Also bestowed last week was the title of School-related Employee
of the Year which went to paraprofessional Chelsey Ardire at
Wewahitchka Elementary School.
“You represent the whole district and you will represent
School-related Employee of the Year for the state competition,”
Norton said. “This is a tremendous honor.”
Other nominees for up for the title were Doreen Mork at PSJES,
Karen Taylor at PSJHS, Brandie Fee at WHS, Woody Borders in the
maintenance and transportation department and Kathy Thomas in
the instructional services/school board office.
By Wes Locher
The Star, Port St. Joe
Posted Dec. 23, 2015 at 8:18 AM
Updated Dec 23, 2015 at 8:49 AM