USF College of Education Well-Represented at the Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year Finals

TAMPA (February 23, 2006) -The USF College of Education was proud to have two Alumni and two current students qualify as finalists for the Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year. Ten finalists from around the County were chosen and the Teacher of the Year was announced on Thursday, February 23, 2006 at the Tampa Convention Center. Being a part of the top ten is a true accomplishment and we commend our graduates and students for the work they are doing in the field. Below is a summary of the College of Education representatives who were in the top ten. The Teacher of the Year honor went to Susan L. Mikolajczyk of Westchase Elementary School. As part of her prize package, "Mrs. Mik" received a $2,000 USF College of Education Scholarship.

USF COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ALUMNI

Robert Lionel Jones

Northwest Elementary School

Jones received his master’s degree in Educational Leadership in 2005. He has been at Northwest for nine years and has spearheaded a project there utilizing the schools wetlands through teacher training, obtaining grants, and community outreach. Jones participates in the Dads’ Club, engaging male role models in projects around the school; he is a member of the Shamrock Krewe, and he participates in volunteer work with Project Teddy Bear and the Shriner’s Hospital.

Tecca Kilmer-Almskog

Turkey Creek Middle School

Kilmer-Alskog earned her master’s degree in Adapted Physical Education and began teaching in 1995 at Turkey Creek. She has created innovative programs such as Olympic Day, FIT – Families Involved Together, and an annual health fair at her school. Kilmer-Alskog is also involved with organizations such as Jump Rope for Heart, Best Buddies, and Special Olympics. She has done a tremendous amount of work with her school and was instrumental in revamping the physical education curriculum at Turkey Creek. This has gained the school national recognition as one of 23 schools in the nation known as STARS schools, which display excellence in physical education.

USF COLLEGE OF EDUCATION CURRENT STUDENTS

Jennifer C. McCrystal

Valrico Elementary School

McCrystal will complete her master’s degree in Educational Leadership in May 2006. She has taught in Florida for 14 years, including the past eight in Valrico. McCrystal is a district trainer for the Elementary Language Arts department and has created The Friendship Company to help students build strong character, cooperative learning, and service to mankind everyday life.  McCrystal also does volunteer work by organizing various drives for the needy. She is a member of her school’s leadership team, a peer mentor, and she also co-authored a book chapter for a textbook on classroom teaching written by graduate students.

Paulette R. English

Hunter's Green Elementary

English is currently enrolled in the College of Education’s Educational Leadership program seeking an M. Ed. She has been teaching for 22 years, the last eight of which she has spent as a kindergarten teacher at Hunter’s Green Elementary School. English is a National Board Certified Teacher and she created a program called “Kinderchorus” which teaches Pre-K, preschool, and kindergarten ESE students to learn reading and math skills though music and creative movement. Ms. English is committed to community and parent support; last year alone she had parents volunteer over 500 hours in her classroom.

For more information contact the College of Education's Communications Director.