Davis Named Sarasota County Teacher of the Year

SARASOTA, FL – A veteran of 15 years in education was named the Sarasota County Teacher of the Year for 2016-17 on March 22.

Khea Davis, a language arts teacher at Booker High School in Sarasota, was selected from one of the three finalists at the annual awards ceremony honoring educators at Michael’s On East. Kristina Beecher of Woodland Middle School and Rolf Hanson of Bay Haven School of Basics Plus were the runners-up for the county award. The individual Teachers of the Year from each school in the district were also recognized at the ceremony.

Davis will represent Sarasota County Schools for the Florida Department of Education-Macy’s Teacher of the Year program. She will also serve as a spokesperson for and representative of the teaching profession at events throughout the 2016-17 school year.

A loving teacher, Davis refers to her students as “her babies.”

“When I see your babies, I see my babies (her two sons, Kaleb, 15, and Jaylen, 10),” she said she tells parents. “I want to be the kind of teacher I want my sons to have.”

Davis has taught reading, writing and literature at Booker High School since she joined the Sarasota County School District in August 2014. She is the faculty sponsor of the Black History Club, serves as a mentor to new teachers, and is a member of the school’s Literacy Leaders Team.

“Booker is a special place,” she said. “You walk on the campus and you feel the love.”

During her remarks, she thanked Sarasota County and Superintendent Lori White.

“I’d also like to thank my principal, my mentor, Dr. Rachel Shelley,” Davis said. “I want to be like her when I grow up.”

Davis has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Florida State University and a master’s degree in education curriculum and instruction from the University of Phoenix in Plantation, Fla.

Before making her way to Sarasota County, Davis taught at Carlos E. Haile Middle School in Bradenton from 2012 to 2014 and at City of Pembroke Pines Charter High School in Pembroke Pines from 2001 to 2012. She was a teacher trainer for the Broward Teachers Union and Broward County Schools for five years.

The Sarasota County Schools Teacher of the Year Program is presented by Publix Super Markets Charities, and is co-produced by the Sarasota County School District and the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. The program is also supported financially by community partners.

For winning, Davis will receive $2,500 from Sunset Automotive Group, while Beecher and Hanson will each receive $1,250 from the dealership.

Sarasota County Schools Teachers of the Year

The following is a list of the individual Teachers of the Year from each School in Sarasota County:

Alta Vista Elementary School: Kimberly Morris, Grade 1

Ashton Elementary School: Sandra Ahles, Grade 4

Atwater Elementary School: Daniela Gerdon, Grade 1 AWC

Bay Haven Elementary School: Rolf Hanson, Science Lab

Booker High School: Khea Davis, English

Booker Middle School: Gregory Nielsen, Band

Brentwood Elementary School: Noelle Karcz, Grade 3

Brookside Middle School: Brenda Fuoco, Algebra I/Honors

Cranberry Elementary School: Stacey Embury, Grade 2

Emma E. Booker Elementary School: Laurice R. Bartley, Grade 2-3 ESE

Englewood Elementary School: Meredith Kellie Malik, Kindergarten

Fruitville Elementary School: Katie Schunk, Grade 4/5

Garden Elementary School: Brandi Welge, Kindergarten

Glenallen Elementary School: Tracy King Rainey, Science Lab

Gocio Elementary School: Amy Baldwin, Grade 5

Gulf Gate Elementary School: Margaret M. Seul, ESE Resource

Heron Creek Middle School: Sarah Cooper, Orchestra

Lakeview Elementary School: Lauren Piatt, Counselor

Lamarque Elementary School: Robyn Demoulin, Grade 3

Laurel Nokomis School: Jeremy Fant, Science

McIntosh Middle School: Tracy Y. Wilson, Science

North Port High School: Karyn E. Strauss, Chemistry

Oak Park School: Josephy M. Craycraft, ESE 8-12+

Phillippi Shores Elementary School: Elizabeth M. Hofmann, Grade 5/ELA

Pine View Schoo: Judy Black, French III, AP

Riverview High School: James Nina, Reading/Testing

Sarasota High School: Christine Niederpruem, English 4 Honors

Sarasota Middle School: Tamara K. Lewis, Band

Southside Elementary School: Valerie Zimath, Kindergarten

Suncoast Polytechnical High School: Melanie Ferris, Economics, Government, History

Suncoast Technical College: Kellie Carroll, Cosmetology

Tatum Ridge Elementary School: Rachel M. Chappell, Grade 3

Taylor Ranch Elementary School: Tracey Michelle Cardenas, Kindergarten

Toledo Blade Elementary School: Marguerite R. Costanzo, Physical Education

Tuttle Elementary School: Tunde Olson, Reading

Venice Elementary School: Sam Rutherford, Kindergarten

Venice High School: Robert Lash, Math

Venice Middle School: Susan Maas-Lyon, Social Studies

Wilkinson Elementary School: Melissa Jeffrey, Pre-K, VE/ESE

Woodland Middle School: Kristina Beecher, Technology Education

Images via Sarasota County Schools

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