Pictured: Education Foundation of Sarasota County President Jennifer Vigne (left) with Sarasota Military Academy teacher Marissa Dobbert, 2020 Middle School Teacher of the Year

Three Sarasota County teachers were surprised Thursday, Nov. 14, when they were revealed as finalists for the district’s elementary, middle and high school 2020 Teacher of the Year honors. The 2020 finalists are: Heather Young, Venice Elementary School; Marissa Dobbert, Sarasota Military Academy Prep; Josh Grant, Venice High School.  One of the three finalists will be named the overall Sarasota County 2020 Teacher of the Year at the Education Foundation of Sarasota County’s Ignite Education Awards Celebration on Dec. 11 at The Westin Sarasota.The district Teacher of the Year will represent Sarasota County Schools at the Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year Program and will serve as a spokesperson for and representative of the teaching profession at various events throughout 2020.

The annual Teacher Tribute Tour team travels to each finalist’s school. This year’s team included Sarasota County Schools’ (SCS) Assistant Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer Laura Kingsley; SCS board members Jane Goodwin, Eric Robinson, and Caroline Zucker; Education Foundation of Sarasota County (EFSC) Board Chair Britt Riner, President Jennifer Vigne, and other EFSC board members; EFSC founder Shirley Ritchey; 2019 Teacher of the Year finalists Tessa Healy, Ashlee Middleton, and Shane Swezey; other representatives of the foundation and school district, sponsors and special guests. The team congratulated finalists as their families, students, principals and fellow teachers joined the surprise tributes.

Pictured: Education Foundation of Sarasota County President Jennifer Vigne (left) with Sarasota Military Academy teacher Marissa Dobbert, 2020 Middle School Teacher of the Year