Teacher retention and recruitment are vital to a quality education system. According to a 2003 study by the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future, after just five years, between 40 and 50 percent of all beginning teachers have left the profession. We need to make sure that new teachers receive mentoring, support and recognition during their early years as educators.
Each spring, the Santa Rosa Education Foundation invites every school in the Santa Rosa School District to nominate one teacher for the Rookie of the Year award. Any classroom teacher in his/her third year or less of teaching is eligible for this award. This includes total teaching experience, not just in Santa Rosa public schools. The Santa Rosa Education Foundation’s Rookie of the Year committee reviews all applications and selects one outstanding nominee as the Santa Rosa Rookie of the Year. The Santa Rosa Rookie of the Year receives a monetary award from the Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation at our annual Rookie of the Year Reception.
Congratulations to our 2020 Santa Rosa Rookies of the Year !
Avalon Middle, Joseph Pritchard
Bagdad Elementary, Hayley Heuiser
Berryhill Elementary, Katherine Carnley
Central, Christopher Trantham
Chumuckla Elementary, Christopher Hearn
Dillon Center, Brittany Canham
Dixon Intermediate, Ashley Drinkard
Dixon Primary, Joshua Kelly
East Milton Elementary, Whitney Kries
Gulf Breeze Elementary, Ashley Lombardo
Gulf Breeze High, Keith Nelson
Gulf Breeze Middle, Danielle Djikanovic
Hobbs Middle, Amy Zigler
Holley-Navarre Intermediate, Ashley Bellinger
Holley-Navarre Middle, Teddi Atteberry
Holley-Navarre Primary, Teresa Russell
Jackson Pre-Kindergarten, Sharon Benware
Jay Elementary, Bayleigh Upton
Jay High, David Belanger
King Middle, Eula Early
Locklin Technical College, Ashley Corlies
Milton High, Mary Pryor
Navarre High, Kaitlyn Johnson
Oriole Beach Elementary, Katherine Borden
Pace High, Erica Ortiz
Pea Ridge Elementary, Stephanie Reaser
Rhodes Elementary, Tabitha McCray
Russell Elementary, Jenna Murchison
Santa Rosa High/Adult, Melany King
Santa Rosa Online Academy, Rachel Shoemaker
Sims Middle, Jordan Bray
West Navarre Intermediate, Stephanie Vaghy
West Navarre Primary, Emily Harrington
Woodlawn Beach Middle, Samantha Welsh
Unfortunately, due to current circumstances, we will not select a Santa Rosa Rookie of the Year 2020 or host a district-wide reception. Principals will present Santa Rosa Education Foundation awards to each individual Rookie of the Year in early May.
