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.
Sydney Nowling was surprised at Jay Elementary by Superintendent Karen Barber on June 2nd and announced as the 2021 Santa Rosa Rookie of the Year. Ms. Nowling was presented with a monetary award from the Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Congratulations to Sydney!
Introducing our 2021 Santa Rosa Rookie of the Year Nominees!
Avalon Middle, George Starkie
Bagdad Elementary, Ashley Down
Berryhill Elementary, Micaela Shrum
Central, Christopher Trantham
Chumuckla Elementary, Brittney Watson
Dillon Center, Olivia Rosol
Dixon Intermediate, Kristin Hyche
Dixon Primary, Lisa Haglund
East Milton Elementary, Courtney Sandidge
Gulf Breeze Elementary, Aimee Farley
Gulf Breeze High, Katharine Vanosdall
Gulf Breeze Middle, Andrew French
Hobbs Middle, Macy Gladu
Holley-Navarre Intermediate, Bobbi Chapman
Holley-Navarre Middle, Janet Warnock
Holley-Navarre Primary, Kara Byers
Jackson Pre-Kindergarten, Sharon Benware
Jay Elementary, Sydney Nowling
Jay High, Hannah Laney
King Middle, Devin Constant
Locklin Technical College, Roni Boomer
Milton High, Jeremy Ruffin
Navarre High, Lauren Barnard
Oriole Beach Elementary, Elizabeth Hill
Pace High, Jennifer Cumbie
Pea Ridge Elementary, Amanda Vasquez
Rhodes Elementary, Kristen Chaney
Russell Elementary, Angela Earl
Santa Rosa High/Adult, Melany King
Santa Rosa Online Academy, Kelli Swim
Sims Middle, Sarah Widener
West Navarre Intermediate, Emily Noyes
West Navarre Primary, Angela Covert
Woodlawn Beach Middle, Travis Baune
