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 2019 Santa Rosa Rookie of the Year Nominees!
Avalon Middle, Julian Glover
Bagdad Elementary, Tina Bates
Berryhill Elementary, Toniann Handley
Central, Christal Bennett
Chumuckla Elementary, Sydney Nowling
Dillon Center, Matthew Foster
Dixon Intermediate, Olivia Wilchar
Dixon Primary, Christa Esch
East Milton Elementary, Terri Stewart
Gulf Breeze Elementary, Ashley Lombardo
Gulf Breeze High, Rafael Garcia
Gulf Breeze Middle, Adam Gutshall
Hobbs Middle, Steven Bienkowski
Holley-Navarre Intermediate, Emily Arnold
Holley-Navarre Middle, Alyssa McQuinn
Holley-Navarre Primary, Briana O’Neal
Jackson Pre-Kindergarten, Susan Pohlmann
Jay Elementary, Darby Cowan
Jay High, Stacey Collins
King Middle, Katheryn Stephens
Locklin Technical College, Jonathan McCullough
Milton High, Katie Cranford
Navarre High, Karen Cody
Oriole Beach Elementary, Julia Taylor
Pace High, Dominique O’Shea
Pea Ridge Elementary, Jenetta Sawyer
Rhodes Elementary, Michelle Speas
Russell Elementary, Jenna Murchison
Santa Rosa High & Adult, Jessica Booher
Sims Middle, Stephanie Rimes
West Navarre Intermediate, Cathleen Mitchell
West Navarre Primary, Melissa Voshell
Woodlawn Beach Middle, Paul Miller