INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – Five teachers from the county’s elementary, middle and high schools have been selected as finalists for the Indian River County 2012 Teacher of the Year.
The teachers come from Highlands, Sebastian and Vero Beach Elementary, Gifford Middle and Vero Beach High.
The district’s winner will be named in 2012 and will vie for the Florida Teacher of the Year, which Osceola Magnet’s Cheryl Conley won last year. She is now a finalist for the National Teacher of the Year.
The finalists for the 2012 Teacher of the Year are:
Sue DiDomizio – 5th Grade – Highlands Elementary – She has been teaching for nine years and came to the School District of Indian River County in August 2007 from St. Lucie County Schools. Ms. DiDomizio holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Fitchburg State University and is currently working on a Masters in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education.
Rose Brickles – 5th Grade – Sebastian Elementary – She has been teaching for eight years, coming to Indian River County in 2005, where she has taught at Sebastian Elementary School as a fourth grade, fifth grade, and Exceptional Student Education fifth grade teacher. Ms. Brickles has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from the University of North Florida.
Rachel Serra – 4th Grade – Vero Beach Elementary – She currently teaches fourth grade at Vero Beach Elementary which is where she began her teaching career in 2006. Ms. Serra has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Plymouth State University.
Sandy McMahon – Math – Gifford Middle School – She has been a teacher for nine years and currently teaches math for grades seven and eight, where she has been for the past four years. Prior to that, she taught math at Vero Beach High School for two years. Ms. McMahon holds a Master of Education Degree in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University.
Heather Holden – Science – Vero Beach High School – She is a science teacher at the Vero Beach High School Freshmen Learning Center, where she has worked since 2003. Prior to that, she taught in Palm Beach County. She has been a teacher for 12 years. Ms. Holden holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Florida State University.
The five finalists will be honored at a Finalist Luncheon on Monday, Jan. 31 at Vero Beach High School’s Half Hour Inn.
The Teacher of the Year program is sponsored annually by the Florida Department of Education and Macy’s. The School District of Indian River County Teacher of the Year 2012 Program is sponsored by Space Coast Credit Union.
