INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Lyndsey Matheny was a little overwhelmed as she posed with a giant check for $5,000 with her name on it after being dubbed Indian River County’s 2015 Teacher of the Year.
Across the stage, Lori Nelson held in her hands a check for $2,500 and was having an equally hard time explaining how she felt after being named Indian River County’s 2015 Employee of the Year.
“Of all the teachers standing up there that were nominated, it could have been anyone,” Matheny said.
Matheny teaches second and third grade math and science at Citrus Elementary School in Vero Beach.
During her short speech immediately following the awards, Matheny thanked her family, friends and co-workers for support.
“You have all been wonderful through the whole journey. I can’t wait to share the rest of it with you,” Matheny said.
Nelson, a teacher’s assistant, teaches second through fifth graders and works primarily with autistic students at Citrus Elementary School.
“I’m exhilarated. My parents came in from Orlando, I had no idea they were coming. My daughter is here with friends, my husband, and my whole Citrus family,” she added. “But it’s all about the kids; this is all about the kids.”
The theme of the night was “Stars” – a theme that was driven home by 2014 Florida Teacher of the Year Dorina Sackman, of Orange County.
Sackman, recently named one of the four finalists of the 2014 National Teacher of the Year Award, spurred teachers and employees on to continue shining brightly in support of one another and of their students, in a passionate speech from the podium.
Nominated teachers and employees were treated as stars from the beginning of the event to the very end. Each nominee was announced by name like the starting line-up of a professional athletic team, making their way from the back of the auditorium to the stage through scores of screaming fans.
Cheerleaders chanted and waved pom-poms; students and parents sounded horns and noisemakers; while posters and banners were raised in honor of each nominee.
The auditorium erupted one last time – after Superintendent Dr. Fran Adams and the rest of the Indian River County School Board shook every nominee’s hand and after 2014 Indian River County Teacher of the Year Jody Houston along with Sackman presented each nominee with a plaque, and after the envelope revealed Citrus Elementary School’s Matheny and Nelson were the winners.
A confetti gun launched and cameras began flashing as hordes of supporters rushed Matheny and Nelson to congratulate each of them.
And as far as the giant checks are concerned, Matheny and Nelson both said that was “top secret information.”
Neither of them knew of the possibility of the checks until it was announced Wednesday night at the ceremony.
The event’s platinum sponsor, MidFlorida Credit Union, contacted Cheryl Conley, Indian River County’s 2011 Teacher of the Year and 2011 National Teacher of the Year finalist, to offer up the bonus checks only days before the event.
“This is the most money that I’ve held in my hand at one time,” Matheny said as she posed for a picture surrounded by her family.
But the checks were well deserved. As Superintendent Adams reminded nominees at the beginning of the festivities, “Tonight, we are in the presence of greatness.”
Of the 25 nominees for “Employee of the Year,” the five finalists included Lori Nelson of Citrus Elementary, Tarsha Jenkins of Dodgertown Elementary, Nicholas Melchiori of Glendale Elementary, Elizabeth Gioffre of Highlands Elementary, and Wendy Gardiner of the J.A. Thompson Administrative Office.
Of the 22 nominees for “Teacher of the Year,” the five finalists included Lyndsey Matheny of Citrus Elementary, Jessica Geary of Dodgertown Elementary, Michelle Isaacson of Highlands Elementary, Katy Bartolini of Sebastian Elementary, and Caitlin Freedman of Vero Beach Elementary.