Mandarin Oaks Elementary Teacher Zachary Champagne Selected
as Duval County's Teacher of the Year
Jacksonville - Zachary Champagne, a Fourth-Grade Math/Science Teacher at Mandarin Oaks Elementary School, has been selected as the 2010 Duval County Teacher of the Year.
The announcement was made by a colleague and coach of Mr. Champagne’s, Robert Schoen, who is the Associate Director for Research in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and formerly the mathematics specialist in the Office of Math and Science at the Florida Department of Education. The event, held this evening at the Hyatt Regency, was hosted by the Schultz Center for Teaching and Leadership and the Jacksonville Public Education Fund.
"The Duval County Teacher of the Year program honors a dedicated and highly skilled representative of all the wonderful teachers in our district, and I congratulate Zachary on this well-deserved recognition," said Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals. "He is preparing his students for success and has a dedication to teaching that is second to none.”
Champagne has been teaching for 11 years, teaching first at West Jacksonville Elementary for eight years before switching to Mandarin Oaks Elementary. He received the highest honor for teachers of mathematics and science in 2007 when he was presented with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Champagne is also president of the Duval Elementary Math Council, a board member of the Florida Council of Teachers of Mathematics and an adjunct professor at the University of North Florida.
In one of the essays in his application, Champagne said, "I feel that my role as a teacher is to expect excellence from each and every one of my students. This expectation will allow each student to reach his or her greatest potential. I also believe that it is not only my responsibility to educate every student that I have the pleasure of teaching, but also to inspire them to become productive members of society. I believe that it is the inspiration and dedication that encourages all of my students to reach their fullest potential.”
Champagne will now go on to compete for the state-wide title of Florida Teacher of the Year.
Champagne’s announcement as Teacher of the Year came after the presentation of the district’s five finalists at the EDDY Awards:
Zachary Champagne, teacher at Mandarin Oaks Elementary; Joe Gilbert, physical education teacher at Lake Forest Elementary;
Evelyne Ng, kindergarten inclusion teacher at Biscayne Elementary;
Shannon Wine, primary inclusion teacher at Woodland Acres Elementary and
Terry Woodlief, visual arts teacher at Chaffee Trail Elementary.
The selection process began with 159 school representatives throughout the district who were selected as their school’s Teacher of the Year. The 159 were narrowed by the District Selection Committee to 15 semi-finalists and then five finalists.
For a complete list of all 159 of Duval County’s Teachers of the Year,
click here. Pictures of all the teachers can be found on the
DCPS' flickr photostream.
Duval County Public Schools, the nation's 21st largest school district, operates 166 schools and serves approximately 123,000 students. The school district is committed to providing high quality educational opportunities that will inspire all students to acquire and use the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a global economy, and culturally diverse world.
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