The winner will be announced Jan. 31.

PINELLAS COUNTY – The 10 finalists in Pinellas County Schools’ 2016-17 Outstanding Educator of the Year recognition program have been named.

The Outstanding Educator of the Year finalists are:

• William Black, a fifth-grade teacher at Anona Elementary School
• Alison Blanco, a mathematics teacher at Osceola Middle School
• Karen Cangemi, a reading/literacy coach at High Point Elementary School
• Vanessa Ko, a mathematics teacher at Palm Harbor Middle School
• Kali Kopka, a kindergarten teacher at Leila Davis Elementary School
• Angela Pitts, a kindergarten teacher at Azalea Elementary School
• Brandon Rader, a social studies teacher at St. Petersburg High School
• David Reid, a curriculum technology specialist at East Lake Middle School Academy
• Zanetta Robinson, a language arts teacher at Thurgood Marshall Fundamental School
• Michelle Zajac, a third grade teacher at Curlew Creek Elementary School

A panel of judges determined the 10 finalists based on multiple criteria. The finalists will undergo an interview process and a second round of scoring by a different panel of judges, who will select the final winner.

The 10 finalists will participate on a float in the annual Snowfest Parade in St. Petersburg on Saturday (Dec. 3). All of the nominees and finalists will be honored, and the 2016-17 Outstanding Educator of the Year will be announced, at the annual Evening of Excellence, which is presented by the Pinellas Education Foundation, at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg on Jan. 31.

For information about each candidate, go to pcsb.org.

Photo courtesy of the Pinellas County School System.

Pinellas County Schools | Educator of the Year | Pinellas Education Foundation | Education | TB Reporter

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