Alachua top teachers honored

The Robert W. Hughes Teacher Recognition Program recognized 40 teachers, one from each school in the district, as teachers of the year at an award ceremony on Feb. 11. The program has been recognizing teachers in Alachua County since 1992. The overall Teacher of the Yyear for the county for 2010 is Eastside High School’s Crista Wright.

The four teachers from Alachua honored as school Teachers of the Year were Deanna Feagin of Irby Elementary, Pam Evers of Alachua Elementary, Carmella O’Steen of Mebane Middle School and Jay Joliecoeur of Santa Fe High School.

Deanna Feagin is not only caring, enthusiastic, positive and loving, said Irby Elementary School Principal Lina Bedoya-Burklew, but she also has that knack for finding that hook to motivate the kids to learn.

“Anytime you walk into her room, her students are highly engaged,” Bedoya-Burklew said.

“She has a gift for developing a very strong connection with her students.”

Feagin finds innovative ways to keep her second graders laughing and learning, Bedoya-Burklew said.

“She’s the type of teacher students dream of having.”

On the day of the award ceremony, Alachua Elementary’s Pam Evers got a visit from a former student. It was a young man she had taught more than a decade ago. He had come to thank her for changing his life around.

All those years ago, Evers sparked his interest in reading by giving him his first book, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Once an academically troubled student, he became an avid reader and a good student.

Alachua Elementary Principal Jim Brandenburg called the event serendipitous, since it was only hours before she would be recognized as the school’s teacher of the year.

“The awards and recognition are nice, but I think that was even more important to Pam,” Brandenburg said. “Her joy comes from the growth of the kids.”

As the Mebane Middle School Department Chair of Science, Carmella O’Steen heads the science fair and teaches life science and geography.

Mebane Principal Shane Andrew said O’Steen is one of many great teachers at Mebane.

“She’s indicative of the fabulous teachers we have on campus,” Andrew said.

He said where O’Steen excels is her ability to go beyond the textbook. He often hears the students talk about her labs where they will bring in insects to examine or dissect owl pellets. Andrew also praised O’Steen’s versatility. Once an elementary school teacher, she is now certified to teach all subjects on the middle school level. She has more than 20 years of experience teaching in Alachua County.

In only his second year at Santa Fe High School, Jay Jolicoeur was recognized as the school’s Teacher of the Year. Principal Bill Herschleb said Jolicoeur is held in high regard by both students and faculty.

“He’s done a remarkable job,” Herschleb said. “He’s a pleasure to work with.”

Jolicoeur became the first teacher to teach AP Chemistry at Santa Fe High School. To prepare for the class, he took a special prep course over the summer.

Herschleb lauded Jolicoeur’s brief tenure for his enthusiasm, passion and high-caliber teaching.