古斯塔沃·古斯曼 named 2024 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year
Terry Parker High School teacher will now compete for Florida Teacher of the Year
1/20/2024
古斯塔沃·古斯曼, a biology teacher at Terry Parker High School was named the 2024 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year at the 33rd Annual EDDY Awards Saturday, Jan. 20. 古斯曼, 三年级教师, was selected from among 180 Teachers of the Year by a committee of volunteers. He will now be competing for the title of Florida’s Teacher of the Year.
古斯曼 grew up in Belle Glade Florida, the son of agricultural laborers. Early on, he learned the value of education. 在高中时, he had teachers and mentors who encouraged him to pursue education and helped him get admitted to Edward Waters College and University, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. 毕业后, he began teaching at Terry Parker High School and became the site director for the 5000 Role Models of Excellence at the school.
“Not only do I work with 5000 RMOE, but I also make sure to have a positive impact on my students by providing positive encouragement on their growth as students,” Mr. 古斯曼 said in his Teacher of the Year application. “I love to empower students with positive affirmations based on character development, 学术发展, and athletic accomplishments.”
在他的教室里, he’s implemented systems and instruction that last year raised one class’s test scores by more than 22 percent. 作为一名教育工作者, I make an enormous effort to meet my students where they are and work diligently to develop a plan to get them to their next level,他说.
He said as the Duval County Teacher of the Year, his message is that students need educators to be “the whole teacher.”
“Teachers must personify positive living, 终身学习, and willingness to empathize; accepting and helping all people that we encounter,他说. “这需要多样化的教师, willing to meet students where they are then push them further than they could see for themselves. When students see themselves in their daily leaders an influx of positive change can occur.”
“Mr. 古斯曼 has that ‘it’ factor that makes students really love to come to his class and learn about science,” said Duval County School Superintendent Dr. Dana Kriznar. “His ability to engage students in higher-order thinking does more than just prepare them for the rigors of college. It also helps them build confidence in their ability to pursue challenging goals and aspirations. His life story is a testament to his students that the American dream is alive and well, and truly anything is possible if you pursue it with passion.”
"We are honored to recognize Mr. 古斯曼 as the 2024 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year, his passion for education and profound impact on the lives of his students are testaments to his unwavering commitment to excellence,Brian Wolfburg说, President/CEO VyStar Credit Union. “We are proud to support and recognize the hard work and dedication of individuals like Mr. 古兹曼正在制作, not just a difference in the lives of their students, but also the communities they serve.”
艾迪奖 teacher of the year program is hosted by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund and is accompanied by a year-long effort to celebrate and elevate Duval County’s best public-school educators.
“艾迪奖 gala is an opportunity to celebrate the many incredible teachers in Duval County and thank them for all they do for our students,” said Rachael Tutwiler Fortune, JPEF总裁. “The professionalism they bring to the classroom and the love they pour into their students is life-altering.
我们祝贺. 古斯曼 for being named the 2024 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year and look forward to sharing his outstanding accomplishments in the Florida Teacher of the Year process.”
Each of the 180 Teachers of the Year are also eligible for on-going professional learning opportunities through JPEF. Through these opportunities teachers are equipped with research and expertise to implement equity-focused best practices in their schools.
In addition to a cash prize and a classroom grant thanks to the Deerwood Rotary Club and Florida Blue, 古斯曼 will join the Jacksonville Public Education Fund 董事会 as an ex-officio member for the next year, as is tradition with every VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year.
Teachers of the year from 180 schools were nominated, and evaluated by committees of volunteers, who ultimately narrowed the down to 15 semi-finalists, 然后是五名决赛选手.
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