Teacher of the Year

Hillsborough County Public Schools Names Top Educators!

By Last Updated

The day after Fall Break was an exciting one for students and staff—it was the day of Surprise Patrol.

Surprise Patrol is the day the superintendent, board members, members of the Hillsborough Education Foundation and many others surprise the finalists for Teacher of the Year, Instructional Support Employee of the Year and Ida S. Baker Diversity Employee of the Year.

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Every year, each school chooses their own winner of each category. Those winners have the opportunity to apply to be the district champion. Surprise Patrol is when the finalists are surprised in front of their whole school. It’s always so much fun! Typically, the only person at the school who is in on the secret is the principal.

Being named a finalist is a huge deal.

Hillsborough County Public Schools has 24,000 employees and is the largest employer in the county. To be named one of the top five teachers, instructional support personnel, or diversity employees is definitely a point of honor.

Winners are announced at a large, formal ceremony at the Straz Center on Jan. 23. It’s a really lovely and meaningful event. Each finalist chooses a student to sit on stage with them and talk to the crowd about the impact the finalist has had on their life. Most years, there’s not a dry eye in the building.

At the end of the ceremony, Superintendent Van Ayres will announce the winners, but the real winners are our students who are taught and cared for by these amazing educators.

Congratulations to this year’s finalists!

Teacher of the year
Adam Wilinsky, Fifth-Grade Math & Science Teacher, Pride Elementary

Teacher of the Year:

  • Henry Bryson, AICE History Teacher at Leto High
  • Roxanne Coriell, Kindergarten Teacher at Hunter’s Green Elementary
  • Adam Wilinsky, Fifth-Grade Math & Science Teacher, Pride Elementary
  • Brandie Palmer, Science Resource Teacher at Springhead Elementary
  • Montine Vona Pergola, English Teacher at Newsome High
Teacher of the year
Roxanne Coriell, Kindergarten Teacher at Hunter’s Green Elementary

Instructional Support Employee of the Year:

  • Bonnie Walters, Secretary at Tampa Palms Elementary
  • Norma Borges-Garcia, Bilingual Spanish Aide at Mort Elementary
  • Holly Mulholland, ESE Unique Aide at Claywell Elementary
  • Susan Blackmon, ESE Aide at Oak Park Elementary
Teacher of the year
Montine Vona Pergola, English Teacher at Newsome High

Ida S. Baker Diversity Employee of the Year:

  • Sherriann Johnson, School Nurse at Gibsonton Elementary
  • Antonyia McCray, Success Coach at Freedom High
  • Edna Martinez Navarro, Spanish Teacher at Gaither High
  • Alexander Cintron Marrero, Physical Education Teacher at Sgt. Paul R. Smith Middle
Teacher of the year
Henry Bryson, AICE History Teacher at Leto High

Featured Image: Brandie Palmer, Science Resource Teacher at Springhead Elementary | Originally published in the January 2025 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.