The Early Learning Coalition (ELC) of North Florida has announced its 2021 Preschool and Infant/Toddler Teachers of the Year.
On Jan. 6, the ELC of North Florida surprised its 2021 preschool and infant/toddler teachers of the year with a prize patrol. The teachers were gifted with balloons, flowers, candy and a visit by special guest Pete the Cat.
ELC's 2021 Infant/Toddler Teacher of the Year is Amy Finkley. She has been teaching at Deerwood Academy in St. Johns for 10 years and has been an infant/toddler teacher for almost 30 years.
Finkley was nominated by Lucinda Chapin and Sheri Jenkins, the chief operating officers for Deerwood Academy. She also recently received their in-house Teacher of the Year award.
The Preschool Teacher of the Year winner is Marisol Buitrago. She teaches at Green Cove Springs Head Start Center. She has been teaching preschool for 25 years. She is also the center manager for the Green Cove Springs Head Start.
Since the beginning of the year, she has worked as the lead teacher for the VPK Head Start classroom due to the center being short-staffed from COVID-19.
Both of these teachers will be honored in person at the ELC of North Florida Early Educators Conference on Jan. 29 at the Thrasher Horne Conference Center in Orange Park. They will receive a $500 cash prize thanks to Kaplan Early Learning Co. and the Clay Electric Foundation.
“These two teachers are clearly leaders and are so deserving of this award and recognition,” said Joan Whitson, ELC of North Florida's outreach manager.
To learn more about the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida, go to elcnorthflorida.org.
