2023

Dr. Rebecca Hamilton

Riviera Beach, FL| YEARS TAUGHT: 39

​Dr. Hamilton believes new teachers should: "1. Find a good mentor. 2. Get to know your students as humans and treat them like real people. And 3. Don't be the 'sage of the stage'; it's ok to say you don't know something -- look it up or have them look it up and learn together.”
ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION:
2020               Participant in MIT's Teacher STEM Program
2017                 Dwyer Award (Suncoast)
2002               National Board Certification

                

Dr. Erick Hueck

Miami, FL | YEARS TAUGHT: 34

​His advice to a beginning teacher:  “You must have passion at the core of your intent; understand that there will be good days and bad days, continue to learn and evolve; take care of yourself and listen to the voice inside your head, you are only as good as you feel.” 
ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION:
2022               Yale Educator Award
2022               NEA California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence​
2014               Phebe and Zephaniah Swift More Teaching Award (Amherst College)
​2013                Florida Association of Science Teachers Outstanding Teacher of the Year
​

Dr. Caryn Long

Montverde, FL  | Years Taught: 34

Her advice to a beginning teacher: “Remember two things: You  are in service to your students and parents; entrusted with a precious gift to shape their future.  Take pride in our profession because we are the foundation for all other professions.”  
ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION:​
2021               Montverde Academy Middle School Teacher of the Year
2019               Space Educator Ambassador (National Space Foundation)
2019               Air Force Association State of Florida STEM Teacher of the Year
2002              Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator
2001               Distinguished Teacher of the Year (NSTA)
2000              Eleanor Roosevelt Teacher Fellow
​

Kristen Record

Stratford, CT | Years Taught: 22

Her advice to a beginning teacher:  “Observe.  Visit as many classrooms as possible - observe what to emulate and what to avoid.  Great students at the door - observe the energy they bring and learn what's going on beyond academics.  Vacations are vacations - observe them as such so you can recharge and be your best self at school.”
ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION:
2022               100K in 10 Teacher Forum
2020               NEA Foundation's California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence ​
2015                Global Learning Fellowship (Peru)
2014                National STEM Policy Institute Fellow (MIT/George Washington University)
​

Monica Washington 

Texarkana, TX | Years Taught: 20

Her advice to a beginning teacher:  “Give yourself grace as you learn; your students deserve this same grace.  Lessons don't have to be perfect, but do create a classroom community that helps your students connect to those lessons.  Every student deserves to have their identity honored.  Listen to them, and they will teach you to teach.”
ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION:
2021               Named in Top 21 Rising Women of 2021 (Brightbeam)
2015               NEA Global Learning Fellow
2015               Lowell Milken Unsung Hero Fellow
2014               Texas Teacher of the Year (TX Association of School Administrators)
2014               California Casualty Award (Horace Mann)​