Jill Adams Honored as St. Johns County Teacher of the Year
Jill Adams from Creekside High School has been named the 2024-2025 St. Johns County District Teacher of the Year. She was selected from 52 nominees representing public schools countywide and was one of five finalists for the district honor. The St. Johns County Teacher of the Year Celebration, held Friday, January 31, 2025, at the World Golf Village Renaissance Resort, was hosted by Investing in Kids (INK!), the St. Johns County Education Foundation. James Tansey from Fruit Cove Middle School was selected as the 2024-2025 St. Johns County Rookie Teacher of the Year.
Adams is a highly accomplished educator, mentor, and coach with 26 years of experience in elementary and secondary English and Reading and instructional coaching. Before joining St. Johns County School District, she was named the 2018 Seminole County Public Schools High School Teacher of the Year and recognized by the Florida Department of Education as a High Impact Teacher for three consecutive years.
As an Instructional Literacy Coach, Adams mentors and coaches teachers, providing professional learning to colleagues and supporting the success of both students and teachers across campus. She has presented to other instructional coaches on topics relating to coaching Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and mentors fellow coaches.
Inspired by the E.B. White novel, The Trumpet of the Swan, Adams teaches to ignite a curiosity and love for learning in others to help them find their greatness. “There is truly nothing I like better in all the world than students and teachers believing in themselves and working hard to discover their greatness,” Adams said.
James Tansey Named Rookie Teacher of the Year
James Tansey is an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teacher at Fruit Cove Middle School and has worked just over one year as an educator. In addition to his daily teaching duties, Tansey mentors students and volunteers with multiple organizations on campus. He also coaches the Fruit Cove Boys’ Basketball Team and the Tocoi Creek High School Boys’ Golf Team. Tansey is a Bartram Trail High School graduate who found teaching after a tenure with the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour.
“I’m a product of St. Johns County Schools, so I’m deeply honored and moved to receive this distinction,” says Tansey. “It is an honor to wake up every day and have the amazing opportunity to be a light in a young student’s life.”
Celebrating Excellence in Public Education
The Teacher of the Year program seeks to honor excellence in teaching within the St. Johns County School District and highlight the important role teachers play in the lives of students and the community. “We are honored to acknowledge and recognize our hard-working teachers for their professional accomplishments and unwavering commitment to our students,” said Newman. “It is our goal to elevate the profession of teaching and demonstrate our support and appreciation for educators.”
As Teacher of the Year, Adams will represent St. Johns County at the State of Florida Teacher of the Year program in July 2025. She will participate in a yearlong professional development and leadership program with a cohort of Teachers of the Year from around the state. Adams was also awarded an opportunity to lease or own a new Toyota vehicle provided by Beaver Toyota St. Augustine. As Rookie Teacher of the Year, Tansey will receive a $1,000 award from Equitable Advisors. Adams and Tansey each received a complimentary “Support Education” specialty license plate from the St. Johns County Tax Collector. Both educators will also be inducted into INK!’s Teacher Lead Council to engage and collaborate with previous St. Johns County Teachers and Rookie Teachers of the Year.
Finalists for 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year included Adams; Madison Gowin, a Media Specialist at Switzerland Point Middle School; Jake Lankford, a History teacher at Tocoi Creek High School; Jessica MacMillan, an English Second Language instructor at First Coast Technical College; and Jordan Mattheus, a middle school Band and Guitar instructor at Palm Valley Academy.
Our Teacher of the Year Sponsors are Legendary!
Thank you to our Teacher of the Year Sponsors!
We are grateful to our partners who supported the Teacher of the Year Celebration as event sponsors. Our thanks to these generous businesses and donors for investing in our educators.
