INK! acknowledges outstanding work of local teachers
Every year, we recognize the dedicated teaching community with two prestigious awards: Teacher of the Year and Rookie Teacher of the Year. On Tuesday, December 16th, representatives of INK! surprised the five Teacher of the Year finalists in the classroom, sharing the exciting news and including students in the celebration. This year’s finalists for Teacher of the Year, selected from a pool of 50 nominees, are Pauline Harris, Kylie Benetsky, Denise Shedlock, Sabina Atic, and Katelin Bonner. The St. Johns County District Teacher of the Year and Rookie Teacher of the Year will be announced on Thursday, January 15, 2026, during a ceremony at the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort.
“We are honored to celebrate this year’s nominees and finalists, as well as the exceptional educators who serve students across St. Johns County,” said Cathy Newman, INK!’s Executive Director. “Because teachers are nominated by their peers, this recognition speaks volumes about each nominee’s impact both inside and beyond the classroom. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to our students and our community.”
The Teacher of the Year and Rookie Teacher of the Year are announced at the official celebration on Thursday, January 15th. Themed “Our Teachers Light a Spark,” the awards ceremony also recognizes the nearly 100 educators who were named Teacher or Rookie Teacher of the Year at their schools throughout St. Johns County. The Teacher of the Year represents St. Johns County at the annual State of Florida Teacher of the Year event. They also participate in a yearlong professional development and leadership program with a cohort of Teachers of the Year from around the state.
This year’s finalists for Teacher of the Year are:
Pauline Harris, a 6th-grade math teacher at Valley Ridge Academy with 14 years of teaching experience.
Kylie Benetsky, a 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade instructional coach at Switzerland Point Middle School with 7 years of teaching experience.
Denise Shedlock, a 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade science teacher at Creekside High School with 13 years of teaching experience.
Sabina Atic, a 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade biomedical science teacher at Beachside High School with 7 years of teaching experience.
Katelin Bonner, a 10th-grade English II teacher at Pedro Menendez High School with 16 years of teaching experience.
Teacher and Rookie Teacher of the Year Nominees for 2025-2026
Teacher of the Year Nominees
Vanessa Ochaita, Bartram Trail High • Sabina Atic, Beachside High • Denise Shedlock, Creekside High • Carly Smolek, Crookshank Elementary • Julie Prager, Cunningham Creek Elementary • Kelli Vance, Durbin Creek Elementary • Heather Pfeiffer, The Evelyn Hamblen Center/Gaines Alternative School • Terrence Smith, First Coast Technical College • Hannah Glynn, Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind • Jacquelyn Woollard, Freedom Crossing Academy • Megan Narin, Fruit Cove Middle • Iwona Bielaszka, Hallowes Cove Academy • Shaheinda Moffat, W.D. Hartley Elementary • L’Erin Standley, Hickory Creek Elementary • Ashley Fee, R.B. Hunt Elementary • Cathy Ragusa, Julington Creek Elementary • Jaime Smith, Ketterlinus Elementary • Natalie Gavarrette, Lakeside Academy • Morgan Williams, Alice B. Landrum Middle • Shannon Ford, Liberty Pines Academy • Renee Tatman, Otis A. Mason Elementary • Katelin Bonner, Pedro Menendez High • Kaitlyn Leonard, Mill Creek Academy• Tinyka Reese, R. J. Murray Middle • Tara Amato, Allen D. Nease High • Faie Pellegrino, Ocean Palms Elementary • Neiland Bergman, Osceola Elementary • Erin Samartan, Pacetti Bay Middle • Angela Adams, Palencia Elementary • Avita Sandoval-Beatty, Palm Valley Academy • Kylie Monsanto, Patriot Oaks Academy • Kelly Yelvington, Picolata Crossing Elementary • Jeanette Vadbunker, Pine Island Academy • Gena White, Ponte Vedra High • AnneMarie Young, PVPV Rawlings Elementary • Deb Lee Crupi, Gamble Rogers Middle • Leanne Fortune, Sebastian Middle • Jenny Moore-Jones, South Woods Elementary • Brian Keenan, St. Augustine High • Monique Paula Lyman, St. Augustine Public Montessori • Angela E Coleman, St. Johns Technical High • Jennifer Jacobson, St. Johns Virtual • Kylie Shaye Benetsky, Switzerland Point Middle • Michelle Chapman, Timberlin Creek Elementary • Toni Adair, Tocoi Creek High • Gina Stinson, Treaty Oaks Preparatory Academy • Susie Ament, Trout Creek Academy • Pauline Harris, Valley Ridge Academy • Ximena Vergara, Wards Creek Elementary • Clare Wagner, James A. Webster Elementary
Rookie Teacher of the Year Nominees
Tom Buckles, Bartram Trail High • Mathews Huey, Beachside High • Ashley Rott, Creekside High • Sydney Skanes, Crookshank Elementary • Sreevidya Iyengar, Cunningham Creek Elementary • Isabella Jones-Gonzales, Durbin Creek Elementary • Bruce Blazing, The Evelyn Hamblen Center/Gaines Alternative School • Emma Golston, First Coast Technical College • Zachary Bridgett, Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind • Jadon Mattox, Freedom Crossing Academy • Melissa Colson, Fruit Cove Middle • Taylor Castilla, Hallowes Cove Academy • Kody O’Connor, W.D. Hartley Elementary • Catherine Silva, Hickory Creek Elementary • Tori Worthington, Ketterlinus Elementary • Sarah Dlugopolski, Lakeside Academy • Madeline McGinnis, Alice B. Landrum Middle • Erica Knuckley, Liberty Pines Academy • Abby Sadler, Otis A. Mason Elementary • Ryan Muscarella, Pedro Menendez High • Jeremy Hunze, Mill Creek Academy • Jeiko Delgado, R. J. Murray Middle • Amy Ryan, Allen D. Nease High • Delilah Kuzan, Osceola Elementary • Elise Falstreaux, Pacetti Bay Middle • Lindsey Taylor, Palencia Elementary • Karen Moritz, Palm Valley Academy • Melissa Balbir, Patriot Oaks Academy • Erin Beazzo, Picolata Crossing Elementary • Erika Harpe, Pine Island Academy • Emma Kordek, Ponte Vedra High • Caroline Durham, PVPV Rawlings Elementary • Danielle Holtman, Gamble Rogers Middle • Fred Flenorl Jr., Sebastian Middle • Mackenzie Hudgins, South Woods Elementary • Michael Brinkley, St. Augustine High • Madison Parent, St. Johns Technical High • Dr. Stephanie Brighton, Switzerland Point Middle • Jenny Voreis, Timberlin Creek Elementary • Jordan Cook, Tocoi Creek High • Leslie Walsh, Treaty Oaks Preparatory Academy • Alexa Frisbey, Trout Creek Academy • Ashley Vizcarra, Valley Ridge Academy • Rachel Blanton, Wards Creek Elementary • Maggie Burkhard, James A. Webster Elementary
