Two Lakewood Ranch teachers named Manatee's Educator of the Year finalists

Two Lakewood Ranch teachers have been named finalists for the School District of Manatee County's Educator of the Year. 

Tiffany Barrett-Greer, a second grade teacher at Braden River Elementary School, and Kelly Smith-Williams, an anatomy and physiology teacher at Lakewood Ranch High School, are finalists for Educator of the Year.

Other finalists include Kendall Carrier, the director of bands at Parrish Community High School, and Michelle Dowell, a biomedical science teacher at Palmetto High School.

Gena Case, a guidance clerk at Myakka City Elementary School, and Marisol Hernandez, a school secretary at Braden River High School, have been named finalists for the district's Support Employee of the Year. 

Other finalists for Support Employee of the Year include Brianna Hall, a clerical assistant at Lincoln Memorial Middle School, and Latisha Jones, a guidance clerk at Southeast High School.

The winners of Educator of the Year and Support Employee of the Year will be announced at the district's Excellence in Education Awards in February at Parrish Community High School. 

The winner of the Educator of the Year will advance to the Florida Teacher of the Year program, and the winner of the Support Employee of the Year will advance to the Florida School-Related Employee of the Year program.