- April 8, 2025
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Education Foundation of Sarasota County Board Chairman Tom Koski and Education Foundation President Jennifer Vigne.
Marie Rosander, Lisa Wheatley and Samantha Ivey
Sarasota County Teacher of the Year finalist Christine Braun chats with fellow Teacher of the Year luncheon guests.
Erin Del Castillo, Sarasota County Teacher of the Year finalist William "BJ" Ivey and Jay Lorenz
Sarasota County School Board member Shirley Brown and Graci McGillicuddy
Britt Riner, Alicia King and Candice McElyea
Paula Ippolito, Taylor Collins, Sarasota County Teacher of the Year finalist Holly Houghton-Brown and Superintendent Todd Bowden
Lashawn Frost and jason Swift
Jane Rose and Heather Duncan
Sarasota County School Board Chairwoman Caroline Zucker and Ora Jean Henry
Superintendent Todd Bowden welcomes Sarasota County teachers to the event.
Sarasota County School Board Chairwoman Caroline Zucker speaks on the importance of teachers in Sarasota County.
Each school' s Teacher of the Year was recognized at the event.
Jennifer Mattu thanks Superintendent Bowden after she received recognition for being named Heron Creek Middle School' s Teacher of the Year.
Andrea Jackson and Sarasota County Teacher of the Year finalist Holly Houghton-Brown react while watching a video of Brown' s reaction to being named a Sarasota County Teacher of the Year finalist.
Christine Braun wipes a tear from her eye while being recognized as a Sarasota County Teacher of the Year finalist.
William "BJ" Ivey laughs as his former science teacher, Dick Steinman, tells the audience that Ivey used to be a "rascal" in his class.
William "BJ" Ivey accepts the Sarasota County Teacher of the Year award from Superintendent Todd Bowden.
William "BJ" Ivey holds his Sarasota County Teacher of the Year award while thanking the audience for the honor.
William "BJ" Ivey holds up his Sarasota County Teacher of the Year award.
William "BJ" Ivey hugs Dick Steinman. Steinman has introduced the Sarasota County Teacher of the Year finalists for six years, but this was the first year he got to introduce a former student.
Sarasota County Teacher of the Year finalists Christine Braun, William “BJ” Ivey and Holly Houghton-Brown
Khea Davis knew she was preaching to the choir when she spoke about the importance of teachers during the Teacher of the Year luncheon at Michaels On East on April 5.
"But sometimes the choir needs to know how important they are," Davis said.
Davis, along with staff from Sarasota County Public Schools and the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, gathered to announce the 2017 Teacher of the Year from a pool of three finalists.
The trio was narrowed down from an original group of 40 teachers who were named the top teacher at their respective schools.
Each were awarded for their recognition before the announcement of the Sarasota County Teacher of the Year.
"There was a point in your life where you made a decision," Superintendent Todd Bowden said to all the teachers in the room. "You made a decision to become a teacher ... After choosing to become a teacher, you decided to work in Sarasota, and we want to thank you for that."
After each of the individual awards had been passed out, it came time for the top prize.
Superintendent Bowden took the stage once again. There was a moment of suspense but the three finalists, Christine Braun, Holly Houghton-Brown and William “BJ” Ivey, didn't have to wait long.
Bowden just had to say one word — coach.
William "BJ" Ivey, the boys basketball coach at Riverview High School, rose from his chair to hug his wife and mother.
Ivey was speechless as he took the podium, overwhelmed by the honor. He went on to thank his mother and his wife.
As the event closed, teachers and Sarasota County Public Schools staff congratulated all the winners in the room for doing what they do every day.
"You never stop. You keep pushing. You reach every child with a different learning style and for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart," School Board Chairwoman Caroline Zucker said.
