Willow Oak ag teacher, Mulberry High ESE paraeducator are finalists for Polk County school awards

Danielle Emmons of Willow Oak School and Joaida Kist of Mulberry High School are the finalists from District 3 for the Polk County Teacher and School-Related Employee of the Year, Polk County Public Schools announced.

Emmons is an agriculture teacher at Willow Oak School. She piloted the school district’s first agriculture program for elementary students, giving them hands-on knowledge about sustainable ag practices and scientific concepts, according to PCPS.

Emmons also has spent time running an after-school STEM club, helping with campus beautification projects and organizing a Farm Day event in collaboration with Mulberry High’s FFA program.

"Emmons is always looking for ways to increase and share her knowledge. She was a participant in our district’s Leading From the Classroom initiative, and serves as a mentor for teacher interns," the district said in a news release.

Kist, an ESE paraeducator, has an extensive background serving ESE and ESOL students, the district said. She organizes field trips for ESE students that provide a variety of real-world experiences and teach practical life skills.

Kist also helped the ESE students start an on-campus café for MHS faculty, which allows the students to develop business and customer service skills. Outside of her instructional work, Kist spends countless hours fundraising and building community support for programs that benefit her students.

"Kist is a champion for students of all abilities." the district said. "She believes that everyone should be given equal opportunity to learn and grow. MHS teachers and staff say they are humbled to work alongside her."

PCPS is recognizing finalists from all seven districts. District 3 was the fifth district announced. The overall winners will be announced Nov. 8 at the Inspire Awards, held at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

The district previously announced the finalists from Districts 1, 2, 4 and 7.

• In District 1, Ronald Shell Jr., a math interventionist at Oscar J. Pope Elementary in Southeast Lakeland, was the finalist for Teacher of the Year, and Manami Naito, a paraeducator Crystal Lake Elementary School, also in Southeast Lakeland, was the finalist for School-Related Employee of the Year.
• In District 2, Heather Carlson, a reading interventionist at Citrus Ridge: A Civics Academy in Davenport, was the finalist for Teacher of the Year, and Lenord Washington, a school safety guardian at Sandhill Elementary in Haines City, was the finalist for School-Related Employee of the Year.
• In District 4, Mia Holden, an ESE inclusion teacher at Brigham Academy in Winter Haven was the finalist for Teacher of the Year, and Ervie Louis, a paraeducator at Jewett School of the Arts in Winter Haven was the School-Releated Employee of the Year.
• In District 7, the Teacher of the Year finalist was Jacqueline Chavira, a second-grade teacher at Polk City Elementary, and the School-Related Employee of the Year finalist was Janet Miller, a night custodian at Lake Gibson High School