Leon County Schools

For over 13 years, Sherrick Williams has been an integral part of #LCS, dedicating the last seven years to W.T. Moore. His journey—from para-professional to behavior specialist, ESE teacher, and now a General Education teacher—is a testament to the passion for education and unwavering commitment to student success shown by the teacher at Leon County Schools. Colleagues and students alike describe him as the kind of educator every school dream of having—one who inspires, uplifts, and supports both students and staff in every way possible. His holistic approach to education ensures that every child feels seen, valued, and empowered to thrive. 👏 Join us in celebrating excellence in our schools! #WeAreLCS #LCSExcellence

At #LCS, excellence is everywhere—whether in the halls, the lunchroom, or the classrooms! We’re proud to celebrate the amazing support staff who make a difference in our schools every day. 🌟 A special shoutout to Ms. Lisa, R. Frank Nims Middle School’s Employee of the Month! Her dedication and hard work shine brightly across the campus and inspire us all. Thank you to all the incredible support staff who help our schools thrive! 🙌 #ExcellenceEverywhere #SupportStaffSpotlight #WeAreLCS

Last but certainly not least is Mrs. Emily Pennington of Killearn Lakes Elementary School! With 17 years of teaching experience, Mrs. Pennington currently serves as a 3rd-grade math and science teacher. Her dedication and innovative classroom strategies have led to remarkable improvements in her students' FAST testing scores, reflecting her commitment to their success. Many praise Mrs. Pennington for her incredible ability to create a nurturing and inclusive classroom environment where every student feels valued and supported. It doesn’t stop there, her commitment extends beyond the classroom through her involvement in numerous school and community committees, as well as her willingness to step into leadership roles whenever needed. The care and dedication Mrs. Pennington brings to her students and Killearn Lakes Elementary is yet another shining example of why #LCS continues to lead the way in educational excellence. Stay tuned as we prepare to announce this year’s LCS Teacher of the Year tomorrow! 🎉#LCSTeacherOfTheYear #ExcellenceInEducation #KillearnLakesPride

Next up is none other than Ms. Krista Reynolds of Elizabeth Cobb Middle School! With 18 years of teaching experience, including the past three with #LCS, Ms. Reynolds serves as the Earth/Space Science Honors teacher for 7th grade and Comprehensive Science teacher for 8th grade. Ms. Reynolds is a true leader, dedicated not only to her students but also to her colleagues. As the campus Professional Learning Advocate, she has developed strategies and trainings to ensure educators are equipped with the latest and best methods for student success. Even with a packed schedule teaching six class periods a day, Ms. Reynolds didn’t hesitate to take on the role of Extended Day Program Lead. She has excelled in this role, ensuring clear and effective communication among parents, students, and teachers. On top of all that, Ms. Reynolds recently completed her master’s degree in educational leadership, proving once again that #LCS is home to some of the most "highly qualified" and dedicated educators. Stay tuned for our final highlight before this year’s Teacher of the Year is announced! 🎉 #LCSTeacherOfTheYear #ExcellenceInEducation

Our third finalist is Ms. Melissa Olson of DeSoto Trail Elementary School! With an incredible 31 years of teaching experience, Ms. Olson currently serves as the Gifted & Talented teacher and leads the CAPE (Career and Professional Education) program, preparing 3rd through 5th-grade students to earn Digital Tools certificates. Throughout her career, Ms. Olson has made a lasting impact districtwide, taking on numerous roles to support gifted learning and strengthen schools across the area. Her dedication extends beyond the classroom—she was instrumental in helping DeSoto Trail earn the prestigious EcoSchools Green Flag designation and serves on key teams at the school, including the Literacy Leadership Team and Kids Voting. Ms. Olson is a true leader who always puts students at the heart of everything she does, exemplifying the passion and excellence that make LCS educators shine. 🎉#LCSTeacherOfTheYear #ExcellenceInEducation #DeSotoTrailPride

Today, we’re excited to highlight our second Teacher of the Year finalist, Mr. Ryan M. Williams, an extraordinary 3rd-grade teacher at Bond Elementary School! Mr. Williams is the epitome of dedication, working tirelessly to ensure his students not only succeed academically but thrive. Students in his class continue to make significant gains, with his class achieving above a Level 3 in last year’s standardized testing. His efforts don’t stop at his classroom door—he has helped Bond Elementary secure essential donations to support student success and actively leads research and instructional innovation. 📚 With his engaging teaching methods, Mr. Williams has helped foster a love for learning and excellence in education throughout the community. His exceptional work has earned him opportunities to present and co-present at numerous conferences across the state of Florida, sharing his expertise and passion with others. There is no doubt that Mr. Williams is a shining example of why LCS continues to lead the way in sparking those “lightbulb moments” for both students and staff. Stay tuned as we continue to celebrate our amazing finalists leading up to the announcement of the LCS Teacher of the Year! 🎉#LCSTeacherOfTheYear #ExcellenceInEducation

We’re thrilled to spotlight one of this year’s incredible finalists: Ms. Brynn Wallace from Augusta Raa Middle School! With over 23 years of dedicated teaching experience, Ms. Wallace currently inspires students as the 8th-grade science and biology teacher and serves as the Science Department Chair. Her commitment to education goes far beyond the classroom—she mentors new faculty, tutors students, and develops impactful programs that foster success. Last year, in her first year teaching biology, her students achieved an impressive 100% passing rate! Ms. Wallace exemplifies what it means to be an educator, bringing passion, expertise, and an unwavering dedication to the growth of her students and colleagues. #LCS is proud to be home to such driven and highly qualified educators who make a lasting difference every day. Stay tuned as we continue the countdown to the big announcement! Who will be crowned this year’s LCS Teacher of the Year? 🎉 #LCSTeacherOfTheYear #ExcellenceInEducation

Did you see the great news over at J. Michael Conley Elementary at Southwood? A true testament to the excellence in #LeonCountySchools, they’ve been awarded the Beacon School Award from Imagine Learning for the 2023-2024 school year! 🌟 This prestigious recognition celebrates schools that demonstrate top-tier implementation of Imagine Learning, with outstanding student engagement, high pass rates, and effective use of program resources. Congratulations to Conley Elementary! 🎉 #BeaconSchoolAward #ConleyYellowjackets #ExcellenceInEducation

We are thrilled to celebrate Ms. Vaughn, who was selected to facilitate a national-level math workshop—an incredible recognition of her excellence and hard work in education! 🌟 Ms. Vaughn’s journey with Leon County Schools is truly inspiring. A product of LCS herself, she attended Springwood Elementary as a student and later joined the team as part of the Extended Day Enrichment Program. From there, her passion for teaching led her to become a paraprofessional, and eventually, she achieved her dream of becoming an educator. Known affectionately as “Ms. D” by her scholars, she has been shaping young minds in 4th grade since 2014. Thank you, Ms. Vaughn, for your dedication, commitment, and for showing our students what it means to give back to the community. We can’t wait to see the impact you make on the national stage! 👏 #ExcellenceInEducation #LeadersInLearning

Congratulations to Aphonso Dorsey, from Fairview Middle School, who was named the LCS School Related Employee of the Year! Mr. Dorsey is the Building Maintenance Supervisor at Fairview Middle School. He has been employed by Leon County Schools for the past 23 years, serving in his current capacity for 14 years The School-Related Employee of the Year recognizes outstanding education support personnel for the significant contributions they make to their school and the district. The winning School-Related Employee of the Year advances to compete at the state level.