Lee County’s Laurel Blackburn among state teacher of the year finalists
A Lee County teacher is among the finalists for the Florida Education Foundation’s 2027 Florida Teacher of the Year award.
Laurel Blackburn serves as a regional math coach countywide, supporting 22 different schools.
Other finalists include Nicole Leon – True North Classical Academy, Florida Charter School Alliance; Sarah Twardy – Fernandina Beach High School, Nassau County; Kyndall Brown – Harmony Middle School, Osceola County and Bree O’Donnell – Dune Lakes Elementary School, Walton County.
The 2027 finalists were chosen from among more than 170,000 public school teachers.
After each school district or eligible charter school consortia selects its teacher of the year, a committee representing teachers, principals, parents and the business community review each application on the basis of outstanding ability to teach and communicate knowledge of the subject taught, professional learning and outstanding school and community service.
The 2027 Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year will be announced at the gala in July.
The Florida Education Foundation commendations are made in partnership with corporate and education sponsors.
Laurel Blackburn – Lee County
Laurel Blackburn has become a driving force for instructional excellence and a lifeline for early career teachers across the district. Her impact is clear, both in the success of the educators she supports and in the students she has taught, many of whom reached proficiency for the first time under her guidance. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Clemson University, a Master of Arts in Middle School Math from Furman University as well as a Master of Education in Leadership from Florida Gulf Coast University.
Nicole Leon – True North Classical Academy, Florida Charter School Alliance
Nicole Leon is a sixth-grade literature teacher at True North Classical Academy, a charter school which is part of the Florida Charter School Alliance. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, she serves as grade-level chair, lead teacher and instructional coach, providing academic and instructional leadership across her team. Leon focuses not only on academic rigor but also on the development of character. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Clearwater Christian College.
Sarah Twardy – Fernandina Beach High School, Nassau County
Sarah Twardy is the lead U.S. History and Government teacher at Fernandina Beach High School in Nassau County. Twardy’s impact is reflected in student achievement, most notably through her role in delivering instruction that led to a 92% pass rate on the U.S. History End-of-Course exam, the highest in the school’s history. In addition to her work in the classroom, she mentors pre-service teachers and supports fellow faculty, serving as a clinical educator who helps shape the next generation of educators through hands-on practicum supervision. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies and a Master of Arts in United States History from the University of Albany.
Kyndall Brown – Harmony Middle School, Osceola County
Kyndall Brown is an agriculture teacher at Harmony Middle School in Osceola County who brings innovation, leadership and real-world relevance to her classroom. She designed and implemented a rigorous, standards-based agriscience curriculum for grades 6-8, impacting more than 200 students each year. Beyond her classroom instruction, Ms. Brown founded the Fishing Club, a school-wide community that connects students across grade levels through shared interests and hands-on learning. She has also cultivated meaningful partnerships with local farms, providing students with authentic, real-world agricultural experiences that deepen their understanding and prepare them for future opportunities. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences from Mississippi State University and a Master of Business from Louisianna State University Shreveport.
Bree O’Donnell – Dune Lakes Elementary School, Walton County
Bree O’Donnell is a dedicated fourth-grade math and science teacher at Dune Lakes Elementary School in Walton County. She has been recognized not only for her excellence in the classroom but also for her strong leadership within her school and district. Ms. O’Donnell recently assisted in developing the district-wide fourth-grade pacing guide for science and mathematics. O’Donnell also serves as the leader of her professional learning community (PLC), where she fosters collaboration, data-driven discussions and continuous improvement among her peers. Under her guidance, her PLC has been recognized as a model for the entire district. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Henderson State University.
The 2027 Florida Teacher of the Year program was made possible through the support of the Florida Education Foundation and generous sponsors, including Google, Florida Prepaid, Suncoast Credit Union Foundation, Helios Education Foundation, Florida State University Anne’s College, Florida Lottery, Florida Power and Light, HCA Healthcare Florida, Herff Jones and PNC Bank.
Source: Florida Department of Education