The Florida Department of Education has named Kari Johnson, a kindergarten teacher at Fruitville Elementary School in Sarasota County, as a 2022 Florida Teacher of the Year state finalist. On hand to make the announcement were state Board of Education chair Andy Tuck, K-12 Public Schools chancellor Jacob Oliva, and Deputy Chancellor for Educator Quality Dr. Paul Burns. The 2022 Florida Teacher of the Year will be named on July 22 in Orlando.

Johnson has been a Kindergarten Teacher at Fruitville for the past 15 years. She serves as a member of the school’s positive behavioral support committee, a mentor to novice educators and the leader for her team and professional learning community. She has a master’s degree in elementary reading and literacy from Walden University.