Three Sarasota County Schools teachers have been named finalists for the district’s elementary, middle and high school Teacher of the Year honors. They are Shannon Haddad, Ashton Elementary School; Jennifer Jaso, Sarasota Middle School; and Loridia Urquiza, Booker High School.

All 43 school-based Teacher of the Year finalists will be honored, and Haddad, Jaso or Urquiza will be named the overall Sarasota County Teacher of the Year at the Education Foundation of Sarasota County’s Ignite Education Awards Celebration on Dec. 9 at Michael’s on East. The district Teacher of the Year will represent Sarasota County Schools at the Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year Program and will serve as a spokesperson for and representative of the teaching profession at various events throughout 2023.