Volusia County Teacher of the Year receives statewide award

Ormond Beach Observer
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Emily Fagerstrom, Volusia County Schools Teacher of the Year, received statewide recognition and an award of $2,000 from the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations and Florida Power & Light Company at the Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year Gala in Orlando on July 25.

Fagerstrom was chosen from among 67 Teacher of the Year honorees as the Consortium’s annual “Invested in Excellence” recipient for seeking additional resources and developing new strategies to innovate learning. She began her career in Volusia County Schools as a substitute teacher and was named the "First Year Teacher of the Year" at Port Orange Elementary in 2015. She was named math instructional coach at Champion Elementary in 2021, where her principal credits her for leading “seismic shifts” in improving students’ mathematical understanding and performance.

Fagerstrom was nominated for the statewide award by the FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools, a member of the Consortium.

In their nomination, FUTURES noted the significant impact Fagerstrom had from a classroom grant she was awarded by the foundation this past school year. They also lauded her initiative in organizing her school’s inaugural Math Night at her local Publix Supermarket where students and their families demonstrated the practical use of math skills in real-life contexts.

“We sponsor this award with our business partner FPL to celebrate a local district teacher of the year who facilitates over-and-above resources and experiences for students,” said Mary Chance, president of the Consortium. “Ms. Fagerstrom clearly epitomizes a teacher leader who does just that and is deeply invested in excellence.”