Moore, Grant Take Home Teacher, Employee of the Year Titles

January 29, 2026

(Flagler County, Florida) - The tide rolled into the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center Monday night as Flagler Schools announced its Teacher, Employee and Rookie Teacher of the Year for 2025-2026 during the “Legacy By The Sea” event.

Flagler Schools proudly congratulates Ms. Michelle Moore of Belle Terre Elementary School as the 2025-2026 District Teacher of the Year and Mr. Calvin Grant of Flagler Palm Coast High School as the 2025-2026 District Employee of the Year. Both will represent Flagler Schools in the Florida Department of Education State Competition later this year.

Joining them in the spotlight as the school-level winners of Teachers, Employees and Rookie Teachers of the Year are as follows:

2025-2026 District Teacher of the Year Finalists:

Bunnell Elementary School: Hayley Marino
Belle Terre Elementary School: Michelle Moore (District Winner)
Buddy Taylor Middle School: Kathy Fisch
Flagler Palm Coast High School: Alex Giorgianna
Flagler Technical College: Adrienne Harvey
iFlagler: Durand Brown
Indian Trails Middle School: Shannon Russell
Matanzas High School: Erin Davis
Old Kings Elementary School: Tressa Landi
Rymfire Elementary School: Hayley Gurley
Student Services: Michelle Yorio
Wadsworth Elementary School: Emily Creel

2025-2026 District Employee of the Year Finalists:

Human Resources: Heather Morin
Custodial Services: Tatiana Rodriguez
Food Services: Lance Lee
Plant Services: Tami Chinn
Transportation: Tammy Jones
Technology: Mike Pane
Bunnelle Elementary School: Kathy McCoy
Belle Terre Elementary School: Ashley Ramirez
Buddy Taylor Middle School: Jeri Thayer
Flagler Palm Coast High School: Calvin Grant (District Winner)
Flagler Technical College: Skyla Adao
iFlagler: Taahira Lee
Indian Trails Middle School: Claudia Karsten
Matanzas High School: Paula Teixeira
Old Kings Elementary School: Mary Jansen
Rymfire Elementary School: Nicole Castello
Wadsworth Elementary School: Abby Perez

The District Teacher and Employee of the Year will now serve as the Flagler Schools representatives for the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) State Teacher and Employee of the Year awards. In 2025, Indian Trails Middle School teacher Brandy Anderson was a Top-Five finalist in the latest FLDOE Teacher of the Year competition.

A category added by Flagler Schools to recognize the accomplishments of the teachers who recently joined the district is “Rookie Teacher of the Year.” This category is only awarded on the school level.

2025-2026 Rookie Teachers of the Year: