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Hartsfield Elementary Magnet School teacher named 'Educator of the Year'

Tallahassee, FL—Hartsfield Elementary Magnet School for International Studies Instructional Math, Science, and Technology Coach Vernisha Howard was named the 2024-2025 Leon County Schools’ Glenn-Howell Distinguished Educator of the Year. (Photo Courtesy of Chris Petley)
Leon County Schools
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LCS
Tallahassee, FL—Hartsfield Elementary Magnet School for International Studies Instructional Math, Science, and Technology Coach Vernisha Howard was named the 2024-2025 Leon County Schools’ Glenn-Howell Distinguished Educator of the Year. (Photo Courtesy of Chris Petley)

Howard was ultimately chosen as the winner of the Glenn-Howell Distinguished Educator of the Year Award.

Hartsfield Elementary Magnet School teacher Vernisha Howard was named the 2024-2025 Leon County Schools’ Glenn-Howell Distinguished Educator of the Year in a surprise announcement Friday.

Howard has been employed with Leon County Schools for 19 years. She has been in her current role for the past two years.

“It is educators like Vernisha Howard who inspire our students and fellow educators to achieve their highest potential,” said Superintendent Rocky Hanna.

Tallahassee, FL—Hartsfield Elementary Magnet School for International Studies Instructional Math, Science, and Technology Coach Vernisha Howard is seen with her class and coworkers outside the school. Nov. 1, 2024
Photo Courtesy of Chris Petley
/
Leon County Schools
Tallahassee, FL—Hartsfield Elementary Magnet School for International Studies Instructional Math, Science, and Technology Coach Vernisha Howard is seen with her class and coworkers outside the school. Nov. 1, 2024

"Ms. Howard has a natural style of making learning relevant and challenging while providing for diverse learning styles in the classroom," said Hartsfield Elementary Principal John Olsen.

The Glenn-Howell Distinguished Educator of the Year award is named after the late Devurn Glenn, Ph.D. and Aquilina C. Howell.

The district says they both were impactful educators who touched the lives of thousands of young people and adults.

"Ms. Howard has a natural style of making learning relevant and challenging while providing for diverse learning styles in the classroom," Hartsfield Elementary Principal John Olsen said.

The LCS Glenn-Howell Distinguished Educator of the Year Selection Committee was comprised of district and school-based educators.

Howard was chosen as the winner among a pool of five candidates.

Adrian Andrews is a multimedia journalist with WFSU Public Media. He is a Gadsden County native and a first-generation college graduate from Florida A&M University. Adrian is also a military veteran, ending his career as a Florida Army National Guard Non-Comissioned Officer.

Adrian has experience in print writing, digital content creation, documentary, and film production. He has spent the last four years on the staff of several award-winning publications such as The Famuan, Gadsden County News Corp, and Cumulus Media before joining the WFSU news team.