Karen Burch, an exceptional student education teacher at S.S Dixon Primary School in Pace, was announced as the Santa Rosa County ‘Teacher of the Year’ for 2016.
Tim Wyrosdick, the Santa Rosa County School superintendent, awarded Burch this morning in a surprise visit to her classroom. The award is on behalf of the superintendent, the Santa Rosa County school board and the Santa Rosa Education Foundation.
According to a press release from school district, Burch will represent the county in the state-wide competition, which will be selected in May. Florida’s nominee for the National Teacher of the Year award will be announced in January 2016.
Burch and all of the Teacher of the Year nominees will be honored at Santa Rosa’s Golden Apple Celebration on February 27.
Burch, a graduate of the University of West Florida, began her teaching career at the S.S. Dixon Primary School eight years ago.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Santa Rosa County announces Teacher of the Year