FBHS' Sarah Twardy named Teacher of the Year
Sarah Twardy said she couldn't believe it on the Ritz-Carlton stage Friday night when Superintendent Kathy Burns announced the Fernandina Beach High social studies teacher as Nassau County School District’s Teacher of the Year.
Twardy stood with the four other finalists: Fernandina Middle’s Suzy Opalinski, Wildlight Elementary’s Elizabeth Taylor, Hilliard’s Karen Russell, and Yulee Middle’s Deetra Duncanson when she was revealed as the winner.
Presented by Nassau Education Foundation, the Teacher of the Year Awards functions as a night to honor the district and its employees, but also a chance to raise money and party. The emcee, U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean, sang and delivered standup. Brandy Carvalho and Justin Taylor also hosted, engaging a lively crowd.
Nassau Education Foundation Executive Director Susan DeVane gave an overview of several thousand dollars in grants the foundation acquired for students. She said $180,000 was raised Friday night, though the ask was for $43,825.
After her win, Twardy took pictures with family, friends, business leaders and proud district officials. When the dance party got going, Twardy told the News-Leader outside the main ballroom that the district and FBHS had several incredible teachers.
“It was an honor for me to be up there and a humbling experience,” Twardy said.
She’s spent 19 years in education, according to the district. She teaches 11th-grade U.S. History and Leadership. Twardy said she enjoyed the interactions with students and teaching them about their place in history. She said she wants students to feel heard and think critically.
“I like to make history come alive for students and teach them it’s an exciting experience, and not just words on a textbook,” she said.
Twardy, who coaches track and has three children in the school system, said the ceremony was phenomenal.
“I can’t believe they do this here,” Twardy said. “I can’t believe there’s so much support for the community from our neighbors, the businesses here and just everybody who wants to support our schools and our students. It’s an incredible thing that everybody wants to be a part of that.”
Nassau County School Board Chair Gail Cook said the foundation and the community wanted to award teachers for their hard work.
“A lot of times teachers don’t get a thank you,” Cook said. “They get criticism but not a thank you.”
The district’s 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year, Kayla Hooper, told the audience her win last year was “life-changing” because she met educators from all over the state.
“I feel like I’m blessed to be on the selection committee and picking these beautiful ladies, and let me tell you it’s really hard when you have so many amazing educators in Florida,” Hooper said.