TAMPA -- Three employees of the Hillsborough County School District received honors at the Hillsborough Education Foundation's 2021 Excellence in Education Awards Thursday evening at Blake High School.
Teacher of the Year Laura Meehan is an Adapted Music Specialist at Caminiti Exceptional Center. Adaptive arts teachers bring the arts into the lives of disabled students through education. Meehan serves on several board committees, including the Council for Exceptional Children Division of Visual and Performing Arts, and the Hillsborough Elementary Music Council. She recently got engaged and has raced as an Ironman athlete around the world. She received her undergraduate degree from Texas Tech and her master's from Florida State University. She's currently working on a doctorate from USF.
2021 Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year - Chardae Duffy
Chardae Duffy is the Media Specialist at Woodson PK-8 Leadership Academy. Before that, she taught first and second grade classes. Chardae has placed books geared toward black and brown young men into local barber shops through her Boys, Books and Barbers program. She has two sons, three and twelve years old.
2021 Instructional Support Employee of the Year Michael Helton
Michael K. Helton is food service manager at Dawson Elementary School. He's been in the field since the 90s and join the Hillsborough district in 2012. He's been recognized for growing participation and reducing food cost. He's working on his certification from the American Culinary Federation. He is married with two sons and a daughter.
Photo: Hillsborough Educational Foundation