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Area Schools May Have Top Teacher

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR

cpastor@tampatrib.com

Published: January 14, 2009

TAMPA - Four area schools can boast that they have the best teachers in the county.

Chamberlain High, Davidsen Middle, Martinez Middle and North Tampa Alternative each have a teacher who is a finalist for the Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year.

Each school selected its own teacher of the year. A Hillsborough County school district committee reviews the nominations and last month named eight finalists. One of those will win the district award at a ceremony on Feb. 9 and have a chance to compete for the honor at the state level.

This year, the finalists include Jane Gucciardo, science teacher at Martinez Middle; Suzanne Huopalainen, an Advanced Placement environmental science teacher at Chamberlain; Marschette Hunter-Lane, a science teacher at North Tampa Alternative school; and Debbie Loescher Mattox, who coordinates Davidsen's AVID program.

Gucciardo has taught for more than 30 years and was nominated for the presidential award for excellence in mathematics and science teaching. She started a math, science and technology expo and a student-run environmental club to protect the Brooker Creek watershed. She also helped develop the county's science curriculum and sixth-grade exams while serving on a district curriculum committee.

Huopalainen has six years of experience and got involved with Chamberlain's AVID program (Advancement Via Individual Determination) to prepare students for college. She also is involved with the reading leadership team to improve reading skills and an honor club for science that does service projects and Brain Bowl competitions.

Hunter-Lane worked in banking and finance before joining the school district in 2006. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees in political science while raising her children as a single parent. Since she started teaching, she has taught American government, social studies and peer development.

Mattox, a 35-year teaching veteran, trains the Davidsen faculty to use AVID strategies to build skills and self-confidence of underachieving middle school students. She has been honored as a teacher of the year four times and has created curricula for theater, history, aerospace, engineering and math, some of which have won awards and become topics at education conferences.

THE FINALISTS ARE ...

•Megan Allen, Cleveland Elementary

•Darrell Frost, Just Elementary

•Jane Gucciardo, Martinez Middle

•Suzanne Huopalainen, Chamberlain High

•Marschette Hunter-Lane, North Tampa Alternative

•Charla Kerwin, Springhead Elementary

•Debbie Loescher Mattox, Davidsen Middle AVID coordinator

•Stacey Schlarbaum, Burnett Middle

Source: Hillsborough Education Foundation

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503.

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