Cynara Appling, a science teacher at Spook Hill Elementary, was named 2024-25 Polk County Teacher of the Year at the Inspire Awards Friday night at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
Polk County Public Schools also announced that Ervie Louis, a paraeducator at Jewett School of the Arts, is the district’s School-Related Employee of the Year.
Both winners will advance to compete for state titles, the district said in a news release. The Florida Department of Education names a statewide Teacher of the Year and a School-Related Employee of the Year.
The district also recognized Suzie Nelson of Chain of Lakes Elementary as Principal of the Year and Stephanie Huber of Southwest Middle as Assistant Principal of the Year.
“Appling has a special role in our district, transferring to schools in need of additional academic support,” the district said in the news release. At Spook Hill Elementary, she developed hands-on lessons that helped increase students’ proficiency in science.
Louis has spent more than 40 years working in education at Jewett School of the Arts, serving multiple generations of families, the release said. She takes the lead in welcoming new students and staff to campus and uses her community connections to create special learning opportunities for students, especially during Black History Month.