Shane Swezey, a music teacher at Oak Park School, has been named the 2019 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year at this month’s Ignite Education celebration hosted by the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. Swezey will represent district educators at events throughout the 2019 calendar year, and will serve as the district’s nominee for state Teacher of the Year. His fellow finalists, Tessa Healy, of Wilkinson Elementary School, and Ashlee Middleton, of Sarasota High School, also were honored.

Swezey has provided music education and therapy services to students ages 5 to 22 at Oak Park School, the district’s center school for special needs, since 2013. The Education Foundation presented Swezey with a $2,500 cash award and Healy and Middleton with cash awards of $1,250 each.

The Ignite Innovation award was given to Todd Brown, civics teacher at Sarasota Military Academy Prep. The award recognizes a Teacher of the Year who is creative in their approach, willing to think outside the box and able to connect students with learning in unique ways. Brown creates experiential learning opportunities in his classes and was creator of The Inspire Project, a lecture/presentation series about student leadership-based initiatives of local and global impact.

Sarasota County Schools