And the winners are ...: Michelle Moore is Flagler Schools Teacher of the Year; Calvin Grant is Employee of the Year

Moore is an ESE teacher at Belle Terre Elementary School. Grant is a campus security officer at Flagler Palm Coast High School. They were honored at the school district's annual award gala.

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Belle Terre Elementary School ESE teacher Michelle Moore had two words to describe her reaction when she was named 2025-26 Flagler Schools Teacher of the Year: “Complete Shock!”

Moore and Flagler Palm Coast High School Campus Security Officer Calvin Grant were named the school district’s Teacher and Employee of the Year, respectively, at the end of the district’s annual awards gala Monday, Jan. 26, at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center.

“I’m just overwhelmed. I’m speechless,” Moore said after her name was announced and she was celebrated on stage. “I owe this honor to the whole team that I work with because I couldn't do it without them.”

Moore teaches kindergarten and first grade in the school’s autism unit. She said she is “looking forward to all the great things that are to come,” including the professional development that the state provides each of the districts’ teachers of the year.

“I'll be able to do just to keep learning and growing to do my job better,” she said.

Grant is in his 26th year with FPC. He had retired as a Flagler County Sheriff’s Office school resource deputy at FPC and then was brought back to lead the school's security team.

“We're the eyes and ears on the ground,” he said. “We're pretty much the first responders. We'll see it before the school resource deputies see it. The relationship that my team has with the students encourages me to be a better person every day. I just love what I do.”

Grant is also an FPC graduate. He was a member of the school’s second graduating class in 1977.

The Flagler County Teacher/Employee of Year gala is a high-energy affair. School administrators, mascots and cheer teams form a procession accompanying their teachers, employees and rookie teachers of the year to the stage as music blares from the speakers and the announcer screams the school and individual’s name. This year’s theme, was “Legacy by the Sea.” 


I’m just overwhelmed. I’m speechless. I owe this honor to the whole team that I work with because I couldn't do it without them.
— MICHELLE MOORE, Flagler Schools' Teacher of the Year

The district also honored Principal of the Year Bobby Bossardet from FPC and Assistant Principal of the Year Abra Seay.

Last year’s Teacher of the Year Brandy Anderson from Indian Trails Middle School and Employee of the Year Brande Martz of Wadsworth Elementary School also spoke. Anderson was one of five finalists to be Florida’s Teacher of the Year.

Seay said she almost didn’t make it to the gala because her daughter gave birth to her and her husband Mark’s sixth grandchild at 5:33 p.m.

“I can't wait to go hold her, but good evening,” she said.

Seay congratulated all of the Teacher, Employee and Rookie Teacher of the Year winners.

“Assistant Principal of the Year for Flagler Schools is an incredible honor and I'm deeply grateful,” Seay said. “But I don't see this recognition as something I have earned alone. I see it as a reflection of the relationships, trust and shared work that happens in our schools every day. This honor is not about me. It's about us because leadership has never been about one person. It has always been about the people willing to show up together every single day for our kids.”

Bossardet began his remarks by acknowledging the room.

“This isn't just an award ceremony,” het said. “This is a room filled with game changers: Teachers, support staff leaders, rookies and veterans, families and students including all the FPC students here tonight, celebrating and honoring their incredible staffaulty, who make their school extraordinary.

“Tonight, isn’t about about a single name being called. It isn't just about a plaque, a ring or a title,” Bossardet said. “Tonight is about all of us. Every nominee, every educator and every person whose impact may never make a headline but changes lives anyway.”


TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

Belle Terre Elementary: Michelle Moore

Buddy Taylor Middle: Kathy Fisch

Bunnell Elementary: Hayley Marino

Flagler Palm Coast High: Alex Giorgianni

Flagler Technical College: Adrienne Harvey

iFlagler: Durand Brown

Indian Trails Middle: Shannon Russell

Matanzas High: Erin Davis

Old Kings Elementary: Tressa Landi

Rymfire Elementary: Hayley Gurley

Student Services: Michelle Yorio

Wadsworth Elementary: Emily Creel

EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR

Belle Terre Elementary: Ashley Ramirez

Buddy Taylor Middle: Jeri Thayer

Bunnell Elementary: Kathy McCoy

Custodial Services: Tatiana Rodriguez

Food Services: Lance Lee

Flagler Palm Coast High: Calvin Grant

Flagler Technical College: Skyla Adao

Human Resources: Heather Morin

iFlagler: Taahira Lee

Indian Trails Middle: Claudia Karsten

Matanzas High: Paula Teixeira

Old Kings Elementary: Mary Jansen

Plant Services: Tami Chinn

Rymfire Elementary: Nicole Castello

Technology: Mike Pane

Transportation: Tammy Jones

Wadsworth Elementary: Abby Perez

ROOKIE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

Belle Terre Elementary: Alyssa Langan

Buddy Taylor Middle: Shanyia Mobley

Bunnell Elementary: Amanda Gemmola

Flagler Palm Coast High: Madison Mead

iFlagler: Julia Williamson

Indian Trails Middle: Zhariah Haire

Matanzas High: Dr. Syed Hamid Mohammed

Old Kings Elementary: Mackenzie Fulling

Rymfire Elementary: Michelle Lique

Wadsworth Elementary: Kendall Mulligan

(Rookie Teacher of the Year is not a designate state award)

 

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