2017 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year Announced

SARASOTA, FL – Just like the North Carolina Tar Heels, Riverview High School’s Coach William “BJ” Ivey Jr. found his “one shining moment” this week.

The social studies teacher and head coach of the Rams boys basketball team was named the 2017 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year during the school district’s annual lunch celebration on Wednesday, April 5.

Ivey, the district’s High School teacher of the Year, was selected for the top honor from among three finalists at the annual awards ceremony honoring educators, held at Michael’s On East in Sarasota. The other finalists were Holly Houghton-Brown, a Tatum Ridge Elementary School fourth-grade teacher and the district’s Elementary School Teacher of the Year; and Christine Braun, a Pine View School social studies teacher and the district’s Middle School Teacher of the Year.

While there was no streamers falling around him for his victory, Ivy hoisted the award like a basketball trophy when he was revealed as the Teacher of the Year. Education Foundation of Sarasota County President Jennifer Vigne compared the moment of victory to winning March Madness, the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament.

“I pray every day to have a positive impact on these kids,” Ivey said of his students. He added that while he is honored to be named Teacher of the Year, “I really don’t even believe I’m the best teacher in my own home. That would be my wife Samantha, who teaches fifth-grade math and science at Lakewood Elementary.”

Ivey also talked about the influence of his mother, Jo Ivey, who was in attendance. A retired district Spanish teacher at Riverview and cheerleading coach, Jo Ivey was a past Teacher of the Year and was National Cheerleading Coach of the Year.

During the program, Dick Steinman, professional development specialist for the district and selection committee member, noted Ivey “is not just a basketball coach, but a life coach.”

BY Ivey is a Sarasota native who has taught at Riverview for 11 years, teaching social studies, International Baccalaureate World History Honors and Advance Placement Psychology. He has served as the head coach for both the boys and girls basketball teams at Riverview, as well as the Nike Team Florida basketball coach.

He was named Florida Association of Basketball Coaches Class 8A Coach of the Year in 2016. Ivey earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree in education curriculum and instruction from National Louis University in Tampa.

The Sarasota County Teacher of the Year program is co-produced by the Sarasota County School District and the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. The district Teacher of the ear receives a $2,500 cash reward while the two runners-up receive $1,2500, through the support of community partners.

Ivey will represent Sarasota County Schools at the Florida Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year program and will serve as spokesman for and representative of the teaching profession at various events throughout the year. Because of a scheduling change, the 2018 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year will be made in December.

Images courtesy of Sarasota County Schools