Booker, Gocio Teachers Are Best of 2011

music teacher Victor Fernandez wondered what all the folks in suits were doing on stage as he played “Cielito Lindo” with two students on the cafeteria stage.

Then he pieced it all together when Superintendent Lori White told the students in the cafeteria that Fernandez is the Sarasota County Schools Middle School Teacher of the Year.

“I’m absolutely beyond nervous right now,” the Sarasota resident said. “For someone who’s frequently on stage, I’m shaking right now.”

The surprise was part of two others the school system and Education Foundation of Sarasota County organized through the annual Teacher Tribute Tour to surprise Teacher of the Year winners at the middle, high and elementary levels.

Each finalist receives a cash award from the foundation, a gift basket and scholarships from Nova Southeastern University and the Notre Dame Club of Greater Sarasota. 

The other finalists are Jessica Gardner, who lives in the Manatee County part of Sarasota, a fifth grade teacher at  in Sarasota and Danielle Tanaka, a psychology, sociology and American government teacher at Venice High School were the other finalists.

Fernandez: ‘Every child should be in music’

Fernandez said everything that he does is put into showing students they can achieve anything.

“Each one of them has the potential to achieve greatness in their lives, and they really motivate me as a teacher to bring that out,” he said.

Born and raised in Cuba, Fernandez moved to Miami in 1995 then after receiving his bachelor’s and masters degrees from Florida State University, he taught in Tallahassee before coming to Booker Middle School to teach music.

He also spends time volunteering to teach music to students at nearby Gocio Elementary, too.

“Every child should be in music,” he said.

He added it’s important for students to have role models and that starts in the classroom.

“The classroom to me, is just a microcosm of the real world,” he said. “I approach my class as a professional ensemble, so the expectations of professionalism are there.”

Gardner: ‘I just cannot believe it’ 

Gardner thought she was in the cafeteria to attend an anti-bullying assembly before she was surprised. Minutes after the announcement, she was still thrilled 

“It’s the most exhilarating, and most wonderful n most humbling feeling in the world to be recognized on that level,” Gardner told Patch. “I just cannot believe it.”

She currently teaches advanced placement and regular fifth-grade reading and language arts, team teaching with her husband, Adam. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida.

“This is not just a surprise for Mrs. Gardner, it’s a surprise for her husband, too. They are team teachers and we call them ‘the dynamic duo,’” Gocio Principal Pam Buchanan told students. “We decided we wouldn’t tell him in advance, so he would be surprised for Mrs. Gardner, too.” 

Gardner, who said she wanted to be a teacher “for as long as I can remember,” has taught at Gocio since 2007, after a year teaching at Ballard Elementary in Manatee County. 

“I know that my students have to come to school. Therefore I think it’s my job for them to enjoy it, and if I can get them on their feet, get them smiling and get them to enjoy that day’s lesson and go, ‘gosh, I can’t believe the day’s already over, then I know I’ve accomplished my goal,” she said.

A district winner selected from Fernandez, Gardner and Tanaka will be announced Jan. 26 where the district Teacher of the Year will represent Sarasota Schools at the state contest.