SJCSD

ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida (January 16, 2026) – The St. Johns County Education Foundation, known as Investing in Kids (INK!), honors the dedicated work of the local teaching community with two annual awards: Teacher of the Year and Rookie Teacher of the Year. After an extensive selection process, INK! is proud to announce that Sabina Atic has been named the 2025-2026 St. Johns County District Teacher of the Year, while Ashley Vizcarra has received the Rookie Teacher of the Year Award. They were recognized at the St. Johns County Teacher of the Year Celebration on Thursday, January 15^th, at the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort.

“The level of professionalism and commitment from all of our nominees is extraordinary,” said Cathy Newman, INK!’s Executive Director. “Teachers play a huge role in the development of our children, supporting the growth of our next generation. It’s our honor to recognize and continue the legacy of educators in St. Johns County.”

Sabina Atic teaches Biomedical Sciences at Beachside High School, where she is also the sponsor of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America)-Future Health Professionals, a career and technical student organization that provides guidance and mentorship to high school students interested in pursuing a career in health services. Atic has taught for 7 years in St. Johns County and was named St. Johns County Rookie Teacher of the Year in 2018. “Ms. Atic is more than just a teacher; she is a mentor and a role model,” writes former student Pranavi Nagpal, now majoring in Health Sciences at the University of South Florida. “Her dedication, compassion, and patience have inspired countless students, myself included.”

Ashley Vizcarra is a 7^th and 8^th-grade teacher at Valley Ridge Academy. Her teaching duties include Advanced Science, Accelerated Math, and Pre-Algebra. Vizcarra began teaching after serving in the United States Navy as a Naval Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operator, trained in Nuclear Engineering. Vizcarra also serves as the school’s Soaring High program coordinator, which provides guidance and material support to students and their families. “Ms. Vizcarra possesses a rare gift for connecting with students, creating a supportive and engaging learning environment where they feel welcomed and supported,” writes Angie Fuller, principal of Valley Ridge Academy.

Finalists for the 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year include Kylie Benetsky from Switzerland Point Middle School, Katelin Bonner from Pedro Menendez High School, Pauline Harris from Valley Ridge Academy, and Denise Shedlock from Creekside High School.

ABOUT INVESTING IN KIDS: The St. Johns County Education Foundation, Inc., which operates as Investing in Kids (INK!), promotes success for all St. Johns County public school students and teachers by providing innovative programs, teacher support, classroom resources, and scholarships to benefit more than 52,000 students and approximately 3,200 teachers. INK! is a 501(c)3 education foundation with offices at 1 Christopher St. in St. Augustine.

2025–2026 Teacher of the Year Finalists

• Katelin Bonner, 10th-grade English II teacher, Pedro Menendez High School (16 years)
• Pauline Harris, 6th-grade math teacher, Valley Ridge Academy (14 years)
• Kylie Benetsky, 6th–8th grade instructional coach, Switzerland Point Middle School (7 years)
• Denise Shedlock, 9th–12th grade science teacher, Creekside High School (13 years)
• Sabina Atic, 10th–12th grade biomedical science teacher, Beachside High School (7 years) — Teacher of the Year Winner

Teacher of the Year Nominees (2025–2026)

• Angela Adams – Palencia Elementary
• Angela E. Coleman – St. Johns Technical High
• AnneMarie Young – PVPV Rawlings Elementary
• Ashley Fee – R.B. Hunt Elementary
• Avita Sandoval-Beatty – Palm Valley Academy
• Brian Keenan – St. Augustine High
• Carly Smolek – Crookshank Elementary
• Cathy Ragusa – Julington Creek Elementary
• Clare Wagner – James A. Webster Elementary
• Deb Lee Crupi – Gamble Rogers Middle
• Denise Shedlock – Creekside High
• Erin Samartan – Pacetti Bay Middle
• Faie Pellegrino – Ocean Palms Elementary
• Gena White – Ponte Vedra High
• Hannah Glynn – Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
• Heather Pfeiffer – The Evelyn Hamblen Center/Gaines Alternative School
• Iwona Bielaszka – Hallowes Cove Academy
• Jaime Smith – Ketterlinus Elementary
• Jeanette Vadbunker – Pine Island Academy
• Jennifer Jacobson – St. Johns Virtual
• Jenny Moore-Jones – South Woods Elementary
• Julie Prager – Cunningham Creek Elementary
• Kaitelin Leonard – Mill Creek Academy
• Katelin Bonner – Pedro Menendez High
• Kelly Yelvington – Picolata Crossing Elementary
• Kelli Vance – Durbin Creek Elementary
• Kylie Monsanto – Patriot Oaks Academy
• Kylie Shaye Benetsky – Switzerland Point Middle
• L’Erin Standley – Hickory Creek Elementary
• Leanne Fortune – Sebastian Middle
• Megan Narin – Fruit Cove Middle
• Michelle Chapman – Timberlin Creek Elementary
• Monique Paula Lyman – St. Augustine Public Montessori
• Morgan Williams – Alice B. Landrum Middle
• Natalie Gavarrette – Lakeside Academy
• Neiland Bergman – Osceola Elementary
• Pauline Harris – Valley Ridge Academy
• Renee Tatman – Otis A. Mason Elementary
• Sabina Atic – Beachside High
• Shaheinda Moffat – W.D. Hartley Elementary
• Shannon Ford – Liberty Pines Academy
• Susie Ament – Trout Creek Academy
• Tara Amato – Allen D. Nease High
• Terrence Smith – First Coast Technical College
• Tinyka Reese – R. J. Murray Middle
• Vanessa Ochaita – Bartram Trail High
• Ximena Vergara – Wards Creek Elementary

Rookie Teacher of the Year Nominees (2025–2026)

• Abby Sadler – Otis A. Mason Elementary
• Alexa Frisbey – Trout Creek Academy
• Amy Ryan – Allen D. Nease High
• Ashley Rott – Creekside High
• Ashley Vizcarra – Valley Ridge Academy
• Bruce Blazing – The Evelyn Hamblen Center/Gaines Alternative School
• Caroline Durham – PVPV Rawlings Elementary
• Catherine Silva – Hickory Creek Elementary
• Danielle Holtman – Gamble Rogers Middle
• Delilah Kuzan – Osceola Elementary
• Dr. Stephanie Brighton – Switzerland Point Middle
• Elise Falstreaux – Pacetti Bay Middle
• Emma Golston – First Coast Technical College
• Emma Kordek – Ponte Vedra High
• Erica Knuckley – Liberty Pines Academy
• Erika Harpe – Pine Island Academy
• Erin Beazzo – Picolata Crossing Elementary
• Fred Flenorl Jr. – Sebastian Middle
• Isabella Jones-Gonzales – Durbin Creek Elementary
• Jadon Mattox – Freedom Crossing Academy
• Jeiko Delgado – R. J. Murray Middle
• Jeremy Hunze – Mill Creek Academy
• Jenny Voreis – Timberlin Creek Elementary
• Jordan Cook – Tocoi Creek High
• Karen Moritz – Palm Valley Academy
• Kody O’Connor – W.D. Hartley Elementary
• Lindsey Taylor – Palencia Elementary
• Mackenzie Hudgins – South Woods Elementary
• Madison Parent – St. Johns Technical High
• Madeline McGinnis – Alice B. Landrum Middle
• Maggie Burkhard – James A. Webster Elementary
• Mathews Huey – Beachside High
• Melissa Balbir – Patriot Oaks Academy
• Melissa Colson – Fruit Cove Middle
• Michael Brinkley – St. Augustine High
• Rachel Blanton – Wards Creek Elementary
• Ryan Muscarella – Pedro Menendez High
• Sarah Dlugopolski – Lakeside Academy
• Sreevidya Iyengar – Cunningham Creek Elementary
• Sydney Skanes – Crookshank Elementary
• Taylor Castilla – Hallowes Cove Academy
• Tom Buckles – Bartram Trail High
• Tori Worthington – Ketterlinus Elementary
• Zachary Bridgett – Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind