The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County and the School District of Palm Beach County honored some of the top public school educators in the county on January 29, 2026 at the Celebrate The Great Awards.
More than 300 guests packed the Education Foundation’s new Center for Public School Excellence and Innovation as awards were given to the Principal of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Teacher of the Year, and School-Related Employee of the Year.
Dr. Tameka Robinson of Santaluces Community High School was named Principal of the Year, while the Glades Region earned Assistant Principal of the Year for the second straight year with Syrenthia Boldin of Pahokee Elementary School being selected.
LaWanna S. Jackson of Galaxy E3 Elementary School was named Teacher of the Year, and Connie Sterling of Equestrian Trails Elementary School earned School-Related Employee of the Year.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE REGIONAL FINALISTS:
Principal of the Year:
- Bruce Hightower – Rosenwald Elementary School (Glades Region)
- Dr. Stephanie Nance – Crestwood Middle School (Central Region)
- Dr. Tameka Robinson – Santaluces Community High School (South Region)
- Alicia Taylor – Lincoln Elementary School (North Region)
Assistant Principal of the Year:
- Syrenthia Boldin – Pahokee Elementary School (Glades Region)
- Lauren Hall – Cypress Trails Elementary School (Central Region)
- Shari Cirillo – Blue Lake Elementary School (South Region)
- Nadine Wooley – Allamanda Elementary School (North Region)
Teacher of the Year:
- Mirla Ortega – Glades Central Community High School (Glades Region)
- Annamarie Mitrovich – Seminole Trails Elementary School (Central Region)
- LaWanna S. Jackson – Galaxy E3 Elementary School (South Region)
- Nadine Simmonds Broughton – Howell L. Watkins Middle School (North Region)
School-Related Employee of the Year:
- Carneisha Jenkins – Belle Glade Elementary School (Glades Region)
- Connie Sterling – Equestrian Trails Elementary School (Central Region)
- Victor Gonzalez – Congress Middle School (South Region)
- Ernesto Hernandez – Jupiter Middle School (North Region)
Thank you to all of the generous sponsors of the 2026 Celebrate The Great Awards: Amazon, Florida Power and Light Company, Publix Super Markets Charities, Song + Associates, Proctor Construction Company, PNC Bank, The Weitz Company, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, and WPBF 25 News, the Official Television Partner of the 2026 Celebrate The Great Awards.
Thank you also to TD Bank, Seacoast Bank, Carrier, Gold Coast Federal Credit Union, HCA Florida Healthcare, PopStroke Delray Beach, and RedLife – a red light therapy spa in Wellington – for contributing to the gift bags for each of the 16 finalists.
The four award recipients will represent the School District of Palm Beach County while competing at the state level as part of the Florida Department of Education’s recognition programs.
The Celebrate The Great Awards is a proud partnership between the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, the Recruitment and Retention team within the Human Resources Division of the School District of Palm Beach County, along with the school district’s Office of Strategic Communications and Engagement and The Education Network.
Sponsors
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors for their generous support of this event. Your commitment to investing in educators helps strengthen our schools, uplift our teachers, and ultimately enrich the lives of countless students.
