JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Duval County announced its 2013 Teacher of the Year tonight at the annual EDDY awards.
Apryl Shackelford was named the 2013 Florida Blue Teacher of the Year.
Shackelford is the lead reading teacher at Northwestern Middle School on the Northside. She was selected from five finalists.
Shackelford is a former high school dropout who went on to earn a bachelor's and a master's degree.
Shackelford is the Young Ladies Lead Advisor for a group called F.I.R.E., which stands for Fabulous Young Ladies, Innovative, Responsible and Educated. She is also the chair of the Northwestern Middle School Advisory Council (SAC).
The other finalists were:
Scott Cason, history teacher at Mandarin High School
Cameron Foley, reading intervention specialist at Ramona Boulevard Elementary School
Blair Nolan, English/language arts teacher at First Coast High School
Robyn White, reading coach at West Jacksonville Elementary School
