Local educator named 2023 Florida Teacher of the Year

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — A local math teacher just became the 2023 Florida Teacher of the Year.

Melissa Anne Matz teaches in Clay County and was recognized for her excellence in teaching on Thursday. She was selected from nearly 185,000 public school teachers.

She will serve as the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education for a year.

Matz is a seventh-grade math teacher at Lakeside High School and she has been the head of the department since 2015.

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Throughout her tenure, she has made it a point to speak with every student who walks into her classroom in a way that is essential for teaching math.

Additionally, she has worked with college interns, become the chairperson for the school’s advisory committee and she is a school representative for district curriculum-map writing.

As the winner, Matz will receive $20,000 from the Florida Department of Education, a tuition waiver to pursue a graduate degree from the Florida State University College of Education and a two-year Florida College Scholarship from the Florida Prepaid College Board to give to a student of her choice.

The rest of the finalists will receive $15,000 and the other Teacher of the Year district winners will receive $10,000.

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