On Friday, January 23, an enthusiastic crowd “cowboyed up” at Lead Foot City to celebrate the Hernando County Teacher of the Year in a country and western-themed event. The venue was decorated with hay bales and cutout silhouettes of cowboys and cowgirls, while attendees donned cowboy boots, western shirts, sequined jackets, and colorful bowties. The celebration’s slogan was “Boots on the Ground and Hearts in the Classroom.”
Tammy Brinker, CEO of the Hernando County Education Foundation (HCEF), addressed the nominees with inspiring words about their impact. “You don’t just teach lessons. You teach confidence, resilience, and how to believe in yourself, even when things get hard,” Brinker said. “You are educators, coaches, counselors, cheerleaders, and problem-solvers, all rolled into one. You were chosen, not just for what you do, but for how you do it, with heart, humor, and an unwavering commitment to your students.”
The event featured entertainment from the F.W. Springstead High School Honors Choir and Del Barnes on saxophone. Cadets from Central High School’s Navy Junior ROTC presented the United States and Florida flags. Billy Healis, Corporate Operations Compliance Manager at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, served as Master of Ceremonies and kept the audience engaged with country western trivia questions, rewarding winners with gift cards.
Major sponsors included Suncoast Credit Union, Lead Foot City, Benjie Blessing State Farm Agent, Wells Fargo, AT&T, WOW Fiber Internet, Herff Jones, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Lowman Law Firm, Tampa General Hospital, Kelly Education, Duke Energy, Grand Canyon University, Brijbag Law, and Hunt Talent, LLC. Special guests included Superintendent of Schools Ray Pinder and School Board members, highlighting the community’s support for Hernando County educators.
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
Sources: Hernando Sun
