The 70 Volusia County public schools have nominated their representative for Teacher of the Year 2025. These nominees were selected by their peers. The final announcement of who will be the Teacher of the Year 2025 will take place at a banquet on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. Below are the nominees from the schools in West Volusia:
Elementary-school division: Allison Waters, Blue Lake in DeLand; Mary Dunn, Citrus Grove in DeLand; LeeAnne Hockenberry, DeBary; Jamie Menard, Deltona Lakes; Natasha Guidry, Discovery in Deltona; Bridget Packey, Enterprise; John Zillman, Forest Lake in Deltona; Elissa Sabatini, Freedom in DeLand; Amanda Lee, Friendship in Deltona; Gina Marie Walker, George Marks in DeLand; Michele Lee Benson, Manatee Cove in Orange City; Jennifer Lambus, McInnis in DeLeon Springs; Fran Kennedy, Orange City; Naomi Schneider, Osteen; Kevin Treur, Pierson; Amanda Dunkins, Pride in Deltona; Darlene Tufariello, Spirit in Deltona; Dashia R. Haws, Starke in DeLand; Tara McCarthy-Ward, Sunrise in Deltona; Amanda Marie Collier, Timbercrest in Deltona; Sarah Asma, Volusia Pines in Lake Helen; and Ashley Cowell, Woodward Avenue in DeLand.
Secondary-school division: Amy Dempsey, DeLand High; Terri Schmidt, DeLand Middle; Kelley Daly, Deltona High; Dwayne J. Chatman, Deltona Middle; Lizbeth Velez, Galaxy Middle in Deltona; Evelyn Robinson, Heritage Middle in Deltona; Carol Langbecker, Highbanks Learning Center in DeBary; Jennifer Lupica, Pine Ridge High in Deltona; Jacquelynn Collins, River Springs Middle in Orange City; Heidi Campbell, Southwestern Middle in DeLand; Whitney Sylvia, Taylor Middle-High in Pierson; Dawn L. Drysdale, University High in Orange City; and Victoria Hamlin, Volusia Online Learning.
The Holly Hill School will be offering the inaugural Grace Weite Memorial 5K Run at the Hill at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. This event honors the memory of Grace Weite, a beloved teacher at Holly Hill School known for her infectious positivity and resilience.
The Holly Hill School, a Volusia County public school, is at 1500 Center Ave. in Holly Hill. Register at https://rb.gy/yop33.
Accel Research Sites in DeLand presents Trunk or Treat 4-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, at 860 Peachwood Drive in DeLand. Light refreshments, costume contests and door prizes will be offered.
Don’t forget that Thursday, Oct. 26, is SAT School Day, when eighth-graders and all high-school students will be taking SAT tests. It is important to be in school that day. All tests are given at school during the school day and are free of charge.
The Volusia County School District is moving toward becoming paperless. Therefore, progress reports, report cards, schedules and other important information will not be printed. These items will be presented on the Parent Portal; all the more reason for parents to get access to the VCS Parent Portal. Check with the guidance department of your child’s school.
The first grading period ended Oct. 13, while the second grading period began Tuesday, Oct. 17. Report cards will be on the Parent Portal Friday, Oct. 20.
It is reported that the University of Florida is offering dual enrollment for juniors and seniors who have at least a 3.6 GPA and SAT of 1100, ACT of 22 or PSAT of 1130. Information and applications can be found at dualenrollment.dce.ufl.edu.
Applications are due by Monday, Oct. 30.
Blue Lake Elementary School
Blue Lake Elementary School in DeLand congratulates Oliver Vidaurrazaga for being named the school’s Superstar Student of the Month by the DeLand City Commission.
Numerous students at Blue Lake have their artwork on display at DeLand City Hall.
DeBary Elementary School
DeBary Elementary School is hosting a Trunk or Treat Candyraiser through Thursday, Oct. 26. Each class will collect bags of candy, with the grade level with the most pounds of candy winning a prize sponsored by the DeBary Parent-Teacher Organization. These bags should be delivered to Mrs. Brown (Room 06-013) to be weighed. All candy will then be distributed during the DeBary Trunk or Treat Friday, Oct. 27. Parents are asked to write the student’s name on the bag, the student’s teacher’s name and the student’s grade level.
The Trunk or Treat will be in the parent pickup loop.Hours for the event will have the kindergartners through second-graders 4-5 p.m., and the third- through fifth-graders 5-6 p.m. Cars may be parked in the bus loop or at the church. It is suggested to wear a costume and bring a bag.
Enterprise Elementary School
Enterprise Elementary School will be offering a PTA-sponsored golf tournament Saturday, Oct. 21, at Glen Abbey Golf Club. Sign-in and breakfast are at 7:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.
Sign-up details and entry cost can be found at http://app.memberhub.gives/765BAE.
Volusia Pines Elementary School
Volusia Pines Elementary School in Lake Helen congratulates Richard Wagner, who has been named Employee of the Month.
DeLand High School
DeLand High School Homecoming is upon us. The Homecoming Dance is Saturday, Oct. 21; the Student Growl is Thursday, Oct. 26; and alumni events, the parade and the game will be Friday, Oct. 27.
Daytona State College
Daytona State College will have its annual open house on the college campus in DeLand 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24.
opened its 64th season Sept. 18, with 45 attending the dinner/meeting at Sparrow’s Grille at the Victoria Hills Golf Club. The first meeting featured Brian Young, left, head football coach at Stetson University. He was accompanied by Stetson’s Offensive Coordinator Norman Joseph, at right. With them is the club’s captain, Jim Carlson. The club meets weekly Mondays throughout football season. For more information, email delandqbclub@gmail.com, or call Carlson at 386-785-4858.
PHOTO COURTESY JIM CARLSON
West Volusia high-school football
On Oct. 6, DeLand High defeated Deltona, 70-12; Deltona Pine Ridge was just topped by Mount Dora, 28-26; Pierson Taylor was stopped by Interlachen, 20- 12; and Deltona Trinity Christian was shut out by Bronson, 22-0. Orange City University had the week off.
Games on Friday, Oct. 20, send DeLand to Orange City University, and Bishop Moore to Deltona High. Pierson Taylor hosts Keystone Heights, and Deltona Trinity Christian greets Halifax Academy. Deltona Pine Ridge has the night off. All games are at 7 p.m.
DeLand High School Athletics
The DeLand High School Lady Bulldog volleyball team defeated East Ridge, 2-0; Pine Ridge, 3-0; and Orangewood Christian, 2-1; and lost to Lake Brantley, 3-1.
The Bulldog swimmers outswam Atlantic, 138-22 for the boys and 127-55 for the girls.
The junior-varsity football team lost to Flagler Palm Coast, 35-34.
The DeLand girls’ golf team stopped Flagler Palm Coast, 168-214.
The DeLand boys’ golf team stopped University, 159-195, with Stanton Bonk carding a 38. The DeLand boys also downed Oviedo, 172-207, with Logan Levon and Isak Coveney each scoring 41. They defeated Oviedo, 172-207.
The bowling team defeated Atlantic, 7-0, with Sebastian Baldwin rolling a 298, and outpointed Mainland, 5-2, with Jesse Barger scoring a 221 and Dylan Kennerson a 212.
Monday, Oct. 23, has the boys’ golf team at the FHSAA District Tournament; on Tuesday, Oct. 24, the swimmers play host to University for Senior Night at 4 p.m.; and on Wednesday, Oct 25, the junior-varsity football team greets Deltona at 6 p.m. on Sperling field.
Friday and Saturday, Oct. 27 and 28, have the swim team at their district meet trying to qualify for regional and state meets.
West Volusia high-school cross-country
Several members of the West Volusia teams traveled to the Paradise Landscaping & Nursery Matanzas Cross-Country Invitational. The DeLand boys placed second behind New Smyrna Beach, with Orange City University finishing 13th, Deltona Pine Ridge 16th and Pierson Taylor 18th, while the girls’ teams found Orange City University in third and DeLand sixth. Deltona had runners but not enough to make a full team score.
The boys’ race found Deltona’s Carlos Cerrud finishing fourth overall at 17:49.84; DeLand’s Connor York in seventh at 18:16.81; Deltona Pine Ridge runner Samuel Ynguil at 21:16.59; and Pierson Taylor’s top finisher Walker Galarza at 24:02.67.
The female runners found Orange City University’s Hannah Judge in second overall at 21:17.37, with Morgan Harvill in third at 21:35.34. DeLand’s Addison Leonard was 12th at 22:25.96. They were followed by Deltona’s Juliana Ortega at 31:33.56, and Deltona Pine Ridge’s Nancy Peters at 33:47.85.
Stetson University Homecoming
Homecoming for the Stetson University Hatters is Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 19-22, celebrating 140 years. The Class of 1973 is the honored class, celebrating their milestone 50th year. For more information, go to stetson.edu/homecoming.
The Hall of Fame induction dinner is at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, in the Stetson Room. Registration is required. Those being inducted include softball player Jessie TenBroeck, volleyball player Kristin Lind, and baseball players Brooks Wilson and Logan Gilbert.
The following awards will also be presented during the weekend: the Distinguished Alumni Award; the Outstanding Young Alumni Award; the Distinguished Service Award; the Doyle E. Carlton Award; and the George and Mary Hood Award.
Stetson University Athletics
The Stetson University Lady Hatter volleyball team downed conference foe Queens, 3-2 (25-14, 25- 18, 21-25, 26-28, 15-11). Amaris Carter had 22 kills and 13 digs, and Anabelle Standish added 19 kills and 21 digs.
The Stetson women’s soccer team lost to Kennesaw State, 1-0.
The cross-country teams went to the FSU Invite. The Hatter men were led by sophomore Collin Brooks, who covered the 8K course in 25:40.9 for the finish, while the women were led by junior Blair Durda at the 5K course at 18:15.9. The men’s team was 15th, while the women were 14th out of 36 teams.
The Stetson men’s basketball team has added Montay Brandon as an assistant coach. He comes from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where he was an assistant coach. He was a four-year starter at FSU.
The Stetson sports calendar has the men’s and women’s soccer teams at home Saturday, Oct. 21, with the women hosting FGCU at 5 p.m. and the men greeting Lipscomb at 7 p.m., while the volleyball team is at Bellarmine at 4 p.m.
On Tuesday, Oct. 24, the volleyball team faces FGCU at home at 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 27, has the women’s soccer team at home in the first round of the ASUN tournament, while on Saturday, Oct. 28, the men’s soccer team is at Bellarmine. That same day, the cross-country team will be in Nashville for the ASUN championship.
— Send school news to Tony Tussing via email: at flacoach43@hotmail.com.
