Lake County's own Tammy Jerkins beat out four other finalists to win Macy’s/Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year on Thursday night.

  • Leesburg High teacher Tammy Jerkins won $25,000
  • She'll also get trip to NY for Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade
  • 2 other finalists were from Marion, Osceola counties

The awards gala was held at Hard Rock Live at Universal Studios. Gov. Rick Scott and his wife, Ann, presented the award to Jerkins, who teaches math at Leesburg High School.

"First Lady Ann Scott and I are proud to join Macy's and the Florida Department of Education to recognize the 2018 Teacher of the Year, Tammy Jerkins. I'd like to thank all of these educators for their incredible impact on Florida students and I applaud their commitment to preparing them for higher education and successful careers," Scott said.

Jerkins won $25,000, a $1,000 Macy's gift card and a trip to New York for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The other finalists were presented with a $17,535 check from the Florida Department of Education and Macy's: elementary school teacher Katelyn Fiori from Vero Beach Elementary in Indian River County; exceptional education teacher Diego Fuentes from the Hillcrest School in Marion County; elementary school teacher Michael Miller from Kissimmee Elementary in Osceola County; and mathematics and AVID teacher Vanessa Ko from Palm Harbor Middle School in Pinellas County. Each of the finalists’ schools received a $1,000 check.