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Vanessa Ko
2017 Pinellas County Teacher of the Year

Vanessa Ko, a mathematics teacher at Palm Harbor Middle School, was named Pinellas County Schools' 2017 Outstanding Educator. The award was presented Tuesday night during the Evening of Excellence at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg. The Evening of Excellence is sponsored by the Pinellas Education Foundation.
Ko began her career with Pinellas County Schools 12 years ago. In addition to teaching math, she is also a Advancement Via Individual Determination program (AVID) teacher and an AVID Site Team co-coordinator at Palm Harbor Middle. Ko was the chairperson of the Math Department for about five years. She sponsored the school’s Math Club where students practiced for competitions and tutored other students on campus.
“I love my students and it’s thrilling to help them learn grit, perseverance and problem solving skills through mathematics and AVIDmy job description includes potentially changing trajectories of young people’s lives for the better.”
Ko began her career with Pinellas County Schools 12 years ago. In addition to teaching math, she is also a Advancement Via Individual Determination program (AVID) teacher and an AVID Site Team co-coordinator at Palm Harbor Middle. Ko was the chairperson of the Math Department for about five years. She sponsored the school’s Math Club where students practiced for competitions and tutored other students on campus.
“I love my students and it’s thrilling to help them learn grit, perseverance and problem solving skills through mathematics and AVIDmy job description includes potentially changing trajectories of young people’s lives for the better.”
The nine other finalists for Outstanding Educator were also recognized:
- William Black, a fifth-grade teacher at Anona Elementary School
- Alison Blanco, a mathematics teacher at Osceola Middle School
- Karen Cangemi, a reading/literacy coach at High Point Elementary Schoo
- Kali Kopka, a kindergarten teacher at Leila Davis Elementary School
- Angela Pitts, a kindergarten teacher at Azalea Elementary School
- Brandon Rader, a social studies teacher at St. Petersburg High School
- David Reid, a curriculum technology specialist at East Lake Middle School Academy
- Zanetta Robinson, a language arts teacher at Thurgood Marshall Fundamental School
- Michelle Zajac, a third grade teacher at Curlew Creek Elementary School
In addition to naming the Outstanding Educator, Karen Cangemi, the reading and literature coach at High Point Elementary, was given the Outstanding Educator Fan Favorite Award. This award category was voted on by students, parents and the community via the Pinellas Education Foundation's Facebook page. Nearly 5,000 votes were cast for Fan Favorite this year.
“Each of the finalists honored embody the characteristics of a great educator. These teachers are passionate about their work and convey that enthusiasm to their students, peers and administrators,” said Michael A. Grego, superintendent of Pinellas County Schools.