News & Events
Media and Press
In the News 2024-2025
- Alachua County Public Schools prepares to announce Teacher of the Year
- Over $5,000 raised by the “Beyond the Arc” campaign with Florida Gators basketball
- Over $200,000 in college scholarships available to Alachua County Public Schools Seniors
- “Beyond the Arc” campaign raises money for local education
- Over $20,000 awarded to STEM educators in Alachua County
- Nearly $400,000 in college scholarships earmarked for eighth- and ninth-grade students
Press 2024-2025
- Alachua County Public Schools prepares to announce Teacher of the Year
- Over $5,000 raised by the “Beyond the Arc” campaign with Florida Gators basketball
- Over $200,000 in college scholarships available to Alachua County Public Schools Seniors
- “Beyond the Arc” campaign raises money for local education
- Over $20,000 awarded to STEM educators in Alachua County
- Nearly $400,000 in college scholarships earmarked for eighth- and ninth-grade students
Impact Stories
Education Gala
Teacher of the Year
Robert W. Hughes Teacher of the Year Program
About the Program
Since 1992, The Education Foundation has helped Alachua County Public Schools in recognizing and empowering its teachers through the annual Teacher of the Year program. Mr. Robert Hughes founded the Teacher of the Year program in 1992 when he was the Superintendent of Schools. This program celebrates 39 leading teachers (one from each public school) across the district. All 39 are given a $500 award for their hard work and one is named the Alachua County Teacher of the Year. The Teacher of the Year then goes on to represent Alachua County at the Macy’s Florida Teacher of the Year program.
Teachers are initially nominated by their peers. Once a teacher is chosen as their school’s Teacher of the Year, they have to submit a resume and teaching philosophy. Then, a committee of past Teacher of the Year recipients decides the finalists for elementary, middle, and high school and the new Teacher of the Year.
As an organization that supports teachers with classroom grants for innovative ideas, The Education Foundation also seeks to recognize and empower teachers for their hard work and dedication to our students. Teachers invest in the lives of students across Alachua County on a daily basis. They are the backbone of our public school system. We trust them with our children and believe in their abilities to guide our students into a stronger tomorrow.