ORANGE PARK - The Clay Education Foundation and Clay County District Schools honored its best of the best Thursday night at the annual Apple Awards at the Thrasher-Horne Center.

Robin Campbell, the science department head at Wilkinson Junior High, was overwhelmed with emotion upon winning Clay Education Foundation's Teacher of the Year in front of hundreds of attendees from across the school district.

"I am incredibly grateful. We have an incredible student body and administration. I am in shock. It is such an amazing night," Campbell said. 

When Superintendent David Broskie read her name on stage, the section in the audience comprised of Campbell's fans – coworkers, colleges, students, family and friends – clapped and cheered along with the rest of the student body in attendance.

It was an award that was well deserved. 

Campbell is a teacher who was described at the ceremony as someone who possesses an innate ability to infuse enthusiasm and curiosity into every scientific concept she introduces. She makes complex subjects accessible, fostering an environment where questions are encouraged and celebrated. Her interactive teaching methods, from captivating experiments to engaging discussions, turn the classroom into a discovery laboratory. Campbell truly believes that every student can and will achieve higher levels of success when they leave her class compared to when they entered. She inspires her students to reach higher and higher levels of achievement and never sets a limit to how high they can go.

In recognition for her dedication and enthusiasm, Campbell was gifted a new, fully paid 2024 Chevy Trax courtesy of Garber Automall in Green Cove Springs.

Philip Turturro won School-Related Employee of the Year.

Turturro serves as the Internal School Suspension (ISS) liaison at Doctors Inlet Elementary. When he first arrived at Doctors Inlet Elementary (DIS) a few years ago, Turturro set a goal to remove the stigma of ISS being a place of “punishment” and replace it as a place of social, emotional, and educational growth. In addition to his ISS responsibilities, Turturro created a three-part school-wide mentoring program. The premise is to foster and build positive relationships with students outside of the standard classroom setting.

Turturro swelled with emotion.

“I had the opportunity to meet all the finalists. I thought, ‘I don’t know how the county is going to narrow it down.’ Everyone is so amazing and professional and a tremendous asset to the county. I’m so thankful. Everyone is so overqualified and deserving,” he said. 

Allison Sanders won Rookie Teacher of the Year.

Sanders began her educational career at Keystone Heights Elementary as a Behavioral Health Assistant. She completed her bachelor’s degree in education and was hired as an EBD Self-Contained Teacher in December of 2022. Sanders has embraced every professional development opportunity and internalizes feedback provided during administrative classroom visits. Her colleagues describe her as, "having a strong work ethic, committed to her students, engaging, adaptable, passionate, creative and dedicated."