NICEVILLE, Fla. — The Okaloosa County School District has announced its 2027 Teacher of the Year, recognizing an educator whose work supports students with diverse learning needs, according to the district.
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The district named Kimberly Day-Scanlon of Kenwood Elementary School as its 2027 Teacher of the Year. She serves as a fourth- and fifth-grade Exceptional Student Education CBA teacher.
According to the Okaloosa County School District, Ms Day-Scanlon earned a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, and a Master of Science in Inclusive Education and Special Education from Nazareth College in Rochester, New York.
“Ms. Day-Scanlon exemplifies the heart of teaching in Okaloosa County,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers.
“Her dedication to students, particularly those with unique learning needs, reflects the very best of our profession. She represents the compassion, skill, and excellence we see every day in classrooms across our district, and we are incredibly proud to honor her as our Teacher of the Year.”
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The district also recognized two runners-up for the 2027 honor: Kimberly Moran, an art teacher at Fort Walton Beach High School, and Sarah Theres, a music teacher at Florosa Elementary School.
According to the district, 38 Teacher of the Year nominees, one from each Okaloosa County school, were selected by their faculty and represented their campuses during the process. The Teacher of the Year program recognizes excellence one year in advance, with selections beginning in 2025 for the 2027 designation.
As the district’s honoree, Ms Day-Scanlon will represent Okaloosa County in the statewide competition against educators from 71 public school districts and other Florida institutions. She is also expected to participate in the Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year Roundtable and attend the Macy’s Gala Awards Ceremony, where the Florida Teacher of the Year is announced.
The Okaloosa County School District also thanked the Teacher of the Year Selection Committee, the Okaloosa County Education Association, the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation, and district sponsors for their continued support of educators.
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