Three Lake County teachers who are relatively new in their careers have been named finalists for the district title of “Rookie of the Year” (RTOY).

Superintendent Diane Kornegay, School Board Chairman Tyler Brandeburg, Education Foundation of Lake County Executive Director Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, and others made the surprise announcement this morning to Taylor Emanuel-Caspary of the Aurelia M. Cole Academy, Simeon Hernandez of Lake Minneola High School, and Alexis Lewis of South Lake High School, each of whom has no more than three years of teaching experience.

Emanuel-Caspary has taught third grade for two years. Her greatest inspiration is her mother, who is also an elementary school teacher. She recalls her mother coming home after a long day sharing stories about her students’ breakthroughs. She also emphasized creativity in the classroom, transforming mundane history lessons into vibrant, engaging experiences using music and hands-on activities.

Emanuel-Caspary embraces creativity, too. She recently introduced the “Starbooks Book Tasting Event.” She decorated the collaborative learning space to resemble a cozy cafe with tablecloths, a backdrop and soft music. Students received a menu and were encouraged to “taste” different books by spending a few minutes at each station, reading the first chapter or a few pages of selected books.

“The book tasting event has created a vibrant reading culture in my classroom,” she wrote in her RTOY application essay. “It has empowered my students to discover new stories and share their love of reading with one another. I can’t wait to host another tasting in the near future, as I know it will continue to inspire their imaginations and foster a lifelong love of books.”

Hernandez has taught math for three years. Initially, he dreamed of becoming an actor and tried to build a career in the entertainment industry. He started substitute teaching on a whim, thinking it would be a temporary endeavor, but it ignited something inside of him. “I felt a deep sense of purpose that I hadn’t found anywhere else,” he wrote in his essay. “It was the moment of clarity that helped me realize teaching was what I truly wanted to do.”

He has implemented the “I do, We do, You do” approach to teaching in his classroom. It starts with him working through a math problem, talking through each step. Next, students are given a similar problem and they work in groups to solve it. Finally, students work independently on a practice assignment that reflects the concepts they have covered.

“Overall, this approach creates a structured yet flexible learning environment where students feel supported at every step of the process,” he wrote. “It has not only improved their grasp of mathematical concepts, but also encouraged active participation, collaboration and independent problem-solving – skills that are essential both in and out of the classroom.”

Lewis is a reading teacher with one full year of experience. After leaving her prior work life in law and weathering the COVID pandemic at home teaching her own children for a year, she took a job working as a secretary at Cecil E. Gray Middle School. As students were sent to the administrative office for discipline issues, she helped them with school work.

“It was through these interactions that I first caught the spark to become a teacher,” she wrote. “Working with these students, who were often some of the most difficult to work with, showed me that I have patience. Watching them begin to trust and respect me showed me that I was capable of guiding them.”

She has learned a lot through her transition to a new career. The biggest take-aways are 1) soak in as much as you can from your peers, 2) take every moment as it comes, and 3) enjoy your time with your students. “When you know and appreciate your students for who they are, the pressure of learning and teaching is eased,” she wrote. “The lessons become more natural and fun, and you will have some breathing room when it comes to classroom management and the work of teaching.”

The 2025-26 Rookie Teacher of the Year will be announced on March 4 at the annual “Night of Stars” celebration hosted by the Education Foundation of Lake County.