By Kyle Coppola
Lake County Schools Name Teacher Of The Year Finalists
TAVARES, Fla. — Three Lake County teachers received a surprise visit Monday from Superintendent Diane Kornegay and a caravan of representatives from the district, the Education Foundation of Lake County, and Jenkins Auto Group.
The entourage visited Jenna Leigh Patrick, a seventh-grade math and honors algebra teacher at Aurelia M. Cole K-8 Academy; Lisa Bryant, an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teacher at Lake Minneola High School; and Cynthia Henderson, a fourth-grade English language arts and social studies teacher at Treadway Elementary School. Kornegay announced that a panel of judges working with the Education Foundation had selected the three educators as finalists for Lake County’s Teacher of the Year.
Patrick, who has taught for five years, including two in her current role, led her students to top performance in seventh-grade math proficiency last year. Under her guidance, her students outperformed all other middle schools in the district, according to Aurelia M. Cole Principal Scott Voytko. Patrick also coaches the school’s volleyball team.
“Mrs. Patrick has a remarkable ability to make complex mathematical concepts accessible and engaging to striving students, which fosters a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom,” Voytko wrote in his recommendation letter.
Bryant, a teacher for 12 years, has spent the last five years working with ESE students ages 18 to 22 in a transition program focused on life and vocational skills. She also serves as co-chair of the ESE department at Lake Minneola High.
“Every day, Lisa approaches her work with unparalleled dedication, ensuring that her students not only receive quality education but are also equipped with the tools they need to thrive in life,” Principal William Roberts wrote in his recommendation.
Henderson, in her 22nd year of teaching and fifth year in her current role, serves as the lead advisor for Treadway Elementary’s National Elementary Honor Society chapter, organizing community service projects.
“Ms. Henderson is a phenomenal educator who deeply engages her students in reading and critical thinking,” Dr. Venessa King, principal of Treadway, wrote in a letter to the selection committee. “She has an innate ability to bring lessons to life, immersing her students in the material.”
The Education Foundation of Lake County will host a celebration on Jan. 30 to announce the county’s Teacher of the Year. The winner will drive away in a 2025 automobile from Jenkins Auto Group and receive additional prizes from community partners, including Ernie Morris Enterprises. The winner will also advance to compete for Florida’s Teacher of the Year.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
