For Tami Gomez, teaching is about more than lessons—it’s about creating a space where students feel seen, valued and free to be themselves.

Tami, an art teacher at Eustis High School since 2019, says her mission is to build “an inclusive, safe space where students feel empowered to take creative risks without fear of judgment.”

“I believe that art is a fundamental language that allows every student to discover and refine their unique gifts,” she says.

Her journey into education began in 1995 while volunteering at her daughter’s elementary school, where she discovered a passion for inspiring students. Though she later taught reading in middle school, her classroom always reflected her artistic roots.

“I have always been an artist, and I have always stayed true to myself,” Tami says.

Now with years of experience, including work as a Montessori-trained art and theatre teacher, Gomez blends that philosophy—focused on independence, critical thinking and social responsibility—into her high school classroom.

“I chose high school because of the age,” she says. “I felt this age needed passionate teachers who have lived through some of the same challenges teenagers face today.”

Tami has been teaching full-time since 2007 and says her motivation remains keeping the arts alive while supporting her students.

“I hope my students remember how much they are loved and cared about,” she says.

Tami says her own path wasn’t traditional, leaving high school early before a teacher recognized her artistic talent and made a lasting impact.

“I wanted to be that kind of teacher,” she says.

Today, she makes that impact by taking time each day to listen to her students, even spending her lunch in the classroom to connect with them.

“What makes me unique is the fact that I notice and I take time to get to know my students’ challenges,” she says.

Her classroom focuses less on the final product and more on the creative journey.

“I make learning fun by creating an atmosphere where it’s all about the creative process, not the ending product,” she says.

For Tami, being named an Outstanding Teacher is a reflection of that work.

“Knowing that I am making life a little easier for my students and that they remember me keeps me grounded,” she says.