The Congressional Education Awards were presented by U.S. Congressman Vern Buchanan and
his staff, Thursday May 1, 2025, at Manatee Technical College. The awards were established to
recognize outstanding teachers, administrators and support staff in Florida’s 16th Congressional
District.
Manatee District Honorees Included:
Congressional Leadership Award: Joseph Hougland – Principal, Stewart Elementary
Relief After the Storm Award: Mary Glass and the Manatee Education Foundation
Emergency Hurricane Shelter Award: Presented to Principals, Head Custodians and Cafeteria
Managers who operated hurricane shelters last fall.
Teachers and Instructional Staff:
Kathleen Bayliss – Pre-K Teacher, Sea Breeze Elementary; Felicia Chasey – Math Teacher,
Lakewood Ranch High; Stacy Freeman – Third Grade Teacher, McNeal Elementary; Joseph
Gibson – Art Teacher, Haile Middle; McKenzie Gorskey – Agriculture Teacher, Lakewood
Ranch High; Jennifer Grant – Language Arts Teacher, Lakewood Ranch High; Hannah Hunter –
ASD Teacher, Willis Elementary; Katharine Kimbrell – VE Teacher, Braden River Middle;
Noelle Kourakos – First Grade Teacher, Willis Elementary; Jessica Mynatt – Science Teacher,
Braden River Middle; Susan Nova – Fourth Grade Teacher, Harvey Elementary; Julie Read –
Fifth Grade Teacher, McNeal Elementary; Laura Redeker – Student Support Specialist, Anna
Maria Elementary; Tasheta Riley – Braden River Middle; Fay Pollack Servoss – Media
Specialist, Rogers Garden Elementary; Sarah Tateosian – Fourth Grade Teacher, McNeal
Elementary; Stephanie Tretolo – Fifth Grade Teacher, McNeal Elementary; Kim Wilder – Third
Grade Teacher, Gene Witt Elementary; John Wilkerson – Music Teacher, Lakewood Ranch High.
Support Staff:
Eric Cooke – Guardian, Williams Elementary; Emanuel Harris – Head Custodian, Braden River
Middle; Angela Nowakowski – Nurse, Witt Elementary; Lora Sevarino – Media Specialist,
Willis Elementary; Kelly Taillefer – Cafeteria Manager, Braden River Middle; Suzanne Theiss –
Senior School Secretary, Southeast High; Kimberly Thomas – Student Support Specialist, Willis
Elementary; Steven Vance – Senior School Secretary, Braden River Middle; LuLu Yancy
–Paraprofessional, Myakka City Elementary.
Administrators and Principals:
Jeannie Galindo – Assistant Principal, Lakewood Ranch High; Joseph Hougland – Principal,
Stewart Elementary; Sheila Waid – Principal, McNeal Elementary; Samantha Webb – Principal,
Able Elementary; Rudy Keezer – Principal, Ballard Elementary; Marla Massi-Blackmore –
Principal Tillman Elementary.
All Honorees
Credit Manatee County School Board
