Congratulations to Rachel Serra, the 2012 Teacher of the Year for the School District of Indian River County. Rachel is a fourth grade teacher at Vero Beach Elementary School. She received the award at a special dinner held on March 1xt at the Vero Beach Country Club, in honor of all twenty-one nominees for Teacher of the Year.

Miss Serra has been teaching for five years. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree at Plymouth State University in May 2006 and began teaching at Vero Beach Elementary in August of the same year. She is a very active staff member at Vero Beach Elementary School and also a community volunteer.  At school, she is the grade level chairperson, a dance coach, social committee chairperson, and a member of the Indian River County Education Association. In our community, she volunteers at the Hibiscus Children’s Center and is a member of Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society. 

Bonnie Swanson, principal at Vero Beach Elementary, was beaming as she stood next to Rachel after she was named Indian River County’s Teacher of the Year on Tuesday evening. “We are so proud of Rachel, this is just great” she said. Superintendent  La Cava agreed. “Rachel Serra is a wonderful example of everything that is great in education today,” he said.

Rachel Serra was elated. “I can’t believe it,” she said, as she accepted her award from Dr. La Cava. Serra was chosen by a committee comprised of former Teachers of the Year as well as administrators and community members.  The committee had narrowed the field of nominees from twenty-one to five finalists who were: Heather Holden, Vero Beach High School; Rose Brickles, Sebastian Elementary; Sue Di Domizio, Highlands Elementary; Sandy McMahon, Gifford Middle School; and Rachel Serra, Vero Beach Elementary. 

Rachel Serra will go on to compete for the State Teacher of the Year title, which is sponsored by the Florida Department of Education and Macy’s, later in the year.  

Congratulations Rachel Serra!