Belleview Middle and North Marion High can brag they have the top social studies teachers in Marion County.

The Marion County Social Studies Council hands out the honor each year to one middle and one high school teacher based on their knowledge and ability to engage students in lessons, leadership, and collaboration with others.

Vilma Normand is the middle school social studies teacher of the year.  She teaches World Geography to special needs (ESE) and non-English speaking (ESOL) seventh graders at Belleview Middle School.  Normand has worked at Belleview Middle since 1994, when she started with the district as a paraprofessional.  She earned her teaching credentials in 1999.  Normand’s Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science comes from the University of Puerto Rico. 

Samantha Roberts is the high school social studies teacher of the year.  She teaches advanced magnet history classes (AICE and AP) at North Marion High, where she started in 2007.  Roberts holds a Bachelor of Art degree in History and Secondary Education from Salisbury University in Maryland. 

Both teachers are among 13 educators nominated by their colleagues, students, and community members.  Normand and Roberts will represent Marion County at the Florida Council for Social Studies conference in Orlando this October.             

For more information, contact Paul Ouellette at 352.236.0589 or Paul.Ouellette@Marion.k12.fl.us.