Walton County fourth-grade teacher Bree O’Donnell named among five finalists for the 2027 Florida Teacher of the Year award

Tallahassee, Florida – A fourth-grade teacher from the Florida Panhandle is now among the top educators in the state after being named a finalist for one of the most prestigious honors in education.

Bree O’Donnell, who teaches math and science at Dune Lakes Elementary School, has been selected as one of five finalists for the 2027 Florida Teacher of the Year award. The announcement was made by the Florida Department of Education in Tallahassee on May 6, 2026.

The recognition places O’Donnell among a highly competitive group of educators. She was chosen from a pool of 74 district-level Teachers of the Year across Florida, a process that narrowed down thousands of educators statewide to just a handful of finalists. The final selection for the 2027 title is expected to be announced in July.

State education leaders praised her work both inside and outside the classroom, pointing to her leadership style and focus on student growth.

Read also: Holy Cross Health marks 70 years of service with the opening of a $41 million Deerfield Beach expansion featuring a new emergency and outpatient center

“Great educators not only shape the success of their own students, but also lead and mentor others, strengthening the entire profession,” said Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. “Bree O’Donnell embodies these qualities as a teacher leader, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to student achievement and a relentless focus on continuous improvement. She is exceptionally deserving of the recognition.”

Support for O’Donnell also came from her local school district, where colleagues say her influence reaches far beyond her own classroom.

“Ms. O’Donnell is an outstanding educator who motivates students to succeed, uplifts her colleagues, and plays a vital role in the school community,” said Russell Hughes. “Her dedication to student learning and deep commitment to making a positive impact truly distinguish her as an educator worthy of recognition.”

O’Donnell’s work in Walton County has included both classroom instruction and district-level leadership. In addition to teaching fourth-grade math and science, she recently helped develop a district-wide pacing guide for those subjects, a resource designed to align instruction across schools and support consistent learning goals.

She also leads her school’s professional learning community, commonly known as a PLC. In that role, she guides collaborative discussions among teachers, focusing on student data, instructional strategies, and continuous improvement. Under her leadership, the group has been recognized as a model for other educators in the district.

Her professional background includes a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Henderson State University, and her career has steadily expanded from classroom teaching into broader instructional leadership roles.

Read also: City of Pembroke Pines launches Every Day Counts water safety campaign to raise awareness about drowning prevention throughout the community

The Florida Teacher of the Year program is one of the state’s most competitive education honors. Each year, more than 170,000 public school teachers across Florida are eligible, but only a small number reach the finalist stage. The selection process includes evaluation by a committee made up of teachers, principals, parents, and business community representatives.

Applicants are assessed on their teaching ability, communication skills, subject mastery, professional development, and service to both school and community. The winner of the 2027 award will go on to serve as the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education, acting as a statewide representative for teachers and the Florida education system.

For O’Donnell, the recognition places a spotlight on years of classroom work that, like many educators, often happens quietly and consistently rather than in headlines. But in Walton County, colleagues say her influence is visible every day—in lesson plans, in teacher collaboration, and in the progress of her students.

More information about the program can be found through Florida Teachers Lead, which oversees statewide efforts to recognize and support outstanding educators.