Schools

From black bag to the blackboard

The Teacher of the Year thought of being a doctor, but realized teaching gave more.

By JEFFERY S. SOLOCHEK, Times Staff Writer
Published January 13, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT Lesley Wade leads the science team at Wiregrass Ranch High.

NEW PORT RICHEY - Lesley Wade studied microbiology in college, and had every intention of becoming a physician.

But something about that future didn't appeal to her. She wanted to make more of a difference to more people.

So she sought the advice of one of her former teachers about what to do next. Before she knew it, she was a science teacher at Wesley Chapel High. She's been a teacher for the past seven years, most recently joining Pasco's newest high school, Wiregrass Ranch.

And apparently it's been a good fit.

Wade received the school district's top honor for teachers, the 2008 Teacher of the Year award, late Saturday evening during a ceremony at River Ridge High. A selection team of district educators selected her from among three finalists, who were chosen from an initial field of 72 candidates.

Wade is the science department chair at Wiregrass Ranch. She also coaches the school's Odyssey of the Mind team and sponsors the National Honor Society.

The other finalists were Dawn Scilex, a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher at Gulf Highlands Elementary, and Valerie Wilkerson, a language arts teacher at John Long Middle.

Fast facts

Other award winners

Administrator of the Year: Monica Verra, director, exceptional student education

School-related Personnel of the Year: Monica Russ, Raymond B. Cox Elementary School

Noninstructional Nonbargaining Employee of the Year: Karen Bryant, district recycling coordinator

[Last modified January 12, 2008, 22:08:41]