Teacher of the Year assigns part of limelight to students

Rather than bask in the glory, the Wharton High educator focuses on helping her students learn. She now is in the running for state Teacher of the Year.

By KATHERINE GAZELLA

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 27, 2000

PEBBLE CREEK -- The morning after being named the county's Teacher of the Year, Terry Sollazzo tried to deflect attention from herself.

[Times photo: Mike Pease] Terry Sollazzo, left, Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year, gets a hug from colleague Brenda Watson ouside Sollazzo's classroom Friday.

When television and newspaper reporters crowded into her classroom, she turned the focus on her students. The Wharton High School instructor told her journalism class to ask questions of the reporters and photographers.

Sollazzo said she wanted her students to benefit from the exposure to professional journalists. She also was glad to be out of the spotlight, where she finds it "a little bit uncomfortable," she said.

The move was vintage Sollazzo, according to her colleagues.

"She's a humble, humble person," Wharton principal Mitch Muley said.

With her recognition Thursday night, Sollazzo, 48, goes on to the state Teacher of the Year competition. She is a 26-year teaching veteran. Previously, she worked at Jefferson and Chamberlain high schools.

At Wharton, she is the adviser for the school newspaper, the Predator. In recent issues, the paper has tackled such topics as teenage drug use, the year 2000 scare and the implications of skipping school.

Many of her students were there when she won the award. PrimeCo had donated its table at the event to Wharton students who wanted to cheer for Sollazzo, said PrimeCo spokesman Chuck Hamby.

For Sollazzo, the award comes at a difficult time in her life. One of her sisters died a year ago and her mother is in poor health. Sollazzo said she was pleased that school officials videotaped the event so it could be shown to her mother.

Another sister had requested that the school district tape the event, Sollazzo said, "in hopes it would lift (my mother's) spirits and make her want to live."

In her classroom Friday, Sollazzo's students treated her like a celebrity.

"You're a superstar!" one student said.

Another said, "You're famous, Mrs. Sollazzo."

As part of the award, Sollazzo was driven to school in a limousine. She didn't act like a celebrity when she emerged from the car.

Someone asked how the ride was.

"It was pretty lonely in there," Sollazzo said.

-Times staff writer Mike Pease contributed to this report.

- Katherine Gazella can be reached at 226-3472 or gazella@sptimes.com.

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