1. Christopher De León, Dreyfoos School of the Arts
Mr. De León is a dedicated educator with a career spanning more than 20 years, 17 of which have been spent in public school music education. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree with a minor in Jazz Studies. He is also a product of Florida music education, having been born and raised in Miami, Florida, and having spent his entire public education teaching career in the state of Florida.
Throughout his tenure as a jazz educator, Mr. De León’s ensembles have consistently earned national acclaim across a wide range of musical styles. Under his leadership, his jazz ensembles have been recognized as six-time national finalists at the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival (2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025, 2026), including being named the Honorable Mention Band in 2025 and placing third in 2026. His groups have also achieved top honors as national finalists at the Swing Central Jazz Festival (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020), received multiple DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards (2018, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026), and earned first place at the Berklee College of Music High School Jazz Festival (2015) and were selected as a featured high school jazz ensemble at the 2024 Jazz Education Network Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Beyond the classroom, Mr. De León is committed to giving back to the jazz education community. He has served as a guest clinician and conductor for several All-District Jazz Ensembles, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Regional Competitions, and will serve as the conductor of the 2027 Florida All-State Middle School Jazz Band. He is also a contributing author to the international jazz education publication Teaching Music through Performance in Jazz, Volume 3 (GIA Publications).
Believing that some of the most impactful learning experiences come through mentorship with world-class professionals, Mr. De León regularly connects his students with leading jazz artists and educators. His ensembles have shared the stage with renowned musicians such as Terell Stafford, Marcus Printup, Wycliffe Gordon, Scotty Barnhart, Ron Blake, Sherman Irby, Bob Reynolds, Jason Marsalis, Rodney Whitaker, Valery Ponomarev, Buster Cooper, Dave Stryker, John Lamb, and Paul Nedzela.
Outside of his professional work, Mr. De León finds joy in family life. He is happily married to his wife, Traci, a mathematics teacher at Dreyfoos, and is a proud father of his daughter, Alyssa (14), and his sons, Julian (9) and Jonathan (7).
2. Bobby Lint, American Heritage Schools
Bo Lint is the Director of Speech & Debate at American Heritage Schools, Palm Beach Campus. Since he joined American Heritage in 2018, the program has grown from 30 students to over 200, becoming one of the nation’s premier Speech & Debate programs. Under his leadership, the program has expanded to include a 4th/5th-grade after school program, national-level competition for 6th-12th graders, and more than 10 course offerings. While Bo has taught all levels of Speech & Debate and oversees the entire program, he primarily teaches the advanced High School classes (along with AP Comparative Government and Politics). His classes focus on teaching transferable skills, including critical thinking, argumentation, and verbal and non-verbal communication, while preparing students for the highest level of competition. Bo’s students have won prestigious tournaments, including the NSDA National Tournament, Florida Varsity State Championship, Yale Invitational, The Glenbrooks, and Florida Blue Key. At this year’s National Tournament, American Heritage was named a School of Outstanding Distinction, an award given to the top 10 schools at the tournament. Additionally, American Heritage has won the Overall District Sweepstakes Award for the last seven years, the longest run in the Florida Oceanfront district’s history.
Bo is equally committed to service and giving back to the Speech & Debate community. Currently, he is a member of the NSDA Florida Oceanfront District Committee, serves as Vice President of Debate for the PBCFL, and was recently elected to a three-year term on the NSDA’s Competition and Rules Leadership Committee, representing the Southeast Region (FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, VA). Previously, Bo served as President of the Palm Beach Middle School Forensic League (PBMSFL) and Vice President of the Florida Forensic League (FFL). He has been recognized by the National Speech & Debate Association as a Two Diamond Coach, Distinguished Service Award Recipient, and Florida Oceanfront District Coach of the Year. He also serves as a Gator Guard coach for the Florida Blue Key Speech & Debate Tournament. Bo believes that Speech & Debate teaches students how to address important issues productively and respectfully, empowers them to use their voice to advocate for change, and equips them with skills to succeed later in life. As a Speech & Debate alumnus himself, he is committed to sharing the transformative power of this activity with students at American Heritage and beyond.
3. Ashley Federico, Lake Worth High School
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in more than 20 years in education and over a decade as a foster parent, it’s that every child needs someone who believes in them. I’ve been fortunate to spend my life trying to be that person. Whether at school or at home, I’ve seen the difference it makes when a child begins to believe in themselves.
My journey in education started as a substitute teacher, where I quickly realized this was the work I was meant to do. Since then, I have taught middle and high school English before moving into my current role as a Literacy Coach and Department Chair for Reading and English. Along the way, I earned two master’s degrees in Curriculum Development and Educational Leadership, became certified in ESE and ESOL, and learned from incredible educators who have shaped who I am as a teacher and leader. As an original member of the Lake Worth Beach Educational Task Force, I continue to believe that great educators never stop learning and that meaningful change happens when schools and communities work together.
Being a foster parent and later adopting two children changed me in ways I never expected. It reminded me that every child has a story, but they should never be defined by their challenges. My experiences working with students from all backgrounds, including Title I, ESE, and ESOL populations, have reinforced what I believe every child needs: someone who will believe in them, support them, and never give up.
One of my favorite parts of being a Literacy Coach is watching a student have that “I get it!” moment. To me, literacy is about so much more than reading a book or writing an essay. It is about helping students become confident readers, writers, and thinkers. I love watching students sit together in literature circles, talk through a text, make connections to their own lives, ask questions, and learn from different perspectives. Seeing students get excited about an idea, challenge each other’s thinking, and realize their voice matters reminds me why I love being an educator. Those experiences build confidence and skills that reach beyond the classroom.
I’ve also learned that one of the best ways to support students is by supporting the teachers who show up for them every day. Teaching is hard, and it requires heart, patience, and resilience. The amazing teachers I have worked alongside throughout my career have been instrumental to my own growth and have reminded me of the power of collaboration. I believe teachers deserve leaders who stand beside them, encourage them, and remind them that their work matters.
At the end of the day, I want every child and teacher to know that someone believes in them. For me, that is what this work has always been about.
4. Jennifer Spear, Jupiter Christian School
I am a native Floridian, whose family has called South Florida home for generations. My husband and I have raised three boys while remaining deeply rooted in this community. Over the past 17 years, I have taught in both public and private schools throughout northern Palm Beach County and currently teach fifth-grade U.S. History at Jupiter Christian School. My family’s history dates back to the founding of the United States, and I am completing my membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution. This heritage has given me a deep appreciation for our nation’s history and confirmed that teaching U.S. History is my calling. As a proud American, I am passionate about helping the next generation understand not only how our country was formed, but also why it is worth honoring and preserving.
I believe history is best learned by experiencing it—not simply by memorizing names and dates. My classroom is designed to help students personally connect with the people, events, and principles that shaped the United States through meaningful, hands-on experiences. More than historical knowledge, I want my students to deeply understand the sacrifices, courage, and values that built our nation. My classroom reflects that mission. Decorated wall-to-wall in red, white, and blue, it honors the branches of the U.S. military, first responders, and significant moments in American history while encouraging gratitude, patriotism, civic engagement, and servant leadership.
My lessons combine storytelling, music, games, artifacts, visuals, and hands-on activities that bring history to life. Students churn butter and play pioneer games while studying colonial America, celebrate America’s birthday with cake and balloons, write a “breakup letter” to King George while learning about the Declaration of Independence, and hold a trial for the British officer at the center of the Boston Massacre. A classroom timeline stretching from the Ice Age to the present helps students visualize the chronological connections throughout history.
Preparing informed and responsible citizens is one of my greatest passions. During our government unit, community leaders—including Florida legislators—visit our classroom to share firsthand insight into the legislative process. Every Tuesday is “Election Day,” giving students regular opportunities to vote while learning the importance of integrity, privacy, responsibility, and civic engagement. One of the highlights of the year is our annual Night at the Wax Museum. Students research influential historical figures, prepare presentations, and become living exhibits for family members and guests. In collaboration with their English class, this experience strengthens research, writing, and public speaking skills while inspiring students to appreciate the individuals whose leadership and sacrifices shaped our nation.
5. Jim Gramentine, Palm Beach Day Academy
Jim Gramentine, known to generations of students simply as “Mr. G.”, just completed his 37th and final year at Palm Beach Day Academy, capping a teaching career defined by an unwavering belief that every child deserves to feel they belong. Raised on the campus of Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio, where his father taught, coached, and served as director of admission, Jim seemed destined for a life in schools even as he pursued a Political Science degree at Carleton College. After teaching history at Montclair Kimberley Academy in New Jersey and a brief detour into the corporate world, a conversation with a mentor redirected him toward elementary education — a shift that would define the rest of his career.
Jim joined Palm Beach Day School in 1989 as a third-grade teacher under Headmaster Jack Thompson, beginning a tenure that would touch nearly every corner of the school. Over the decades he taught third and fourth grade, coached boys soccer and flag football, and directed the school’s after-school activities program, E.T.C. He stepped into administration as Acting Lower School Head in 1999, then served as Head of Upper School from 2006 to 2012, steering the division following the merger with the Academy of the Palm Beaches. But the classroom always called him back, and in 2012 he returned to teaching fourth grade, where he remained until his retirement.
Known for beginning nearly every school day with a song and occasionally hopping atop a student’s desk to bring a little extra life to a grammar lesson, Jim built a classroom culture around one enduring message: “You belong here.” Over the years, he also made a habit of turning up in the spring musical with the occasional cameo — memorably as Chef Louis in this year’s production, a role he counts among his fondest memories of his final year. Jim’s retirement was marked by a school-wide celebration, an oil portrait unveiled in his honor, and feature coverage in the Palm Beach Daily News — a fitting tribute to nearly four decades spent shaping the students, and the school, he loved.
6. Marsia Tucci, Jupiter Elementary School
As I begin my 34th year in education, I am more certain than ever that teaching is where I can make the greatest impact. Although I have served as a teacher, instructional leader, and administrator, nothing compares to the privilege of working directly with children and helping them discover their confidence, purpose, and potential. Being named one of Palm Beach Illustrated Magazine’s six Teacher of the Year finalists is an incredible honor and a reflection of the students, families, colleagues, and community who inspire me every day. My greatest hope is that every child who leaves my classroom becomes not only a successful student, but also an empathetic, responsible, and humble citizen. These children will one day become our neighbors, community leaders, and decision-makers, and I believe we all have a responsibility to help shape their futures with compassion, integrity, and hope.
As an ESOL Resource Teacher at Jupiter Elementary, a Title I and “A” rated school, I am passionate about ensuring every child feels proud of who they are and where they come from. As the granddaughter of Italian immigrants, I understand the importance of honoring one’s heritage, so I intentionally create opportunities for students to celebrate their own cultures while learning to appreciate others. My annual Hispanic Heritage Month interactive exhibit has become a beloved tradition, allowing every student in our school to explore the history, traditions, and contributions of Hispanic cultures through hands-on experiences. My classroom philosophy is simple: language acquisition doesn’t happen in a silent classroom. By creating a safe, welcoming environment where multilingual learners feel comfortable taking risks, speaking English, sharing their stories, and even participating in the morning announcements, I help students find not only their voices, but also the confidence to believe in themselves. Beyond academics, I encourage healthy lifestyles by promoting movement, nutrition, and school-wide wellness initiatives that empower students to make lifelong healthy choices.
One of the greatest lessons I hope to teach is the importance of serving others. For more than a decade, I have organized annual holiday clothing, food, and toy drives for our students and their families, bringing together generous friends, businesses, and supporters from Palm Beach County, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York. Together, we have collected and distributed thousands of dollars’ worth of donations, ensuring that children in our school experience the joy, dignity, and hope they deserve during the holiday season. I am also proud to collaborate with families, colleagues, and community partners throughout the year to remove barriers to learning and create opportunities for every child to thrive. I am grateful to have been recognized by Palm Beach Illustrated Magazine, but my greatest accomplishment will always be the success and confidence of the students and families I have had the privilege to serve.
