Treasure Coast High School (TCHS) reading teacher and St. Lucie Public Schools’ 2014 Outstanding First Year Teacher of the Year Leilani Ankiel was recognized at the March 11, 2014, St. Lucie County School Board meeting for her honor. Ankiel was unable to attend the Night of the Stars gala employee recognition event February 22, 2014, where she was announced as the district winner, because as the team coach, Ankiel was accompanying the TCHS girls’ varsity basketball team at the state championship game in Lakeland the same day. The team was also honored at the school board meeting for their accomplishment as the first TCHS team to reach state competition; the team was runner-up for the state title. Pictured, bottom row, from left, are team members Justine Kolb, Alexa Sucato, Alexis Romano, Evelyn Sagner, Aly Kolb, and Asia Jones. Top row, from left, are team member Jade Visser, TCHS principal Denise Rodriguez, Lincoln Park Academy assistant principal and employee recognition coordinator Candace Stone,TCHS assistant prinicipal Nikki Poole, Maria Ankiel, St. Lucie County School Board chairman Debbie Hawley, TCHS assistant principal Eldrique Gardner, Leilani Ankiel, TCHS assistant principal Henry Sanabria, Superintendent Genelle Yost, TCHS assistant principal Eric Evans, and St. Lucie County Education Foundation executive director Jim McKenzie. The foundation and the school board co-sponsor the annual recognition event.
Outstanding First Year Teacher winner recognized at school board meeting
