On January 28, 2010, the Hillsborough Education Foundation debuted the Excellence in Education (EIE) Awards, a new program to honor Hillsborough County's extraordinary faculty and staff.  This awards ceremony combined the well-known Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year, Instructional Support Employee of the Year, and Teacher of the Year Awards. 

The red carpet affair was held at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts and featured a pre-awards reception catered by students in the Sickles and Wharton High Schools' Culinary Arts programs.  Held in the beautiful Carol Morsani Hall, the awards ceremony recognized the 700 nominees in all three categories and highlighted the five finalists for each award.  Throughout the night guests were entertained by the Chamberlain High School Drum Line, Orange Grove Middle School Pride Dancers, Gaither High School Showcase, and the Blake High School of the Arts Jazz Ensemble.  The night concluded with the awarding of this year's top honors.

Thank you to the 2010 Excellence in Education Awards Sponsors:

Amscot Financial, Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year Presenting Sponsor

Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union's Suncoast for Kids Foundation, Instructional Support Employee of the Year & Teacher of the Year Presenting Sponsor

Caspers Company McDonald's Restaurants, Teacher of the Year Founding Sponsor

Premiere Sponsors:

• Everest University
• Helios Education Foundation
• Sykes Enterprises, Incorporated

Celebrity Sponsors:

• Herff Jones
• Nova Southeastern University's Fischler School of Education and Human Services
• VALIC

Spotlight Sponsors:

• All American Containers, Inc.
• The Beck Group
• Ford & Associates, Inc.
• St. Petersburg Times - Newspaper in Education
• VoltAir Consulting Engineers, LLC
• Walden University

Thank you to our 2010 Event Contributors:

• Ambassador Limousines
• Allstate Construction
• Beef 'O' Brady's
• Bright House Networks
• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
• Gordon Johnston
• Lowry Park Zoo
• MOSI
• Nova Southeastern University's Fischler School of Education and Human Services
• OSI - Restaurant Partners, LLC
• Planet Beach Contempo Spa
• Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation
• Tampa Bay Rays
• Tampa Museum of Art
• The David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts
• The Florida Aquarium
• The Florida Orchestra
• United Skates of America
• University of South Florida, College of Education

Congratulations to this year's winners!

Karen Willis-Barrett
Greco Middle
Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year

Kelly Jean Zelaya
Stewart Middle Magnet
Instructional Support Employee of the Year

Emily Marrero
Philip Shore Elementary
Teacher of the Year

2010 Excellence in Education Awards Finalists

Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year
Jene D. Bell, Chamberlain High
Kimberly A. Duran, Foster Elementary
Japera Helene Hodges, Witter Elementary
Michael L. Oliver, Jr., Youth Services
Karen Willis-Barrett, Greco Middle

Instructional Support Employee of the Year
Susan Marie Blackmon, Oak Park Elementary
Julie Harris, Broward Elementary
Suzie Morse, Chiles Elementary
Valerie L. Pearce, LaVoy Exceptional Center
Kelly Jean Zelaya, Stewart Middle Magnet

Teacher of the Year
Crystal Dukes, Freedom High
Ryan Kinser, Turkey Creek Middle
Emily Marrero, Philip Shore Elementary
Marcy Ringdahl, Alafia Elementary
Holly Sinclair, Gorrie Elementary