St. Johns County Names Jill Adams Teacher of the Year
ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida (February 25, 2025) – The St. Johns County Education Foundation, better known as Investing in Kids (INK!), recognizes the hardworking educators of the St. Johns County School District with prestigious honors. Jill Adams has been named the 2024-2025 St. Johns County District Teacher of the Year, while James Tansey has been named St. Johns County Rookie Teacher of the Year. They were among 111 teachers recently recognized at the St. Johns County Teacher of the Year Celebration, hosted by INK!, on Friday, January 31st at the World Golf Village Renaissance Resort.
“We are honored to acknowledge and recognize our dedicated and accomplished teachers for their professional achievements and unwavering commitment to our students,” said Cathy Newman, INK!’s Executive Director. “Our goal is to highlight the vital role teachers play in the lives of our students and the community.”
Jill Adams is an Instructional Literacy Coach at Creekside High School, where she mentors and coaches teachers, providing professional learning to colleagues and supporting the success of students and teachers across campus. She is a highly accomplished educator with 26 years of experience. Before joining St. Johns County School District, she was named the 2018 Seminole County Public Schools High School Teacher of the Year and recognized by the Florida Department of Education as a High Impact Teacher for three consecutive years. As Teacher of the Year, Adams will represent St. Johns County at the State of Florida Teacher of the Year program. “I teach to ignite a curiosity and love for learning,” says Adams. “There is truly nothing I like better in all the world than students and teachers believing in themselves and working hard to discover their greatness.”
James Tansey is a first-year Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teacher at Fruit Cove Middle School. In addition to his daily teaching duties, Tansey mentors students and volunteers with multiple organizations on campus. He also coaches the Fruit Cove Boys’ Basketball Team and the Tocoi Creek High School Boys’ Golf Team. Tansey is a Bartram Trail High School graduate who found teaching after a tenure with the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour. “I’m a product of St. Johns County Schools, so I’m deeply honored and moved to receive this distinction,” says Tansey. “It is an honor to wake up every day and have the amazing opportunity to be a light in a young student’s life.”
Finalists for the 2024-2025 St. Johns County Teacher of the Year include Madison Gowin from Switzerland Point Middle School, Jake Lankford from Tocoi Creek High School, Jessica MacMillan from First Coast Technical College, and Jordan Mattheus from Palm Valley Academy.
ABOUT INK!: The St. Johns County Education Foundation, Inc., which operates as Investing in Kids (INK!), promotes success for St. Johns County public school students and teachers by providing innovative programs, teacher support, classroom resources, and scholarships to benefit more than 52,000 students and approximately 3,200 teachers. INK! is a 501(c)3 education foundation with offices at 1 Christopher St. in St. Augustine. Press release photos may be found here. Learn more at ink-stjohns.org, Facebook, and Instagram.
