Dr. Mari Richardson of Jean Ribault High is a 2026 Duval County Teacher of the Year finalist
A Jean Ribault High School biology teacher advances to the district’s final five
Dr. Mari Richardson, a biology teacher at Jean Ribault High School, has been selected as one of five finalists for the 2026 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year award. The district’s Teacher of the Year will be announced at the EDDY Awards scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.
Richardson’s finalist designation places her among a small group of educators chosen from a larger countywide pool that begins with teachers nominated at their individual schools. The program’s structure is designed to narrow nominees through multiple stages, moving from school selections to a group of semifinalists and then to five finalists.
How the district selection process works
The Teacher of the Year program in Duval County starts with each school identifying its Teacher of the Year. From there, a selection committee reduces the field to 15 semifinalists, with the finalists determined through a process that includes classroom observations. The final honoree is then positioned to represent Duval County in the statewide Florida Teacher of the Year process.
The 2026 finalists and what happens next
The five finalists announced for the 2026 county honor are:
- Michelle Flores, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
- Monica Gold, Arlington Middle School
- Valerie Pitts-Wilson, Rutledge H. Pearson Elementary School
- Dr. Mari Richardson, Jean Ribault High School
- PeTika Tave, Reynolds Lane Elementary School
In addition to being a district finalist, Richardson has been recognized as Jean Ribault High School’s Teacher of the Year. District communications about her finalist announcement described her role as a biology instructor and noted that the news was delivered in a celebratory school setting that included a performance by the school band.
Local recognition tied to a larger effort to elevate teacher leadership
The EDDY Awards ceremony serves as the public recognition point for the finalists and school-level honorees. The broader program is also connected to teacher leadership development initiatives offered to participating educators during the year, reflecting an emphasis on professional recognition alongside classroom practice.
Key dates: The Teacher of the Year finalists will be recognized at the EDDY Awards on Jan. 24, 2026, when the countywide winner is announced.