Roxanne Coriell, Adam Wilinsky, Antonyia McCray & Bonnie Walters All Still Vying For Top Honors
Four representatives of New Tampa’s public schools have been announced as finalists for the 2025 Excellence in Education (EIE) Awards.
From more than 13,000 teachers in Hillsborough County, one of five finalists will be named Teacher of the Year at the event, which is hosted by the Hillsborough Education Foundation, in partnership with Hillsborough County Public Schools, on Thursday, January 23, at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tampa.
Similarly, one of five finalists will be named the Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year, and one of four finalists will be awarded Instructional Support Employee of the Year honors.
New Tampa is represented in all three of the categories, including two of the Teacher of the Year finalists.
Roxanne (Roxi) Coriell, a kindergarten teacher at Hunter’s Green Elementary, and Adam Wilinsky, a fifth grade math and science teacher at Pride Elementary, are both finalists for Teacher of the Year.
In addition, Antonyia McCray, the success coach at Freedom High, is a finalist for Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year.
And Bonnie Walters, Secretary 4 at Tampa Palms Elementary, is a finalist for Instructional Support Employee of the Year.
On December 2, the finalists were visited by the “Surprise Patrol,” made up of representatives from the Hillsborough Education Foundation, Hillsborough County Public Schools and the EIE event sponsors.
Roxi Coriell was visibly shocked as the Surprise Patrol entered her classroom that Monday morning, the first day back after this year’s Thanksgiving break.“I’m so honored to be the Hunter’s Green Teacher of the Year,” she later said, “and then, every step of the way, has been another complete surprise.”
HGE principal Nicole Libby says Coriell is an innovator who genuinely deserves the nomination.
“Mrs. Coriell is an exceptional educator who truly embodies the qualities of a dedicated and impactful teacher,” Libby says. “Her ability to create an engaging, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment sets her apart and makes her incredibly deserving of this recognition.”
Meanwhile, at Tampa Palms Elementary, principal Angela Gluth says secretary Bonnie Walters, who has worked at the school for 27 years, is the heartbeat of their campus.
“If she were to win at the District level, it would mean everything to us,” Gluth says. “It would be an opportunity for everyone to know what we already know about how special and amazing she is. She doesn’t necessarily want the recognition, but I can’t think of a more deserving person.”
Congratulations to all four of the finalists, as well as to all of the teachers and school staff members who were chosen to represent their respective schools as nominees for this year’s EIE awards. That complete list appears below.
New Tampa’s 2025 Hillsborough Education Foundation EIE Awards Nominees
Chiles Elementary
Teacher of the Year: Felicia Sell, 2nd Grade Teacher
Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year: Marie Exantus, Varying Exceptionalities (VE) Teacher Instructional Support Employee of the Year: Cristhian Valladares Murillo, Night Crew Leader Custodian
Clark Elementary
Teacher: Brittany Long, 5th Grade Teacher
Ida S. Baker: Donna Clark, ESOL Resource Teacher
Support Employee: Alena Plumb, Secretary 1
Heritage Elementary
Teacher: Heather Leitzke, Access Points Teacher
Ida S. Baker: Lauren Sturlaugson, Media Specialist
Support Employee: Aracely Garcia, Head Custodian
Hunter’s Green Elementary
Teacher: *Roxanne Coriell, Kindergarten Teacher
Ida S. Baker: Michelle Lilius, ESOL
Resource Teacher
Support Employee: Ivan Vazquez Rico, Custodian
Pride Elementary
Teacher: *Adam Wilinsky, 5th Grade Teacher
Ida S. Baker: Christine Goff, School Counselor
Support Employee: Alexandria DeJoseph,
Principal’s Secretary
Tampa Palms Elementary
Teacher: Elizabeth DaSilva, 3rd Grade Teacher
Ida S. Baker: Lindsay Vizzi, Speech Lang. Pathologist
Support Employee: *Bonnie Walters, Secretary 4
Turner-Bartels K-8 School
Teacher: Elaine Kurtright, Media Specialist
Ida S. Baker: Marelisa Moreno, ESOL
Resource Teacher
Support Employee: Sheila Swain, Bookkeeper
Benito Middle School
Teacher: Chris Ellis, English Teacher
Ida S. Baker: Felicia Chalmers, Varying
Exceptionalities Teacher
Support Employee: Mili Criswell, Exceptional
Student Education Paraprof. 2
Liberty Middle School
Teacher: Natalia Maritza Sutton, Math Teacher
Ida S. Baker: Dottie Urbanek-Nash,
School Social Worker
Support Employee: Angela J. Gonzalez,
Data Processor
Freedom High
Teacher: Barrett Biernacki, Phys. Education Teacher
Ida S. Baker: *Antonyia McCray,
Student Success Coach
Support Employee: Annmarie McLaughlin,
Principal’s Secretary 4
Wharton High
Teacher: Christi Atkinson, Science Teacher
Ida S. Baker: Amanda Rizzi, Access Teacher
Support Employee: Ona Miller, Principal’s Secretary