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DeSantis awards $20K to 2026 Teacher of the Year finalists

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Published  July 17, 2025 6:59am EDT
Ron DeSantis
FOX 35 Orlando
Gov. Ron DeSantis gives remarks at Teacher of the Year event

Gov. Ron DeSantis gives remarks at Teacher of the Year event

Governor Ron DeSantis delivered remarks Thursday morning at the 2026 Teacher of the Year event in Orlando.

The Brief

    • Finalists for Florida's 2026 Teacher of the Year each received $20,000, with the overall winner receiving $50,000; all district-level honorees were awarded $10,000.
    • DeSantis announced $1.36 billion dedicated to teacher salaries in the state budget and emphasized continued investment in civics education through bonuses and training programs.
    • He highlighted improvements in school performance, crediting the shift from high-stakes end-of-year testing to year-round progress monitoring.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spoke at the 2026 Teacher of the Year event in Orlando, highlighting increased financial awards for educators, with each finalist receiving $20,000 and the overall winner set to receive $50,00 on Thursday.

 He emphasized continued investments in teacher salaries, noting $1.36 billion earmarked exclusively for that purpose in the latest state budget. 

DeSantis also discussed initiatives in civics education, including the Civics Seal of Excellence and debate programs, which provide bonuses and enrichment opportunities for teachers and students. 

He celebrated improvements in school performance, with 71% of graded schools earning A or B ratings, attributing the progress partly to a shift from high-stakes testing to progress monitoring.

 The governor concluded by recognizing the five finalists and reaffirming the importance of teachers in driving educational success from the ground up.

The Source: This story was written based on information shared by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on July 17, 2025.

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