Clay County honors teachers and staff at Apple Awards; Jenna Perez named School‑Related Employee of the Year

Clay County School District and the Clay Education Foundation held the Apple Awards onstage to recognize exemplary teachers and school‑related employees; organizers said 90 nominees were considered and multiple finalists were introduced across grade levels and roles. The superintendent announced Jenna Perez as the 2026 School‑Related Employee of the Year; the recording ends before the Teacher of the Year name is captured.

The evening opened with remarks from Alyssa Matt, introduced in the program as the 2023 Clay County and Florida Teacher of the Year, who thanked nominees, families and community partners and said, “Your work matters. And tonight, we are here to celebrate you.” Organizers and sponsors—including Florida Blue, VyStar Credit Union and Garber Automall—were acknowledged for supporting the Apple Awards and the Clay Education Foundation’s efforts to highlight district staff.

Speakers and video introductions presented a slate of finalists across roles: classroom teachers recognized for student growth (presenters cited one teacher whose sixth‑grade math proficiency was described as 87%), veteran support staff celebrated for long service, and rookie teachers honored for early‑career impact. Student testimonials accompanied several presentations, describing finalists’ classroom approaches, mentorship and programs that broaden students’ real‑world skills.

Superintendent remarks emphasized district performance and community partnership; during the program the superintendent introduced school board members and encouraged continued celebration of staff achievements. Sponsors from Garber and others shared brief remarks about why they remain involved in the awards; Garber representatives said they intend ongoing multi‑year support.

The program concluded with the superintendent announcing winners. The School‑Related Employee of the Year for 2026 was named as Jenna Perez. The transcript ends while the superintendent was about to announce the Teacher of the Year, so no recorded winner for that category appears in the available transcript.

The Apple Awards program continues Clay County’s practice of spotlighting classroom teachers, support staff and early‑career educators; organizers said this year’s finalists will take part in district and community events tied to the recognition.