Amy Beechy, teacher at Taylor Ranch Elementary School, was honored during a banquet April 1 at Michael’s On East in Sarasota.

She was a finalist, chosen from a field of 40 candidates from district schools that included Middle School Teacher of the Year Stanley Judd (McIntosh Middle) and High School Teacher of the Year Chuck Evans (Riverview High), for District Teacher of the Year award. Evans won that award.

“This experience overall has been truly amazing,” Beechy said. “Since learning of my award last month, I have been receiving notes and cards from students and their families from 15 years ago. I will always treasure them.”

As a finalist, all three teachers won an all-expense-paid, three-day Excellence in Teaching educational seminar at Notre Dame University; an educational scholarship from Nova Southeast University; a cash award from the H. Jack Hunkele Family Foundation; a Teacher of the Year watch from Herff Jones; $1,000 from the Education Foundation of Sarasota County; and many other gifts from local businesses.

As District Teacher of the Year, Evans also won the use of a brand new Chevy Cobalt for a year and will serve as the district’s goodwill ambassador and community representative at statewide educational events for a year.

Four semi-finalists each won a $250 cash award from the Educational Foundation: Vickie Harris, North Port High School; Christy Stackhouse, Brookside Middle School; Pamela Plank, Oak Park School; and Andrew Jaffee, Fruitville Elementary. Other local honorees

Each school in the district selected a Teacher of the Year, and they were all honored with a brass school bell; a gift bag from McDonald’s; a professional photograph from Bryn-Alan Prestige Portraits; a chocolate-covered apple centerpiece; and a black laptop case with a bright red apple embroidered on.