DAYTONA BEACH — Emily fa*gerstrom didn’t plan on becoming a teacher. It wasn’t until her kids started school that she realized how much she loved being in the classroom.
fa*gerstrom went from volunteering in their elementary schools, to substitute teaching, to eventually craving some more autonomy.
“One fateful day, overlooking the large oak tree that stands in front of Port Orange Elementary, I told myself, ‘I want my own classroom,’” she said.
Now fa*gerstrom is a math instructional coach at Champion Elementary School in Daytona Beach. She has worked with the district for 11 years. On Sunday, she was named the 2025 Volusia County Schools Teacher of the Year.
The most rewarding part of her career, fa*gerstrom said, has been working alongside a dedicated community of faculty members and administrators to build bright futures for children.
“I realize that this recognition is not just for me but for the passion and love that we as educators pour into every lesson, every interaction and every student’s life,” she said. “It’s a testament to the transformative power of teaching with heart, and I carry this award with profound gratitude for the incredible journey we share in shaping futures.”
'A true Champion'
Superintendent Carmen Balgobin and Cory Domayer, CPA and president of the FUTURES Foundation, honored fa*gerstrom Sunday in front of more than 900 guests.
The celebration took place at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, presented by AdventHealth and co-hosted by the FUTURES Foundation and Volusia County Schools. Attendees included education partners, sponsors, Volusia County Schools personnel, and teacher nominees and their supporters.
At the start of each academic year, every school in the district nominates one teacher who positively impacts students. A selection committee —comprised of administrators, educators, community members and parents — review all applications and select five finalists among 70 candidates.
The committee then interviews finalists and observes their classrooms to determine Volusia’s Teacher of the Year who will represent the district in the state’s Teacher of the Year program.
fa*gerstrom succeeded Vonda Morris, a probability and statistics teacher at Spruce Creek High School.
She was awarded with a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross to drive for one year, provided by Daytona Mitsubishi and Kia.
“This mentor and collaborator is a true champion,” Domayer said prior to presenting fa*gerstrom with the title.
In addition to her work as a math instructional coach, fa*gerstrom also serves as the lead Volusia mentor at Champion Elementary and is a facilitator with Volusia Learns where she leads professional development sessions to educate and inspire other educators, according to a district press release. She also works as the co-chair for Champion’s School Advisory Council and is an active member of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association.
Both Balgobin and Domayer attributed fa*gerstrom’s selection to her unwavering dedication, describing her as a “pillar of talent” and “the heart and soul of achievement and collaboration in her school.”
Several educators were honored Sunday
In addition to introducing all 70 nominees and naming fa*gerstrom as Teacher of the Year, Sunday’s ceremony also honored the remaining Teacher of the Year finalists:
- Amy Dempsy, English teacher at DeLand High School.
- Caryn King, English, language arts and journalism teacher at Ormond Beach Middle School.
- Tanner K. Norvell, Cambridge AICE U.S. history and Cambridge AICE international teacher at Seabreeze High School.
- Gina Marie Walker, Multi-VE/Multi-Varied Exceptionalities teacher, grades one through three at George W. Marks Elementary School.
“You represent a small portion of all the educators, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, School Way Café, administrators and clerical staff that make up what goes on every day in our schools and classrooms,” Volusia County School Board Chair Jamie Haynes said about all nominees. “It’s because of you that our children have the opportunity to have a strong foundation, and they will then go on to be productive citizens. They’re our future, and that’s why we’re all here.”
All finalists were awarded a three-day, two-night night hotel gift certificate from Bob Davis, president of the Hotel and Lodging Association of Volusia County.
Superintendent Balgobin also awarded three educators who embody this year’s district theme, “Achieving Excellence Together":
- Donna Steinmann, second-grade teacher at Sweetwater Elementary School.
- Evelyn Robinson, pre-algebra and algebra 1 honors teacher at Heritage Middle School.
- Dawn Drysdale, intensive reading teacher and student learning success dual enrollment teacher, University High School.
Each of these teachers will be recognized with a $150 check from the FUTURES Foundation.
“I've always said (teaching) is the profession that creates all other professions and there is nothing more rewarding than being a gift and utilizing that gift to change the world,” Balgobin said. “We all know that it's not easy being a teacher. I know it's hard. It's hard work that goes into it every single day, as you face many, many challenges … but I also know how rewarding it is to be a teacher.”
