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Meet Escambia County’s Teacher Of The Year

Carla Ross heads back to Washington High School today with a new honor — Escambia County Teacher of the Year.

Ross, a 35-year veteran of the Escambia County School District, received the honor Saturday night at the annual Golden Apple Awards where Teachers of the Year from each school were also honored.

Ross teaches students in the Marketing and Entrepreneurship Academy at Washington. She encouraged her fellow educators to worth together to stamp out apathy.

”Apathy is not an alternative, it is not an option,” she said.

“When kids are cutting up and I see a colleague on their phone or their laptop, trying to ignore the problem, I say, ‘Hey! I’m here to help you, let’s do this thing’,” Ross explained. She explained that “this thing” is working together to teach our students correct behavior, and that is not in a textbook and it is not something just taught in your classroom.

“Whether it’s at a basketball game, in a grocery store or a parking lot, I have found that we can flex our authority and speak up, with our head up, shoulders back, and teach them,” Ross said.

“They need to know that they cannot be successful cutting up and using profanity,” Ross added as she challenged everyone to remember to also model the behaviors we want from them. “Let’s bring this fight together, and it is a fight for the next generation and the next.”

“Stick around long enough and you get to see the fruits of your labor.” Ross concluded. “From elementary school to high school, we make a difference, so stay in the fight, and as my husband says, go in there and a have a great day.”

Mrs. Ross is married to another career educator in Escambia County. Her husband is Norm Ross who currently serves as the Deputy Superintendent and who is still affectionately known as “Coach Ross” by many people in Escambia County.

At Washington High, Carla Ross launched the first student-run credit union at her school, a branch of Pen Air Federal Credit Union. In addition, she and her students built the nationally recognized “Cat Shack,” a student run school spirit store and snack bar that offers alternative food choices for students at the school. In addition, she is the Marketing Association for Students Sponsor at her School.

In addition to Ross the five finalists for the Teaher of the Year award included William Broome of Woodham Middle School, Shana Brown of Molino Park Elementary School, Megan Carroll of Northview High School, and Suzanne Hollingsworth of Beulah Elementary School.

Ross is now in the running for Florida Teacher of the Year.

Pictured top: Escambia County Teacher of the Year Carla Ross with Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. Pictured inset: Carla Ross and her husband Norm react to her announcement as Teacher of the Year.  Pictured below: Teacher of the year finalists Megan Carroll (top photo below article) and Suzanne Hollingsworth of Beulah Elementary (lower photo). Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.