SARASOTA — In celebration of her commitment to learning and to her students, Venice High School’s Kelly Rozelle was named the 2025 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year.
The announcement came at the Ignite Education Teacher of the Year Award Celebration, hosted by the Education Foundation of Sarasota County at The Ora.
Rozelle will represent district educators throughout the 2025 calendar year and will serve as the district’s nominee for state Teacher of the Year.
Rozelle said she was “shocked” by the honor but she is excited to share it with her students, with whom she shared a message.
“I love you,” Rozelle said. “This is what I say to all my students: They are the reason I am here, and I will always do my best for them.”
Rozelle attended the celebration along with her fellow finalists — Rebekah Zech, Elementary School Teacher of the Year from Taylor Ranch Elementary School and Maggie Higgins, Middle School Teacher of the Year from Pine View Middle School.
With a career path headed to law, Rozelle said teaching wasn’t originally her main plan.