- January 18, 2025
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Stacy Freeman had wanted to be a teacher for as long as she can remember.
As a fourth-grader, she said she was her teacher’s favorite student. As a fifth-grader, she dressed up as a teacher for career day.
Now, in her 18th-year teaching at McNeal Elementary School, Freeman hopes to inspire her students to look favorably on the teaching profession as well.
“Looking back, I think (her fourth grade teacher) just made everybody feel that way," Freeman said. "So that’s what I’ve always been going for. I’m hoping the kids think, ‘I’m her favorite,’ like every single one of them.”
Freeman was announced Dec. 10 as a finalist for the School District of Manatee County's 2025 Educator of the Year award.
She loves the little things in her job, such as students giving a standing ovation after they finish a book in their read-a-loud time.
The School District of Manatee County’s Excellence in Education award recognizes the best educators in the county, with each school forming a committee to choose a representative.
Freeman said she was chosen on six occasions to be the representative for McNeal, but didn’t feel she was worthy of the honor. Eventually, she was inspired by a coworker to accept.
McNeal first-grade teacher Jessica Spence was one of four finalists for the Educator of the Year award in 2024, and Freeman’s experience at that ceremony was all the motivation she needed to accept her nomination this year.
“I keep thinking, ‘I’m pretty sure they mixed me up with somebody else,” Freeman said of becoming a finalist. “I’m incredibly humbled and honored. I do not feel like I’m any better of a teacher than anyone (at McNeal) or anyone in the district, and I think that’s what makes it hard for all of us.
“It’s different than a sales goal or any metrics. We’re dealing with little people and everybody’s working so hard to do everything they can. At the end of the day, I decided I was going to do this because I’m super proud of what I do.”
Freeman is one of four 2025 Educator of the Year finalists along with Kathleen Bayliss (Pre-K at Sea Breeze Elementary), Linda Chamberlain (Medical Assisting Instructor at Manatee Technical College) and Susan Nova (Fourth Grade at Harvey Elementary).
There are also four finalists for the Support Employee of the Year. They are Erin Cooke (Safety Guard at Williams Elementary), Angela Nowakowski (School Nurse at Witt Elementary), Suzanne Theiss (Senior School Secretary at Southeast High) and Nicole Yancey (Paraprofessional at Myakka City Elementary).
Freeman said she takes her work outside of the classroom, too.
Aside from the typical after-hours work of grading assignments and lesson planning, she leads a monthly book club, has served as the team leader for her grade at McNeal, and is now a mentor for new teachers — providing notes and encouragement along the way.
She said also makes an effort to support her former students in their endeavors.
“When kids leave my room, I always say, ‘You’re my kid forever,’” she said. “I’ve had kids reach out to me and say, ‘I made the Nolan basketball team in eighth grade, will you come?’ And I’ve gone to watch. I’ve gone to plays and shows, and as they get older, the fact that they would even think of me or remember me means the world to me.”
The Excellence in Education Awards will take place at Manatee Technical College main campus 7 p.m. Feb. 5.
The winner in education will advance to the Florida Teacher of the Year program and the winner in support work will advance to the Florida School-Related Employee of the Year program.
