Woodville K-8 educator named Glenn-Howell Distinguished Teacher of the Year

Kenneth Edwards said being an agriculture teacher was his life dream, and Monday he was named the 2023-2024 Glenn-Howell Distinguished Educator of the Year.

LCS Superintendent Rocky Hanna, County Commissioner Christian Caban and district staff surprised the Woodville K-8 agriculture teacher during his class to announce the recognition.

"This is quite an honor, not only for you guys, but for your teacher also," Hanna told students in Edwards' classroom. "Over 2,000 teachers, but your teacher, is teacher of the year."

Edwards is an agriculture teacher at the school and has been teaching for 13 years. He previously taught at Blountstown Elementary, Hosford Elementary, and Wakulla Middle School and worked for the Florida Department of Education.

He started at Woodville in 2022.

"We are so very proud and thankful for what you do every day," Hanna said. "You're a rockstar."

Edwards excitedly high-fived every student in his room during the surprise announcement.

"These kids did it, not me," Edwards said, "I love you, and I'm proud of you."

Edwards and his Woodville students were honored at an official proclamation service by the county in March for their work on the Woodville agriculture program.

"Woodville's agriculture students have built a program that includes gardens, raised beds, an industrial greenhouse, goats, quail, chickens, pheasants, rabbits, aquaponics and more," Edwards wrote in a Facebook post. "Stay tuned, we're just getting started!"

Edwards took to Facebook Monday to say he was nervous after his finalist interview but was hoping to win the award for his students.

"Woodville has never won this award. I would appreciate any prayers that my students may finally be the ones to bring it home," Edwards wrote.

The Glenn-Howell award has been given to exemplary teachers for over 20 years. The award is named after two pioneers of LCS district, Devurn Glenn, the district's first black assistant superintendent, and Howell, the first woman to become an assistant superintendent in the district.

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Alaijah Brown is with the Tallahassee Democrat and can be reached at ABrown1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Star agriculture teacher surprised with prestigious Glenn-Howell Award