TAVARES -- Three Lake County teachers who are relatively new in their careers have been named finalists for the district title of “Rookie of the Year” (RTOY).
Superintendent Diane Kornegay, School Board Members, Education Foundation of Lake County Executive Director Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, and others made the surprise announcement this morning to Delores Evans of Carver Middle School, Nathan Martinez of South Lake High School, and Trevor Misegades of Lake Technical College, each of whom has no more than three years of teaching experience.
Delores Evans has taught 6th-grade world history/social studies for two years. She was inspired by her 6th-grade teacher, Mrs. Hunter, who she said made every student feel valued, heard, and seen. She recalls how Mrs. Hunter connected lessons to real life and never missed an opportunity to spark wonder or curiosity. Evans said she has come to realize that teaching is not only about delivering content but also about building relationships, nurturing potential, and having a positive impact on a student’s life every day.
In her classroom, she implements reciprocal reading, a structured, student-led approach designed to improve reading comprehension and foster active engagement with complex texts. Students work in small groups and take turns leading discussions using four key reading strategies: predicting, questioning, clarifying, and summarizing. Each student is assigned a specific role, and the roles rotate throughout the session. “This experience affirms the power of student-led, peer-supported learning when paired with consistent modeling and scaffolding,” she wrote in her ROTY application. “In addition, it allows me to better observe students’ thinking processes, identify learning gaps, and provide targeted support where needed. When learners are motivated and fully engaged, the classroom becomes a much more dynamic and effective space for growth.”
Nathan Martinez is in his fourth year of teaching 10th-grade math. He worked as a restaurant manager for several restaurants before launching his teaching career. One day after his shift, he saw a few high school student employees working on an assignment in the break room. They were struggling with a math problem. He sat next to them, helped them, and he realized he had been teaching his whole career, just not in a classroom. The students came back every shift asking him to help explain and teach, and he knew he had found his calling.
Valuing innovation and creativity, Martinez uses digital escape rooms to help bridge concepts in geometry for his students. The escape rooms have a theme that ties directly into their current content. Students work together at their tables, unlock digital “locks” and follow a storyline that guides them through the experience. “These themed escape rooms are not just for engagement; they are effective tools to help cement my students’ understanding,” he explained. “They ask when we will have another escape room, or when the next one is. … It’s amazing to see how they interact with math in an unexpected yet familiar way.”
Trevor Misegades has taught advanced manufacturing at Lake Technical College for one year, an outgrowth of previous experiences working in the field of computer numerical control (CNC) machining. He learned early in his career that he not only enjoyed learning technical skills but also had a natural ability to teach them to others. While working alongside colleagues, he often found himself in the role of trainer, explaining processes, troubleshooting problems, and helping them gain confidence with the equipment.
One of the most successful projects he has implemented in his classroom is the creation of a LEGO block using CNC machining. Students must review technical drawings of a standard LEGO block, then program the CNC machine to produce a block that matches the specified dimensions and tolerances, a process that requires them to apply a variety of skills, including blueprint reading, G-code programming, machine setup, tooling selection, and precision measurement. “While at first glance it may seem like a simple object, this project has proven to be both highly engaging and deeply educational for my students,” he wrote. “It’s a project that is instantly relatable and rewarding. It introduces students to problem-solving in authentic contexts. It enhances collaboration and peer learning. Finally, the LEGO block serves as a portfolio piece that students are proud to show off.”
The 2025-26 Rookie Teacher of the Year will be announced on January 29, 2026, at the Celebration InspirED by Excellence hosted by the Education Foundation of Lake County.