Celebrating Excellence: The 5th Annual Celebrate the Great Awards

The School District of Palm Beach County, along with the Education Foundation, honors the 2026-2027 Principal, Assistant Principal, Teacher, and School-Related Employee of the Year during the Celebrate the Great Awards.

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

• Principal of the Year – Dr. Tameka Robinson, Santaluces Community High School
• Assistant Principal of the Year – Syrenthia Boldin, Pahokee Elementary School
• Teacher of the Year – LaWanna S. Jackson, Galaxy E3 Elementary School
• School-Related Employee of the Year – Connie Sterling, Equestrian Trails Elementary School

Winners were announced on January 29 during a ceremony at the new Center for Public School Excellence and Innovation. The winners will represent the District as they go on to compete at the State level as part of the Florida Department of Education recognition programs.

“I’m extremely proud of each and every finalist and all of our District winners,” Superintendent Michael J. Burke said. “It takes every member of Team Palm Beach, nearly 23,000 strong, to operate this District and to keep it ‘A’ rated and most importantly, to keep it our parents’ best choice in Palm Beach County.”

“Tonight is about excellence,” James Gavrilos, President and CEO of the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County said. “Palm Beach County educators believe in excellence and teach the young people in our county to believe in excellence, to shoot for excellence, to achieve excellence, to learn excellence and to become excellent. This whole night is a celebration of that excellence in the District.”

Principal of the Year – Dr. Tameka Robinson, Santaluces Community High School
A leader committed to student success, Dr. Tameka Robinson has spearheaded a transformative era at Santaluces High. Under her guidance, the school earned an "A" rating and a 97% graduation rate. 

Dr. Robinson expanded student opportunities by launching Finance, Construction, and Cybersecurity academies. Her focus on excellence led to a 49-point rise in test scores and significant proficiency gains.

“I am honored, grateful, and excited to continue to educate, affirm, and inspire all of our students each and every day,” Dr. Robinson said. “This award belongs to all of you. Your passion, your creativity, and your tireless dedication to our students make our school a place where learning, belonging, and growth happen every single day.” 

Learn more about Dr. Tameka Robinson in this video.

Assistant Principal of the Year – Syrenthia Boldin, Pahokee Elementary School
A dedicated leader for the Glades community, Syrenthia Boldin has served Pahokee Elementary for nearly 25 years. Her leadership helped the school achieve its first "A" rating in more than 15 years. 

Boldin implemented the STAR Leadership Program to build teacher capacity, driving a nine-point increase in Math proficiency and ELA gains of 60%. She continues to foster excellence through mentorship.

“As an assistant principal for the School District of Palm Beach County, I have but one hope, that one day, one of our students will stand where I am standing today and count me as one of their blessings,” Boldin said. “It is then that I will know my purpose has been fulfilled.”

Learn more about Syrenthia Boldin in this video.

Teacher of the Year – LaWanna S. Jackson, Galaxy E3 Elementary School
LaWanna S. Jackson has served Galaxy E3 Elementary for over 20 years, consistently driving significant academic growth in fifth-grade Mathematics and Science. Her leadership nearly doubled student math proficiency in one year.

She is dedicated to student achievement, evidenced by the fact that Jackson’s targeted strategies led to learning gains for 80% of her lowest-performing students. She further supports campus excellence as a mentor and AVID Site Coordinator. 

“I pray that I continue to be a beacon of light and inspiration inside of the classroom across schools and across this world,” Jackson said. “I am thrilled I have been added to the list. My name has been called and today I am answering the call of duty and I need you guys to know this, when it’s your time, no one will be able to turn you around.”

Learn more about LaWanna S. Jackson in this video.

School-Related Employee of the Year – Connie Sterling, Equestrian Trails Elementary School
Connie Sterling has served the Palm Beach County School District for nearly 30 years, with over two decades at Equestrian Trails Elementary. She manages vital operations including payroll, safety protocols, and front-office logistics.

Sterling is recognized for her proactive problem-solving and her leadership in the school’s Homework Club. She remains the heart of the campus through her unwavering support and community outreach.

“Standing here today is truly an honor. Receiving this award means more than I can express because it reflects the hard work we all do together, every single day,” Sterling said. “My school is more than a workplace. It is my family, my second family, and I am thankful every day to be a part of it.”

Learn more about Connie Sterling in this video.