At Hale Law, we are deeply committed to the educational community and understand the critical role teachers play in nurturing the leaders of tomorrow. The Hale Helps™ Teacher of the Year award is our way of acknowledging and celebrating the passion, innovation, and commitment that teachers demonstrate in their classrooms. By nominating a teacher, you help bring well-deserved recognition to those who go above and beyond, fostering greater appreciation within the community. Through this initiative, we reinforce our commitment to community support and educational excellence, showing our educators that their hard work and dedication do not go unnoticed. The winning educator will receive a fantastic prize—a free cruise—celebrating their contribution in style! Must be a teacher in Sarasota, Manatee, or Charlotte County.
Our Finalists
Samantha Schweickhardt
Gulf Gate Elementary
Hi! I'm Samantha Schweickhardt. I grew up immersed in the world of competitive dance, where I developed not only strong discipline and creativity, but also a deep love for working with others. Over the years, I had the opportunity to work with younger dancers in the studio which sparked my passion for helping children learn and grow. I've always known that in some way my future would involve working with kids. I graduated from SCF in 2024.
As of 2025, I am proud to officially work for the school board, where I support ESE third graders. I take great pride in what I do and strive every day to create a positive, supportive environment where my students can succeed. My goal is to give them the best possible experience and education, while making a meaningful and lasting impact on their lives.
Traci Smeralda
Barbara A. Harvey Elementary
I have been teaching for 16 years, and am in my 13th year teaching kindergarten. I attended Keiser University and graduated with reading and ESOL endorsments. I am a Florida native and grew up in Manatee County. I had always loved school as a kid. Because of the positive impact my teachers had on me, I wanted to grow up to give students a meaningful and memorable schooling experience as well.
Elizabeth Shannon
Sarasota School of Arts and Science
Liz Shannon grew up in Sarasota County and has been a teacher at Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences for 15 years. She is the 8th Grade Team Leader and currently teaches Civics, Reading, and Speech & Debate. She is also the Gulf Coast Regional Ambassador with the Florida Debate Initiative, directing speech and debate tournaments around the area while also coaching an amazing group of students who are going to State Championships in April. She also sponsors an anime club that has been running an anime convention, SSAS Toracon, out of the school for the last 15 years. A mother of one amazing little girl and a wife to the most supportive husband in the world. Liz couldn't be more touched to be nominated for this award. Thank you to the community and Hale Law for supporting our kids and our teachers!
Travis Lear
Sarasota School of Arts and Science
I am a dedicated English Language Arts educator with 15 years of teaching experience. I earned my degree in Secondary Education English from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and began my career in Pensacola, Florida, teaching grades 6–10 at Newpoint Charter School. I later moved to Clewiston, Florida, where I taught junior and senior English, founded a journalism program, and established a student-run newspaper. I am currently in my 10th year at Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences, where I teach middle school ELA and serve as a department head. I am also the girls Basketball coach and in 2024 my girls won the championship, our first since 2016. Outside the classroom, I am a proud husband and father of two, Leah (13) and Liam (10), and value the shared passion for education with my wife, who also teaches at SSAS.
Shannon Lear
Barbara A. Harvey Elementary
My name is Shannon Lear, and this is my first year teaching at Harvey K-8 Copperstone in a self-contained ASD classroom. I absolutely fell in love with this job and never knew this role would fill a place in my heart that I didn't know was missing! I have learned so much about how to look for the small victories in every day. My classroom kiddos, paras, parents, coworkers, and admin have become my "why"...each one of them has left a handprint on my heart and I am eternally grateful for this past year of opportunities to grow and make lasting memories. My favorite memories this year are our ASD Friendsgiving performance, the creation of our Exceptionally You artwork, our Holidays Around the World crafts, and the daily laughter and milestones I get to witness and share with our most amazing Sharks every single day! When you love your job this much, it becomes more than a job, it becomes a passion, and I am so excited and honored to be part of the Harvey Family!
Select Your Favorite Teacher to win a Free Cruise!
- Cast Your Vote! We’ve narrowed it down to 5 outstanding finalists. Now it’s time to choose the winner. Review the finalists and vote for the educator who has made the greatest impact. Every vote helps determine who will take home the grand prize.
- Spread the Word! Share the voting link with classmates, friends, parents, and colleagues. The finalist with the most support will win, and every vote counts!
- Stay Updated! Follow us on social media for the latest updates on the final round. Join our online community to support your favorite educators, track their progress, and find out who will sail away with a free cruise!
- Prize: The winner will get a FREE Cruise!!! This will be a $1,000 credit with Expedia Cruises of Sarasota. Booking will be done directly through Robert Raymond of Expedia Cruises of Sarasota. Prize is non-transferable and has no cash value. Amount of gift certificate covers cruise fare for two people including port taxes, fees, and prepaid gratuities. Does not cover additional add-ons including drink packages and excursions. The voucher must be used within 18 months.
Disclaimers
Eligibility
- Employees of Hale Law, their immediate family members (spouses, parents, children, siblings, and their respective spouses), and anyone living in the same household as such employees are not eligible to participate.
- Must be a teacher at a public or private school in Sarasota, Manatee, or Charlotte County. Must be K-12 school.
- One entry per person
Publicity
Acceptance of the prize constitutes permission for Hale Law to use the recipient's name, likeness, and biographical information for marketing and promotional purposes without further compensation, except where prohibited by law.
Non-Discrimination
All eligible applicants will be considered without regard to race, sex, religion, or national origin.
Disqualification
Submissions that do not meet the contest rules or are submitted after the deadline will be disqualified.
Legal Compliance
The contest will comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
Use of Contact Information
All email addresses and contact information collected during the contest may be used for future marketing purposes by Hale Law. Your information will not be sold to outside organizations or businesses.
Prize Conditions
The prize is non-transferable and has no cash value.
No Purchase Necessary
No purchase is necessary to enter or win the contest.
Booking Conditions
The prize is valid for new bookings and is not combinable with other promotional offers.
Limitations of Liability: Hale Law is not responsible for technical or human error, or injury resulting from participating in, or winning, the contest.
Right to Cancel or Modify
Hale Law reserves the right to cancel, suspend, and/or modify the contest, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures, or any other factor beyond Hale Law's reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the contest, as determined by Hale Law in its sole discretion.