Hale Helps™ Teacher of the Year 2025

Our Core Values

We change lives for the better.
We do what we say we will do.
We listen. We care. We serve.
We practice open and real communication.
We face challenges with optimism.
We check our ego at the door.
We innovate and constantly improve.
We don’t treat people like a case number.
We do the right thing.

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Hale Helps™ Teacher of the Year 2025

We’re thrilled to announce Amanda Bertrand as our Hale Helps™ Teacher of the Year 2025! With 19 years of dedicated service in education—spanning from South Carolina to Charlotte and Manatee County—Amanda has left an incredible mark on countless young minds. Her passion for teaching began in childhood and has only grown stronger with time, most recently completing her 10th year teaching Kindergarten. Amanda brings creativity, heart, and a commitment to helping every student reach their potential. As the wife of a firefighter/paramedic and a proud mom of two, she embodies service in and out of the classroom. We’re honored to send her on a well-deserved cruise to celebrate the amazing teachers shaping our future!

Honorable Mentions

Shannon Davis

Mrs. Shannon Davis is a 2nd grade teacher and Elementary Team Leader at Sarasota Academy of the Arts.
She received her Bachelors of Science from the University of South Florida.
She loves to bake and take her dog for walks after school.

Derek Reich

Derek is a 12th grade economics teacher at Sarasota High. He has taught at SHS since 2020. He was born and raised in Sarasota County and attended k-12 in Sarasota County Schools. Derek became a teacher to help students the same way his former teachers helped him.

Gerlie Fout

A committed and enthusiastic educator at Sarasota Military Academy with nearly 29 years of experience. This teacher has inspired and encouraged students at levels ranging from elementary school to university in the Philippines, China, and the US to pursue academic excellence. This teacher’s commitment to creating engaging lessons and supportive classroom environments for diverse students is impressive.

Crystal Montuori

My name is Crystal Montuori and I have worked at Sarasota Military Academy Prep for six years. I have been teaching English and Language Arts for twenty years. I grew up here in Sarasota and attended college at both Eckerd College in St. Petersburg and the University of South Florida in Tampa. I have a B.A. in Literature with certification for English grades 6-12, ESOL K-12, and Reading K-12. I also have an M.A. in Applied Linguistics/TESL. My teaching experience includes 6th – 12th grade Language Arts and English, as well as ESOL at University – in both the United States and Vietnam.