Elementary Teacher of the Year: Laura Ruth Hunter
Laura Ruth Hunter is an Instructional Coach at J. Larry Newton Elementary School. As an Instructional Coach, Hunter provides support to teachers implementing math programs and best practices. She collaborates with administration and teachers to decipher data and make actionable plans for improving students data. She is about to complete her 10th year in education, a profession Hunter says she was born to do. Hunter comes from a family of educators and said she realized her calling during her senior year of college while she was pursuing a degree in aerospace engineering. Hunter said she realized her passion was to work with children, so she changed her major to elementary education and never looked back.
Hunter started her career at Newton with a passion for inspiring children to love math and science. After three years, Hunter furthered her aspirations by becoming a regional math specialist with AMSTI. When the opportunity arose to return to Newton, Hunter jumped at the chance to return to the school where it all started as the math and science instructional coach. Hunter continues to challenge our youth and make them confident in their math and science abilities.
Hunter is married to Kyle Hunter, a coach and educator also with Baldwin County Public Schools. Together they share a baby girl, with another little Hunter due this year. Join us in congratulating Laura Ruth Hunter on her selection as the Baldwin County Public Schools Elementary Teacher of the Year!
Secondary Teacher of the Year: Dianne Casolaro
Dianne Casolaro teaches multiple levels of English at Daphne High School. She currently teaches English 9 Advanced, English 11 International Baccalaureate, and English 12 Dual Enrollment. While at Daphne, she has also taught English 10 Advanced and Standard, English 12, and Mythology, Literature and Fable. Casolaro is about to complete her 24th year of teaching, but her career started in a different way. After completing her undergraduate degree, she worked as a writer. As a journalist, she saw much goodwill, but also much ill-will. She remembered her grandfather’s retirement reception after 50 years as an educator where he received accolades as a teacher and principal. She longed to make a difference and wanted to continue to share her love of writing. She made the move to education where she has the title of “English teacher,” but Casolaro hopes to also be remembered as a “motivator,” “encourager,” “mentor,” and “difference-maker.”
Casolaro is a National Board Certified Teacher and taught at Baldwin County High School and Robertsdale High School before joining the staff at Daphne High School five years ago. Outside of Baldwin County, Casolaro has taught for Orange and Lake County (Florida) Public Schools and for the Jefferson County Board of Education.
Casolaro is married with four children, three of whom are graduates of Baldwin County schools, and one who is a current intermediate school student. Join us in congratulating Dianne Casolaro on her selection as the Baldwin County Public Schools Secondary Teacher of the Year!
Teachers of the year at each Baldwin County School System school:
Baldwin County High: Chantelle McPherson
Baldwin County Virtual: Starla Morris
Bay Minette Elementary: Angela White
Bay Minette Middle: LaShanda Renee Richardson
Central Baldwin Middle: Nancy McAllister
CF Taylor: Gail Filotei
Daphne Elementary: Ashley McKenzie
Daphne East Elementary: Sarah Bates
Daphne Middle: Holly Wiggins
Daphne High: Dianne S. Casolaro
Delta Elementary: Margaret Kearney
Elberta Elementary: Kimberly Therber
Elberta Middle: Christa Goodwin
Elberta High: Matthew Hurst
Elsanor Elementary: Cheyl Moore
Fairhope Middle: Ashley Lathan
Fairhope Intermediate: Christin Ferguson
Fairhope High: Kelly B. Williams
Robertsdale Elementary: Ashley Dupree
Foley Middle: Dawn Dunbar
Foley High: Stan Shotts
J. Larry Newton: Laura Ruth Hunter
Loxley Elementary: Mary Catherine Holliman
Magnolia Elementary: Jessica Partin
North Baldwin Center for Technology: Vicki DeFee
Orange Beach Elementary: Rachel Ellsworth
Orange Beach Middle: Leah Koontz-Tucker
Orange Beach High: Katie Brewer
Pine Grove Elementary: Danyl January
Robertsdale Elementary: Ashley Dupree
Robertsdale High: Jennifer Leigh Jones
Rockwell Elementary: Cindy Brown
Rosinton Elementary: Dr. Lonny Hughes
Silverhill Elementary: Jo McGill
Spanish Fort Elementary: Mary T. Armstrong
Spanish Fort Middle: Margaret K. Howard
Spanish Fort High: Angie Phillips
South Baldwin Center for Technology: Michael Bland
Stapleton Elementary: Diane Lump
Summerdale Elementary: Kelli Presley
Summerdale Intermediate: Tami Rucando
Swift Consolidated: Angie Ingraham
W.J. Carroll Intermediate: Jenny W. Hamilton