Teachers honored

From left, Golden Apple Academy Chairwoman Emily Cook, Emily Gray, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital CEO Alan Keesee, Belleview High School Principal Heather Guest, Marion County School Board member Allison Campbell, Take Stock in Children Mentor Coordinator Ashlie Gray, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital Communications and Community Engagement Director Kaitlyn Wilson-Butler and Belleview Chamber & Economic Partnership Director Joe Reichel. [Submitted photo]

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital, with the Public Education Foundation of Marion County, recently presented Thank a Teacher awards to Claire Sensibaugh of Vanguard High School and Emily Gray of Belleview High School.

During the 2024-25 school year, students, families and staff members are encouraged to share stories about a teacher’s inspiring actions, supportive words, creative lessons or overall positive impact. Teachers selected as a result of nominations from the public receive $250 and a special email containing the messages.

Gray, who teaches the college-level AICE English Literature program for seniors, was selected from a pool of nominees compiled and judged by previous winners of the Golden Apple Award, a prestigious honor given to public school teachers in Marion County.

Her nomination noted that she is a dedicated and compassionate teacher who cultivates creativity, critical thinking and resilience among her students, while “helping them navigate the challenges of adolescence with grace.” Her impact “resonates far beyond the classroom walls” as she serves as a “beacon of inspiration and positivity within her community,” the news release noted.

Gray is a graduate of Belleview High School. As a senior in the AICE English Literature program, she told her teacher, Leta Edwards, that she aspired to become a teacher and would return to Belleview High to take over the program from Edwards when she retired.

Gray, who received the Thank A Teacher award during an event at the school on Feb. 27, said she was “very overwhelmed, excited, shocked and very happy” at receiving the award.

“This curriculum is everything I ever wanted. I still talk to Leta every now and then. She’s still really proud of me. I still have her library here. I feel like I’m doing her justice,” Gray stated in the release.

Sensibaugh, a geometry teacher, was honored during an event at Vanguard on March 25. She was praised for her selfless devotion to her students and her patience in the classroom, according to the release.

“A good education is the foundation for our students to create a better life for themselves and our community,” said HCA Florida Ocala Hospital CEO Alan Keesee, in the release. “We believe it is important to honor those teachers, like Claire, who inspire our youth to achieve academically and to thrive as good citizens who contribute to the community.”

“The HCA Florida Healthcare Thank a Teacher campaign is an opportunity for all of us to show appreciation to teachers through shared words of gratitude. Saying thank you to teachers is a simple, yet priceless, way to acknowledge their hard work and dedication,” Public Education Foundation of Marion County Executive Director Meghan Magamoll offered.

To learn more about the program and the nomination process, go to pefmc.org/thank-a-teacher

From left, Vanguard High School Assistant Principal Samantha Roberts, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital CEO Alan Keesee, Public Education Foundation of Marion County board member Melissa Conner, Marion County School Board member Sarah James, Golden Apple Academy member Beth Abel, school board chair Lori Conrad, Claire Sensibaugh, Marion County Public Schools Superintendent Diane Gullett, Golden Apple Academy Chairwoman Emily Cook, Vanguard High School Principal Colleen Wade, Public Education Foundation of Marion County Executive Director Meghan Magamoll and school board member Nancy Thrower. [Submitted photo]