Florida's newest teacher of the year is from Polk County.
- Florida teacher of the year from Polk County
- Jessica Solano teaches third grade math
- Second straight winner from Highlands Grove Elementary
- Back to School 2016-17
Jessica Solano is a third grade math teacher and Highlands Grove Elementary in Lakeland.
Solano was back in Lakeland Monday after winning the award last week in Orlando. She was part of a press conference with her principal and the school superintendent.
Solano relived the moment her name was called as the winner.
"It was a complete shock," she said. "It was surreal. You listen to it and then think they did not say my name. But they did so it was very exciting."
Solano won for her use of technology in the classroom. All of her students use pads to do much of their work. She used innovative ways to keep the students interested in math. That included taking a virtual field trip to Times Square in New York city.
“They saw people so they started asking those math questions. Well I wonder how tall this building is? I wonder what the square footage of this building will be," she said.
Solano is the second Florida teacher of the year from Highlands Grove.
Christie Bassett was Florida's 2015 teacher of the year. Principal Benjamin Henry was very proud of the dual honor.
“Just great teachers. That’s the secret sauce," he said. "We just got great teachers. Ha, ha."
Solano will take a year away from the classroom to travel the state as an ambassador for education and Florida teachers.