A Manatee County school teacher will be celebrating spring break with a big smile and an even bigger honor to go with it.
- Braden River teacher named Educator of the Year in Manatee
- 4th grade teacher Nick Leduc recognized for out of the box methods
Fourth grade teacher Nick Leduc at Braden River Elementary was named Educator of the Year.
After more than 20 years of trial and error, Leduc won the award in Manatee County for his out of the box teaching methods.
Thanks to Leduc's guidance, his students are explorers, creators, and coders.
"This is a different way to connect with kids and if it worked then I keep it the following year, and if it doesn't then I scrap it and try something new," Leduc said.
His students say they appreciate his methods.
"He's just fun, like the activities he comes up with. Everything he does, it's awesome," said student Benjamin Hansen.
The students were so excited to find out one of their own won the award that they made cutouts of Leduc's face and placed the along the sidewalks in the hallway.
"I was overjoyed when I heard the news," Hansen said.
While Leduc said he never expected to receive the award, he was excited to win it for someone else.
"My first thought was my mom, sitting in that chair when they announced my name, that was my first thought and I knew she would be proud," he said.
Leduc's mother was also a teacher in Manatee County before she passed away - passing on a legacy to her son that will no doubt impact students for generations to come.