Twenty-six of this year’s 28 finalists are from Palm Beach County School District-operated schools. The finalists were chosen out of hundreds of nominations. Applicants are judged on their classroom accomplishments, personal education philosophy, leadership, and school-related or community-based activities outside of the classroom.
Nearly 100 business leaders from Palm Beach County served as judges, evaluating each application in a multi-round judging process. Each finalist will participate in a final round of judging that will include a panel interview with the business leaders. Seven award winners will be announced and honored during a ceremony on May 4, 2026 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts.
Congratulations to the District’s 2026 Dwyer Awards finalists:
Growing Up Great: Early Learning Education
- Cindy Fakhoury – Lake Worth Community High
- Ann Greenspan – Panther Run Elementary
- Heather Orloski – Citrus Cove Elementary
Elementary Education
- Toni Lipscher – Marsh Pointe Elementary
- Sally Smollar – Plumosa School of the Arts K-8
- Stefanie Stibal – Citrus Cove Elementary
- Dana Tate – Village Academy
Middle School Education
- Jennifer Feinberg – Eagles Landing Middle
- Eddie Riccio – West Boynton Middle
- Sireesha Rutter – Jupiter Middle
- Jorge Valls – Bak Middle School of the Arts
Senior High School Education
- Josephine Buscemi – Jupiter Community High
- Britt Feingold – Lake Worth Community High
- Suzanne Reddoch – Wellington Community High
STEM Education
- Mary Fish – Spanish River Community High
- Susan Garcia – Jupiter Community High
- John Kux – West Boca Raton Community High
- Corinne Nguyen – Christa McAuliffe Middle
Exceptional Student Education
- Jennifer LaNunziata – West Boynton Middle
- Nicole Mosca – Allamanda Elementary
- Kelesa Robinson – Santaluces Community High
- Amy Spano – Marsh Pointe Elementary
Student Support and Advancement
- Lori Bednarek – Western Pines Middle
- Ismael Galicia – Lake Worth Middle
- Vanessa Serrano-Briceño – Freedom Shores Elementary
- Shameka Thomas – Riviera Beach Preparatory & Achievement Academy
The Dwyer Awards is an annual program developed and supported by the Economic Council to honor outstanding educators from public and private schools in Palm Beach County. The Awards increase awareness of exemplary teaching in the community, provide financial support to educators, and encourages all residents to promote high standards for excellence in education.
