Duval County T.O.Y.
In 1989, John attended a Duval County School Board meeting where he discovered the Teacher of the Year was receiving minimal recognition and financial award. He went to the Deerwood Rotary Board, and upon his recommendation they presented the 1989-1990 Teacher of the Year with a $1000 check. This inspired the Jacksonville Public Education Fund to begin in 1991 the Annual EDDY Awards banquet. This banquet is an Academy Awards-Like event with over 1000 persons attending, which has continued for 29 years, to properly recognize the best teachers In Duval County’s 185 schools. In 1991 John’s Deerwood Rotary Club began soliciting contributions from the other Duval County Rotary Clubs. With John’s solicitation work each year, Rotary’s contribution has grown from $6000 in 1992 to $25000 in 2020. This funds $4000 to the Teacher of the Year. It gives $2500 to each of the 4 other finalists. It also gives $500 to each of their 5 schools, plus Summer Fellowship Experiences for all 5.