ARTICLE
Polk County Public Schools is proud to announce our Teacher and School-Related Employee of the Year! Elizabeth Heaton, an AP computer science and IB business teacher at Bartow High, is the 2025-26 Polk County Teacher of the Year. Angelica Ortiz, the school nutrition manager at Winston Academy of Engineering, is the district’s School-Related Employee of the Year. Profiles of each winner can be found below. Heaton and Ortiz will each receive cash prizes and other gifts made possible by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, and the collective generosity of our sponsors. Both winners will move on to compete for state titles. Each year, the Florida Department of Education names a statewide Teacher of the Year, and a School-Related Employee of the Year. PCPS celebrated Heaton, Ortiz and many of the district’s other outstanding employees during tonight’s Inspire Awards presented by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. PCPS also recognized the district’s Principal of the Year, Ronda Cotter from Westwood Middle; as well as the Assistant Principal of the Year, Leandrea Sessoms from Lake Gibson Middle. The Inspire Awards are presented by the Polk Education Foundation and PCPS’ Department of Public Relations & Strategic Partnerships. The presenting sponsor for the event is MIDFLORIDA Credit Union. Publix Super Markets Charities is the Platinum sponsor. Gold sponsors are Aramark, BayCare, Jarrett-Gordon Ford, Legoland Florida Resort, Mosaic, and Tampa Electric. Silver sponsors are Ben Hill Griffin, Inc., Cemex, and HCA Florida Healthcare. Bronze sponsors are AT&T, Boring Business Systems, CapTrust, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, In Memory of Polk Education Foundation Executive Director Susan Copeland, Florida Southern College, Herff Jones, IDX Brands, Orlando Health, and the Polk Education Association. Please visit www.polkschoolsfl.com/inspireawards for more information about this year’s honorees. Elizabeth Heaton — 2025-26 Polk County Teacher of the Year award winner profile: It’s easy to sum up why Elizabeth Heaton means so much to Bartow High: she’s innovative, dedicated and impactful. She expanded the school’s AP computer science and IB business management courses, which have attracted a diverse group of students earning outstanding pass rates. Her efforts to increase student access to college credits have also bolstered the ambitious academic culture of Bartow High, IB Bartow and Summerlin Academy. In addition, she founded a computer programming club at school, and has been an accomplished leader for students participating in Future Business Leaders of America. Heaton has been praised for her ability to foster strong, positive relationships with students and parents. She’s been recognized by the College Board for her efforts to support female students in STEM education. Outside of her classroom duties, she’s always willing to lend a hand around campus, or take time to mentor an aspiring educator. Heaton says she’s most proud of her students’ progress. Many of them arrive unsure of their abilities, but she says they leave “knowing they can do hard things. They leave knowing they matter.” Angelica Ortiz — 2025-26 Polk County School-Related Employee of the Year award winner profile: You might say that Angelica Ortiz is the captain of the cafeteria at Winston Academy. As school nutrition manager, she is regarded for her leadership and training abilities, which have helped to provide highly qualified staff for Winston and many other PCPS schools. She also has a knack for efficiency, taking steps to optimize meal preparation and service, while reducing food waste. In addition, she always takes time to communicate with families about meal options and dietary restrictions, so they know their child’s health is a priority. Although she’s a wiz in the kitchen, Ortiz really stands out for her incredible heart. Her cafeteria is a welcoming environment for students, where they are greeted by name and made to feel important. Ortiz takes a similar approach with her staff, using encouragement, support and respect to build and maintain a cohesive team. Administrators say that Ortiz’s impact “extends far beyond the cafeteria” — she’s a leader who has the secret ingredients for her school’s success.
Polk County Public Schools is proud to announce our Teacher and School-Related Employee of the Year!
Elizabeth Heaton, an AP computer science and IB business teacher at Bartow High, is the 2025-26 Polk County Teacher of the Year.
Angelica Ortiz, the school nutrition manager at Winston Academy of Engineering, is the district’s School-Related Employee of the Year.
Profiles of each winner can be found below.
Heaton and Ortiz will each receive cash prizes and other gifts made possible by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, and the collective generosity of our sponsors.
Both winners will move on to compete for state titles. Each year, the Florida Department of Education names a statewide Teacher of the Year, and a School-Related Employee of the Year.
PCPS celebrated Heaton, Ortiz and many of the district’s other outstanding employees during tonight’s Inspire Awards presented by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. PCPS also recognized the district’s Principal of the Year, Ronda Cotter from Westwood Middle; as well as the Assistant Principal of the Year, Leandrea Sessoms from Lake Gibson Middle.
The Inspire Awards are presented by the Polk Education Foundation and PCPS’ Department of Public Relations & Strategic Partnerships.
The presenting sponsor for the event is MIDFLORIDA Credit Union. Publix Super Markets Charities is the Platinum sponsor. Gold sponsors are Aramark, BayCare, Jarrett-Gordon Ford, Legoland Florida Resort, Mosaic, and Tampa Electric. Silver sponsors are Ben Hill Griffin, Inc., Cemex, and HCA Florida Healthcare. Bronze sponsors are AT&T, Boring Business Systems, CapTrust, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, In Memory of Polk Education Foundation Executive Director Susan Copeland, Florida Southern College, Herff Jones, IDX Brands, Orlando Health, and the Polk Education Association.
Please visit www.polkschoolsfl.com/inspireawards for more information about this year’s honorees.
Elizabeth Heaton — 2025-26 Polk County Teacher of the Year award winner profile:
It’s easy to sum up why Elizabeth Heaton means so much to Bartow High: she’s innovative, dedicated and impactful. She expanded the school’s AP computer science and IB business management courses, which have attracted a diverse group of students earning outstanding pass rates. Her efforts to increase student access to college credits have also bolstered the ambitious academic culture of Bartow High, IB Bartow and Summerlin Academy. In addition, she founded a computer programming club at school, and has been an accomplished leader for students participating in Future Business Leaders of America.
Heaton has been praised for her ability to foster strong, positive relationships with students and parents. She’s been recognized by the College Board for her efforts to support female students in STEM education. Outside of her classroom duties, she’s always willing to lend a hand around campus, or take time to mentor an aspiring educator. Heaton says she’s most proud of her students’ progress. Many of them arrive unsure of their abilities, but she says they leave “knowing they can do hard things. They leave knowing they matter.”
Angelica Ortiz — 2025-26 Polk County School-Related Employee of the Year award winner profile:
You might say that Angelica Ortiz is the captain of the cafeteria at Winston Academy. As school nutrition manager, she is regarded for her leadership and training abilities, which have helped to provide highly qualified staff for Winston and many other PCPS schools. She also has a knack for efficiency, taking steps to optimize meal preparation and service, while reducing food waste. In addition, she always takes time to communicate with families about meal options and dietary restrictions, so they know their child’s health is a priority.
Although she’s a wiz in the kitchen, Ortiz really stands out for her incredible heart. Her cafeteria is a welcoming environment for students, where they are greeted by name and made to feel important. Ortiz takes a similar approach with her staff, using encouragement, support and respect to build and maintain a cohesive team. Administrators say that Ortiz’s impact “extends far beyond the cafeteria” — she’s a leader who has the secret ingredients for her school’s success.