Four of seven seats on the Duval County School Board are up for election this year. These are nonpartisan races that will appear on the August primary ballot. In District 1, school board member Kelly Coker is not seeking re-election. Nadine Ebri and Tony Ricardo are running in this race, which will appear on the ballot for all voters in this district, regardless of party affiliation.

Early voting for the Duval County School Board elections is a little over a week away and the Jacksonville Public Education Fund is ensuring that community members have access to candidates through a series of forums.

Five finalists — Kenneth Ford, Jameea Jackson-Gaines, Kimberly Parker, Nadine Ebri, Jim Schmitt — in the running to be the VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year will find out Wednesday if they have won the honor. The finalists were chosen among Duval County’s best based on their applications, interviews and footage of them teaching, according to the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. We will all find out at the same time as the winner is revealed during The EDDY Awards live on Channel 4 at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Watch the awards show, hosted by News4Jax anchor Melanie Lawson, below.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Five finalists — Kenneth Ford, Jameea Jackson-Gaines, Kimberly Parker, Nadine Ebri, Jim Schmitt — in the running to be the VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year will find out Wednesday if they have won the honor. “After everything they’ve done for our kids, they deserve to have a moment when the community comes together and celebrates them.”Congratulations to our five finalists for the 2021 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year. Besides the top honor, the TV special will also recognize every Teacher of the Year, along with the work of every teacher in Duval County who has persevered through a difficult year to support their students. She also founded the Association for Teacher Collaboration, which allows teachers to support one another throughout Duval County, including helping new teachers set up their very first classrooms. She has 32 years of teaching experience in several schools throughout Duval County, and she specializes in helping to turn around schools through literacy.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After weeks of waiting, we’ll finally learn next week who will be named the 2021 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year at the Jacksonville Public Education Fund’s EDDY Awards. Meet the 5 finalistsKenneth Ford - Carter G. Woodson Elementary – Wells Fargo FinalistKenneth Ford teaches fifth grade math and science at Carter G. Woodson Elementary. He attributes his life and career to his eighth grade teacher, Ms. Tave, who helped him re-integrate into school after treatment for leukemia. She also founded the Association for Teacher Collaboration, which allows teachers to support one another throughout Duval County, including helping new teachers set up their very first classrooms. She has 32 years of teaching experience in several schools throughout Duval County, and she specializes in helping to turn around schools through literacy.