Yulee, Fla.- On May 14th, a Nassau County FCDI teacher was honored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) as the Florida High School Teacher of the Year. Presented by State Adjutant/QuartermasterGene Perrino Sr., the VFW annually recognizes an exceptional teacher from the state on the elementary, middle school and high school levels for their outstanding commitment to teaching Americanism and patriotism to their students. Ms. Van Delinder is the honoree for the high school level for Florida. Nominated by Post 4351 in Fernandina, Ms. Van Delinder als oreceived $850 from the post , district and state. A speech, debate, dual enrollment and English teacher at Yulee High School, she initiated and coordinates an annual “Valentines for Veterans” campaign in which the students write letters to veterans and send them to the V.A. Hospital. Her students also interview veterans as a class assignment, then summarize their interviews and write character sketches of the interviewees. In accepting the award, Ms. Van Delinder said, “I’m very appreciative of this recognition because I really want to encourage the students to honor and appreciate those who have defended our freedoms." In her forty-eight years in education, she has taught on the college, high school and elementary levels, as well has having been a school principal.
