On Friday, Aug. 30, Student Government teacher Danielle Driscoll was awarded the 2019 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Teacher of the Year. All the teachers in the school were emailed an open ballot and were able to write in any teacher they felt deserved this title. Driscoll was one of over 15 nominees and discovered that she had won this award during fourth period, when the Eagle Regiment drumline visited her classroom. 

As ‘Teacher of the Year’, Driscoll will have to write and submit a memoir about herself in order to be considered for this position at the county level. Among her other duties as teacher of the year, Driscoll is set to speak at graduation in the Spring of 2020.  

“I am so nervous, yet excited to speak [at graduation]. I don’t know how I’m going to follow up after Mrs. Reoven last year, not to mention the amazing teachers of the years before me,” Driscoll said. 

Driscoll began her career teaching social studies and student government at MSD 11 years ago and has been at the school ever since. However, she shifted to teaching mathematics in lieu of social studies a few years ago. 

“If I could use one word to describe Mrs. Driscoll it would simply have to be amazing. It stretches far beyond just being a teacher. She’s someone you can talk to or vent to. I could not respect her more,” Student Government President Isaac Christian said.

Driscoll values making each year different than the last, by attempting to cater to each set of students and their needs. 

“I try really hard to grow with my students, but also meet them where they’re at,” Driscoll said. “I want them to have meaningful experiences and to have the passion that I have for what I do, to spill into the passion that I am trying to create and nurture in them.”

Being a teacher at MSD for over a decade, Driscoll has witnessed the development of the school throughout these years. Although she is comfortable with the old administration, Driscoll is hopeful of the future with the new staff. 

“The new administration really is working hard to meet our needs, but also create a breath of fresh air, if you will, for a change,” Driscoll said. “I am really close with the old administration and I think they did an amazing job keeping everything afloat, and the new administration is also doing a phenomenal job. I think we’re going to continue getting better and continuing to heal from here.”

“Mrs. Driscoll is an amazing teacher that goes above and beyond for her students and for the school. She brings amazing school spirit to the school and we’re just so lucky to have her here at MSD,” Principal Michelle Kefford said.

Driscoll will attend the Broward Caliber Awards on January 16, 2020, to compete with teachers from other schools for the title of “Teacher of the Year.”