Duval Times

Duval County Public Schools recently issued the following announcement.

Charles Darwin Magdaluyo, a human anatomy and physiology teacher at Jean Ribault High School was named the 2022 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year tonight at the 31st Annual EDDY Awards. Magdaluyo, who has taught at Ribault High for three years, was selected from among 180 Teachers of the Year by a committee of volunteers.

Magdaluyo has been teaching for seven years and is a training facilitator for human anatomy teachers in the district and a mentor to other science teachers. In addition, Magdaluyo, a native of the Philippines, initiated professional learning communities for other international teachers to familiarize them with teaching in Duval County. 

He said he understands what it is like to be a struggling student because he was one. And now he wants to be the teacher who helps those students.

“What inspires me as an educator is my students’ success stories. Every ‘ah ha!’ moment, every smiling face whenever they understand something they thought was difficult, every time they take a risk to do something in front of the class to show they can also do what other students can do- these are things that don’t just inspire me but DRIVE me to do better day by day,” he said. “I want to be a part of every child’s success story where I was with them in their challenging times. These great moments don’t just inspire me- they DRIVE me to be a better version of myself, to be of greater service to these young minds. I know how it feels to be someone who struggles a lot and almost gives up. I want to be felt as an educator who focuses more on students’ hard work to succeed even when difficulties arise. I want to be a teacher I wish I could have.”

As the 2022 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year, Magdaluyo will go on to compete for the statewide title.

“Mr. Magdaluyo represents all the outstanding qualities our teachers bring to our classrooms every day,” said Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene.  “The first thing you notice is his energy and his enthusiasm for student success. Then you see the outstanding quality of his teaching craft, particularly the way he individualizes instruction to reach every student. With that energy and that understanding of each child, he inspires and motivates students in a very special and effective way. His drive and impact extend well beyond his classroom.  He is a mentor to other teachers, sharing his experience and helping others grow and improve.  All of these qualities make him an outstanding choice for Team Duval’s Teacher of the Year.” 

The EDDY awards gala is a time-honored tradition hosted by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF) to celebrate and elevate Duval County’s best public school educators.

“We know how important education and educators are to a community,” said VyStar Credit Union President & CEO Brian Wolfburg. “That’s why it’s important to us to recognize excellent teachers for the work they do. Now more than ever, teachers need our support as they work tirelessly for Duval County students.”

“The EDDYs give us an opportunity to recognize excellence in education and the professionals who do so much for our students every single day,” said Rachael Tutwiler Fortune, president of JPEF.  “We are honored to celebrate them and showcase the work they are doing in Duval County schools. We know the key to closing the opportunity gap for low-income students and students of color lies in supporting our teachers and empowering them in their work.”

Each of the 180 Teachers of the Year are also eligible for JPEF’s Teacher Leadership Initiative, which empowers them to implement equity-focused best practices in their schools. 

In addition to a cash prize and a classroom grant thanks to the Rotary Clubs of Duval County and Florida Blue, Madguluyo will join the Jacksonville Public Education Fund Board of Directors as an ex-officio member for the next year, as is tradition with every VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year. 

Teachers of the year from 180 schools were nominated, and evaluated by committees of volunteers, who ultimately narrowed the down to 15 semi-finalists, and then five finalists. Bios, photos and more information on all the teachers of the year are available at www.eddyawardsjax.org.

Contact Amy Henderson at 404-387-0624 or amy@jaxpef.org for more information or additional photos. 

Original source can be found here.