Filipino is Teacher of the Year of Florida county

The EDDY Awards ceremony was hosted by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund and broadcast on WJXT-TV/Channel 4 with local anchor Melanie Lawson. Right photo: Charles Darwin Magdaluyo, Duval County’s Teacher of the Year. SCREENSHOT

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – Charles Darwin Magdaluyo, a Filipino who teaches human anatomy and physiology at Ribault High School, is this year’s Teacher of the Year for Duval County Public Schools.

Known by his students as Mr. M, the Philippine-born Magdaluyo has been teaching Human Anatomy and Physiology to high school freshmen and seniors for seven years.

“Mr. Magdaluyo represents all the outstanding qualities our teachers bring to our classrooms every day,” Superintendent Diana Greene said in a news release.

“In this class, we are never afraid to ask questions and make mistakes in concepts he teaches. We feel valued. We belong,” said Jasmyn, one of Magdaluyo’s students.

“Mr. Magdaluyo creates a safe environment for us in his classroom that allows us to ask for help if we do not understand something. I truly believe that he’s the best teacher in Duval County, and I wouldn’t believe you if you said he was anything less than the best in all of Florida.”

In accepting the award, Magdaluyo said he understands what it is like to be a struggling student because he was one himself.

In addition to classroom teaching, Magdaluyo also initiated professional learning communities within Duval Schools to help other international teachers become familiarized with teaching in Jacksonville. He also serves as a training facilitator and mentor for science teachers throughout the district.

Selecting finalists and winners for the 31-year-old EDDY Awards is a rigorous process, including observing teachers in action in the classroom. Of the school district’s 180 Teachers of the Year, 15 semi-finalists are selected. From there, five are named finalists.

Community committees composed of teachers, Duval Teachers United representatives and PTA members judge the finalists and the ultimate winner.

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

He also received a cash prize, a classroom grant and a seat on the Jacksonville Public Education Fund Board of Directors.

All Teachers of the Year received access to a yearlong professional development program.

State Teacher of the Year finalists will be named in the spring.