TAVARES — Michelle Deesi, a teacher at Sorrento Elementary School, has been named Lake County’s 2027 Teacher of the Year. The honor was announced at the Celebration InspirED by Excellence hosted by the Education Foundation of Lake County on Thursday, January 29.
Deesi is recognized for her dedication to her students and her commitment to creating a supportive, engaging learning environment where all children feel valued and encouraged to succeed. Her work reflects a deep belief in the power of education to shape not only academic growth, but confidence, character, and a love of learning.
Colleagues describe Deesi as a teacher who consistently goes above and beyond for her students and school community. She is known for building strong relationships with students and families, collaborating with fellow educators, and creating a classroom culture rooted in kindness. In her Teacher of the Year application, Deesi shared her passion for education and her belief in meeting students where they are, while inspiring them to reach their fullest potential. She wrote, “I strive to empower students to believe in themselves, to see that they are capable of achieving more than they imagined.”
Deesi teaches 3rd grade and brings 17 years of teaching experience to her classroom. Sorrento Elementary School Principal, Nicole Brouhard, shared “She models what it means to work collectively toward shared goals, contributing to the success of our entire school.” As Lake County’s 2027 Teacher of the Year, Deesi received prizes made possible through the generous support of community partners. She will now represent Lake County at the state level in the competition for Florida Teacher of the Year.
Also, at the Celebration InspirED by Excellence, Lake County’s Rookie Teacher of the Year was announced. Trevor Misegades, of Lake Technical College, received this district-wide honor. As a manufacturing instructor, his most notable classroom project focused on using LEGO blocks to apply concepts related to Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining. Misegades shared in his application that he would remind future Rookie Teachers to hold onto their “why,” because the challenges are often the most rewarding experiences.
