VOLUME 5 ISSUE 51
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DECEMBER 20 - DECEMBER 26, 2024
MARION COUNTY HONORS EXEMPLARY TEACHERS By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
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ix outstanding Marion County teachers have been selected as finalists in this year’s Golden Apple Teacher of the Year competition. This year brings more finalists than ever
Private insurers OK’d to take Citizens policies By Jim Saunders
Florida News Service
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before, and the chance to advance to the statewide Florida Teacher of the Year competition. The Teacher of the Year honor is awarded by the Public Education Foundation of Marion County, and the winner will be announced at the Golden Apple Gala on Feb. 1, 2025, at 7 p.m. at the
Meet Joel Kunz— a Golden Apple Teacher of the Year finalist
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history teacher from Dunnellon Middle School is one of six finalists for this year’s Golden Apple Teacher of the Year Award. Joel Kunz teaches in grades six through eight. He has been teaching in Marion County Public Schools since the beginning of his teaching
Reilly Arts Center in Ocala. Marion County’s 2025 Golden Apple Teacher of the Year will win an Acura Integra, with a three-year pre-paid lease from the Jenkins Auto Group. The gala will also recognize the 2025 School Related Employee of the Year and Rookie Teacher of the Year.
Meet Jennifer Aderholt— a Golden Apple Teacher of the Year finalist
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pre-kindergarten teacher from Eighth Street Elementary School is one of six finalists for this year’s Marion County Golden Apple Teacher of the Year Award. Jennifer Aderholt teaches 4- and 5-year-olds in Voluntary Pre-K. She has been teaching at Eighth Street
See Joel Kunz, page A4
See Jennifer Aderholt, page A2
Meet Sarah Burfening— a Golden Apple Teacher of the Year finalist
Meet Joan Edwards— a Golden Apple Teacher of the Year finalist
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arah Burfening, a Madison Street Academy of Visual and Performing Arts fifth grade teacher, has been selected as a finalist for this year’s Golden Apple Teacher of the Year award. Burfening teaches math and science. She has been teaching in Marion County See Sarah Burfening, page A2
Meet Sarah Jacobs—a Golden Apple Teacher of the Year finalist
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est Port High School’s Sarah Jacobs is one of six finalists for this year’s Golden Apple Teacher of the Year award. Jacobs, who teaches ninth and 10th grade English, has been teaching at Marion County Public Schools since 2020. She has 12 years of See Sarah Jacobs, page A2
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orth Marion Middle School’s Joan Edwards is one of six finalists for this year’s Golden Apple Teacher of the Year Award. Edwards teaches middle school mathematics. She has been teaching in Marion County Public Schools for her entire teaching career,
omeowners’ insurance policies appear poised to continue flowing out of the state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. in 2025. The latest indication came Monday, when Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky signed orders approving proposals by three private insurers to assume up to 160,440 policies from Citizens in March. The orders followed months of similar approvals as Citizens, the state’s largest property insurer, has reduced its policy count through what is known as a “depopulation” program. Citizens had 982,892 policies as of Friday, but the count is expected to drop this week because private insurers will assume a batch of policies through a depopulation round approved in October. In the orders approved Monday, Slide Insurance Co. will be able to assume up to 100,000 policies in March; American Integrity Insurance Company of Florida will be able to assume up to 35,000 policies; and Trident Reciprocal Exchange will be able to assume See Citizens policies, page A9
BOCC to hear Planning & Zoning applications on Mondays County officials have been so busy in the past three years reviewing development projects that a separate day for hearing applications is slated in the new year. By Belea T. Keeney belea@magnoliamediaco.com
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risten Wilson, a math and science teacher from Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School, has been selected as a finalist for this year’s Golden Apple Teacher of the Year award. Wilson, who teaches the fourth grade, has been teaching in Marion County Public
evelopment in Marion County has grown to the point that the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has voted to hear development, zoning and landuse requests on Mondays in 2025, which will separate the regular board meetings from the monthly P&Z portion. “The intent of this is so that we are not cramming everything into one day,” said BOCC Chair Kathy Bryant. “I don’t feel it’s in the best interest of the public, the applicant or this board to have that type of marathon. This will be better for our public process. These decisions need to have our full attention and
See Kristen Wilson, page A4
See BOCC, page A9
See Joan Edwards, page A4
Meet Kristen Wilson— a Golden Apple Teacher of the Year finalist
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