U.S. Navy Blue Angels to Fly 2024 Seminole County Public Schools Teacher of the Year

SANFORD, Fla. (April 12, 2024) – After being named the 2024 Seminole County Public Schools Teacher of the Year, Bear Lake Elementary School’s Janan Hodges has been selected to fly with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels as part of their “Key Influencer” program that honors deserving local people, Orlando Air Show officials announced today.

On Wednesday, April 17, at 11:30 a.m. from Constant Aviation (Orlando Sanford International Airport, 100 Constant Ct, Sanford, FL 32773), Hodges will get to experience the ride of her life in the backseat of an F/A-18 Super Hornet. 

During her 45-minute flight, Hodges will experience rolls, loops, and turns like that of the best roller coaster ride imaginable. 

“This will be an incredible experience,” said Hodges after being selected to fly. “It really is the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Hodges began her career in education in 2002. For the past 10 years, she has taught in the general education classroom teaching 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and 5th grade core subject areas in Title I Schools. She uses different engagement strategies to reach her students including the creation of music videos for phonics and test-taking strategies, as well as creating original math chants and songs while using a tambourine, hand motions, and choreography.  

Last August, Hodges took on a new venture as a Math Instructional Coach where she coaches classroom teachers to improve their instructional practice by leading weekly PLCs (Professional Learning Community), modeling lessons in classrooms, providing resources to teachers, and analyzing student data to improve classroom instructional practice.  

In addition to working as an Instructional Coach, Hodges is also the N.E.S.T. (New Educator Support Team) Lead Teacher for Bear Lake Elementary School. As N.E.S.T. Lead Teacher, she conducts monthly training courses for new teachers, assigns mentor teachers, creates monthly lesson plans, leads a book study, and attends monthly meetings. 

Hodges and her family are active in their community through the Special Olympics, and she volunteers monthly at Discovery Church Winter Garden by singing on the worship team.

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will headline the 2024 Orlando Air Show, which is scheduled for April 20-21 at Orlando Sanford International Airport. 

The Orlando Air Show is the first stop on the 2024 Air Dot Show Tour (https://air.show/), which includes future shows in Fort Lauderdale; Augusta, Georgia; New York; Ocean City, Maryland; and Atlanta. 

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