Florida State University School of Information alumna Michelle Gunning was named this year’s Macy’s/Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year for Palm Beach County.

Gunning graduated from the iSchool with a Master of Science in Library and Information Studies and a Project LEAD specialist degree in 2008. She is now a media specialist at Sandpiper Shores Elementary School in Boca Raton, Fla.  It is her first year at Sandpiper Shores. 

In just one year, Gunning has doubled the fund raising profits from the school’s annual book fair, bought Nook readers for students in the library, co-sponsored the school’s safety patrol and raised money for its annual field trip to Washington D.C. and founded a Lego Club and a Chess Club with plans to start a Yo-Yo Club in the future.

As Palm Beach County’s winner, Gunning will receive a $1,000 prize and will be entered along with winners from other counties for the statewide teacher of the year award.

Gunning previously worked at Atlantic High School and Odyssey Middle School in the Palm Beach County school district.