BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
Earlier this year, Mrs. Yolanda Whitehead Driskell was among five finalists for the Hillsborough County “Teacher of the Year” Award. She beat out her competition and was the presented the coveted award by the Hillsborough Education Foundation.
Mrs. Whitehead Driskell was nominated in the “Best School Teacher” category for the 2012 Steve Harvey Hoodie Awards Competition in May.
This past weekend, she walked away with the title of “Best School Teacher.” The awards show was held in Las Vegas. This was the 10th Anniversary of the competition that solicits nominations in various categories throughout the country.
Mrs. Whitehead Driskell said Mrs. Micheline Barber, owner of Salon 1, nominated her for the honor. Mrs. Barber’s team had won in the beauty shop category two consecutive years.
Mrs. Whitehead Driskell, 42, and several family members left Tampa Friday to attend the show. “It was exhilarating. I was surprised because I had a feeling that I wasn’t going to win. I think I received so many votes because I had been chosen as the “Teacher of the Year” for the district. I think when people heard my name on the radio it just took off.”
Mrs. Whitehead Driskell was sponsored by the Nielsen Research Company. She attended a luncheon with other nominees and representatives from Nielson on Saturday. The competition was held Saturday night.
A Tampa native, Mrs. Whitehead Driskell graduated from Brandon High School and continued her education at the University of New Orleans. After graduating with a degree in Business Management, she enrolled at Nova Southeastern University, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Mathematics Education.
Mrs. Whitehead Driskell became a member of the Hillsborough County School District twelve years ago. She has taught mathematics at Hillsborough High School for the past 12 years. She also coaches volleyball at the school.
She is married to Duane Driskell and has 3 stepsons. She is a member of Bible Based Fellowship of Temple Terrace and enjoys shopping.
There was one other winner from Florida at the show. The Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of St. Petersburg won the “Best Choir” Award. Mrs. Whitehead Driskell said her name was called first and then the church was chosen. “There were a lot of people from Tampa at the show,” she said.
