Florida Virtual School Names Karla Cheas 2026 Teacher of the Year

FLVS names the 2026 Teacher of the Year and 2025 Principal, Assistant Principal, and School-Related Employee of the Year. From left to right: Sharon Sewell-Grant, Karla Cheas, Tiffany Mason, Dr. Louis Algaze, and Tiffany Griffin.

Karla Cheas has been selected as the Florida Virtual School (FLVS) 2026 Teacher of the Year. Cheas has been with FLVS since 2015, serving in various roles, including as a Spanish teacher, lead teacher, and training specialist. She currently teaches elementary computer science. 

Additionally, the school district also named the 2025 Principal, Assistant Principal, and School-Related Employee of the Year. All of this year’s honorees will compete in the  Florida Department of Education’s annual awards program, where one teacher, principal, assistant principal, and school-related employee will be named the statewide winner. 

These awards celebrate and elevate the education profession by recognizing outstanding educators for their achievements. 

• 2025 Principal of the Year: Tiffany Griffin
• 2025 Assistant Principal of the Year: Tiffany Mason
• 2025 School-Related Employee of the Year: Sharon Sewell-Grant
  

“We are incredibly proud of our award winners who exemplify the FLVS commitment, which is to put the student at the center of every decision we make,” said Dr. Louis Algaze, president and CEO of Florida Virtual School. “Each exceptional individual embodies our core values of excellence, innovation, community, balance, and communication and demonstrates a relentless dedication to elevating and innovating in the online learning environment to meet our students' needs.”  

2026 Teacher of the Year: Karla Cheas

As a former FLVS high school student, Cheas brings a unique and firsthand perspective to her role as a virtual teacher. While at the University of Central Florida (UCF), she pursued an internship at FLVS, inspired by her own positive experiences with online learning. Her time as an FLVS student highlighted the flexibility and innovative teaching methods that online learning offers, fueling her passion to bring the same dynamic approach to her students. 

“Karla embraced online learning with incredible creativity and built strong relationships with her students and their families,” said Kristy Smith, Florida Virtual Elementary School principal. “Her innovative approach and commitment to computer science instruction have been instrumental in creating an exceptional learning environment for her students and families.”

Cheas focuses her teaching on a “classroom of one” approach using innovative teaching strategies that personalize learning for every student. 

“There's no greater joy than when a struggling student flourishes,” said Cheas. “Seeing their eyes light up in understanding after watching a tutorial I created for a challenging assignment or sending them a personalized video message of encouragement is why I do what I do because it reinforces my belief in personalized teaching approaches.” 

2025 Principal of the Year: Tiffany Griffin

“Tiffany’s innovative approach to education, combined with her compassion for students, staff, and families, has transformed her schoolhouse into an exceptional space for learning and teaching,” said Rick Rizzo, FLVS director of instruction. “Her ability to cultivate a strong sense of community has resulted in a family-like atmosphere, placing students at the center of every decision.”

Throughout her role as principal, Griffin implemented several initiatives to build rapport and teamwork while targeting best practices to enhance instruction. This resulted in student performance data that consistently met and exceeded annual goals. 

2025 Assistant Principal of the Year: Tiffany Mason

Tiffany Mason’s journey at FLVS began in 2018 as a third-grade teacher. In 2021, she completed the FLVS Aspiring Leaders Program, a 10-month program designed to provide educational leaders with hands-on leadership experiences within the organization's departments. She then ascended to assistant principal of Florida Virtual Elementary School, where her leadership inspires teachers and students alike.

“Tiffany goes above and beyond to support her teachers,” said Ryan Foster, Florida Virtual Elementary School principal. “Her innovativeness shines in the way she leads and the resources she creates, which intentionally finds the strengths in others to help them continue to grow and be encouraged.” 

As an assistant principal, Mason successfully bridges the gap between the two options FLVS Full Time and FLVS Flex, ensuring seamless professional development for educators and fostering success throughout the school. She collaborates with FLVS Flex principals and staff, providing support wherever needed, including sharing instructional ideas and organizational strategies.

2025 School-Related Employee of the Year: Sharon Sewell-Grant 

As the franchise services specialist, Sharon Sewell-Grant is critical in supporting every school district’s county virtual school across the state. Her expertise and dedication to providing professional development, support, and resources have empowered county virtual school teachers and administrators.

“I can confidently say that she is one of the hardest working and most dedicated individuals I have ever encountered,” said Larry Banks, partner services senior director. “When I reached out to our franchise partners for words to support Sharon’s nomination, the response was overwhelming - 25 principals from district franchise schools eagerly shared their heartfelt words of appreciation and admiration, reflecting on the profound impact she has made on their schools.”

Making a significant impact across the state, Sewell-Grant’s expertise, unmatched work ethic, and exceptional problem-solving skills have been instrumental in driving innovation for Florida’s county virtual schools. Her leadership led to the development of a comprehensive resource manual for the Virtual School Administrator platform, the main access point for virtual learners for course entry and management, empowering franchise administrators with critical tools for success. In addition, she developed a streamlined franchise student transfer format to assist during the student transfer process effectively and efficiently.

FLVS team members, like the ones recognized here, are committed to creating a personalized and supportive learning environment where every student can thrive. 

Visit FLVS.net to learn more about the different school options.