Victoria Grable was a standout as an Elementary Education student at Wilmington University, graduating summa cum laude in 2018. She also was an energetic cheerleader on WilmU’s award-winning squad.

Her clinical studies team—Tyler Wells, Theresa Carter, Keira Potter and Amanda Shenton—arranged for her to do her student teaching in the Lake County school system in her home state of Florida. Back in the Sunshine State, Grable stayed true to form. Her hard work, enthusiasm and excellence so impressed the administration at the school that they offered her a full-time faculty position before she had even completed student teaching.

This year, she was named Rookie Teacher of the Year in Eustis, Florida. The award is given to an early-career educator, defined as being in his or her first four years of teaching. The honor is bestowed on a teacher who demonstrates outstanding attitudes and skills and who is able to generate high levels of student engagement and academic achievement.