BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A teacher at an elementary school in Melbourne has been named Brevard Public Schools’ 2025 Teacher of the Year.

Laura Negi, who teaches third grade at Sabal Elementary School, was honored during the 14th Annual Applauding Brevard’s Champions Awards Teacher of the Year Gala in Cape Canaveral.

Negi’s journey in education has seen her a student at Sabal Elementary, Johnson Middle and Eau Gallie High School before she served in the Peace Corps, according to a news release. Following her work in Mongolia and teaching in India, Negi returned to Sabal to inspire and uplift the community, the release states.

“Laura’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of public education,” Paige Trosset, principal of Sabal Elementary, said in a statement. “Her commitment to our students and school community is truly unmatched.”

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Negi’s classroom dynamic is described as dynamic and joyful, one in which each student is encouraged to reach their full potential.

“My students are my family,” Negi said in a statement. “This honor reflects the love and passion I bring to teaching and the incredible support from my Sabal community.”

Negi will go on to represent Brevard Public Schools in the Florida Teacher of the Year competition, according to the district.

“Laura’s passion, resilience, and innovative spirit are what make her an extraordinary educator. She embodies the best of Brevard’s teaching community,” Brevard County Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell said in a statement.

“Educators like Laura show us that teaching is not just a profession; it’s a calling,” Janice Kershaw, president and CEO of Brevard Schools Foundation said in a statement. “Her dedication to her students, families, and colleagues is an inspiration to us all.”

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