Tuesday, September 19, 2023 | Football, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A couple Fridays ago, Gainesville Buchholz High science teacher Karen Kearney got a visit to her classroom from a couple academic heavy hitters. Kelley Kostamo, a supervisor at the Alachua County Public Schools, was joined by Buchholz principal Kevin Purvis.
Kearney figured something was up, but wasn't sure exactly what. It was nine months earlier she had been named 2023 Alachua County Teacher of the Year, a tribute as humbling as it was elevating to her relative to her proud profession. What could this be about?
That's when Purvis got a call and handed his cell phone to Kearney.
"Hey there, Karen! This is Coach Spurrier."
Then came the HBC's invitation to be honorary "Ms. Two Bits" for Saturday night's game between the 25th-ranked Gators (2-1) and Charlotte (1-2) at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
"I couldn't believe it," Kearney said.
She knew the UF football team invited the 2022 winner to take a "Two Bits" turn last year, but that was supposed to be a one-off thing. At least, that was the buzz around the county.
Instead, Kearney will further what could be a tradition to annually salute the teachers of Alachua County in the largest building in the state of Florida.
Dr. Karen Kearney, of Gainesville Buchholz High, accepts her 2023 Alachua County Teach of the Year award at a ceremony in January.
Kearney, a Buchholz graduate and doctor in chiropractics, has been teaching at regular and honors anatomy and physiology for 22 years. She was named Teacher of the Year at Buchholz and thus went into a pool of nominees for the county-wide award, given annually at the elementary, middle and secondary levels by a vote from her educational peers. Being tabbed in '23 floored her.
Yes, there are some honors so special they can top even turn as celebrity "Mr. Two Bits."
"Just at my school alone, I work with so many amazing, dedicated and hard-working teachers who love their students," said Kearney, who was joined in the '23 honors by Kanapaha Middle School dean Richard Thomas and Lanier Center behavior specialist Lilliemarie Gore. "Every school is like that. Every school has teachers who are passionate about their craft and it means so much to be recognized for it. It's validating, especially have grown up in this county and being a product of Alachua County Public Schools."
As the big county winner, Kearney was invited in the spring to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at a UF baseball game. That was pretty fun, but not without some angst.
She could not have imagined an even bigger Gator-related perk waiting down the line.
"That was very cool, but it was nerve-racking. You have to have skill to throw a pitch," she said. "For this, I just have to act like a fool and jump up and down. The fact I'll see my face on the JumboTron will be intimidating enough, but I think I'll get through it."
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