FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2004
Contact: Michael Corby
904.632.3310

Florida Community College graduate Annie Montgomery wins statewide award
LeRoy Collins Award recognizes distinguished community college graduates while paying homage to former governor, community college pioneer

Annie Bryant Montgomery, 1993 graduate of Florida Community College at Jacksonville, and a 2001 graduate of the University of North Florida with a master’s degree in educational leadership, has been selected as the statewide 2004 Honorary LeRoy Collins Distinguished Community College Alumnus.

Montgomery is presently the CEO and owner of New Beginnings Academy, a private home-school and tutoring service for students in grades 6-12. From 2001-2004, she was a special education teacher at Wilkinson Junior High School in Middleburg. In 2003-2004, she was named Wilkinson Junior High Teacher of the Year, and was subsequently named Clay County Teacher of the Year. She will be presented the LeRoy Collins Award in a ceremony held in Tampa on Nov. 18, and as the statewide winner, will give the keynote address. The ceremony is part of an annual gathering of the Florida Association of Community Colleges.

Montgomery was an active student at both Florida Community College and the University of North Florida. She won honors and awards at both institutions, and as a teacher was a strong proponent of recruiting and retaining teachers. Her former principal at Wilkinson Junior High, Ed Paulk, recalls the time when she was injured in an accident and was bed-confined. During that period, she had her lessons videotaped and delivered to her students so they knew they were not forgotten. She remains committed to community activity as well, serving on the Board of Habitat for Humanity.

The Collins Award is named for former governor LeRoy Collins. A lifelong public servant, Collins was a strong supporter of education and was instrumental in the formation of the Florida Community College System.