Kira Guyotte wears many hats at John Hopkins Middle School: science teacher, department head, and volleyball coach. But colleagues and students say her influence extends far beyond those titles.

Known for her passion, leadership, and commitment to student success, Guyotte is an inspiration to staff and students alike. Those qualities helped earn her recognition as John Hopkins Middle School’s Teacher of the Year and a spot among the top 10 finalists for Pinellas County Teacher of the Year.

Being named Teacher of the Year at John Hopkins Middle wasn’t a surprise to know her. But for Guyotte, the moment was absolutely unexpected.

“I was completely surprised,” she said. “When I heard that I won, I was shocked and anxious because now I am boosted into the light. And I do my best work in the shadows.”

Guyotte has many traits that define her as a great teacher.

Fellow science teacher, Ivo Decarlis, said that the kids love her and that she makes coming to work fun.

“I was so happy to find out,” he said. “Ms. Guyotte and I are really close workers and really good friends. I think she totally deserved that because she worked so hard.”

Sixth-grade assistant principal Kimberly Vongsyprasom said that Guyotte has the perfect demeanor to be a science teacher and puts her students first.

“She’s innovative. She has critical thinking going on in her head all of the time. When students are working, she pivots in the moment. She’s providing opportunities for them to think,” Vongsyprasom said.

Before coming to JHop, Guyotte taught at Meadowlawn Middle School. After three years as a physical education teacher, she became a science coach, helping her peers teach the subject. She then realized she missed the classroom.

When she decided to go back to teaching, she committed to professional development during her summer breaks.

“I took 160 credits of training between my first three years of teaching so I could learn as much as I could about all the different things I could do in the classroom,” she said.

Guyotte also brings something deeply personal into her teaching — her experience with ADHD. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that interferes with daily functioning.

Guyotte said having this disorder is an advantage with helping her students.

“Learning how to cope with it and learning things that you can do to make it better, I think it’s beneficial for me and for the students that also struggle in the classroom with ADHD,” she said.

ADHD isn’t the way Guyotte connects to her students. Her students enjoy her methods of teaching and shared the reasons why she deserved to be named teacher of the year.

“With the way she’s taught during second period, I see why she deserves it,” eighth-grader Omar Boyle said.

Eighth-grader Averie Dupuy said that she likes that Guyotte keeps her students engaged with learning.

“When we walk into the room, she lets us debrief from our class a little bit and then she has us get right to work,” she said. “I think her class is really interactive.”

Guyotte also is known for her compassion.

“She never judges me for not understanding,” said eighth-grader Zaniya Jenkins. “And she is always there.”

Guyotte’s impact doesn’t stop in the classroom: she’s also the girls’ volleyball coach.

“In volleyball, she’s your coach. But, she’s nice about it,” said volleyball player Juliet Navas.  “She’s strict, but she’s still nice.”