University of North Florida (University of North Flor, Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida’s Silverfield College of Education and Human Services, on behalf of philanthropist Gilchrist Berg, will surprise four local teachers with the 2026 Gladys Prior Awards for Career Teaching Excellence and $17,000 each, one of the largest monetary awards for teachers in the nation.
The awards will be presented at:
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Sandalwood High School
Kernan Trail Elementary School
LaVilla School of the Arts
Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies High School
The Gladys Prior Awards were established in 1998 by Berg, founder and president of Water Street Capital, to honor teachers with lifelong careers in education. Berg has given more than $2 million to recognize Jacksonville teachers. The award is named for Berg’s fourth-grade teacher at Ortega Elementary School, Gladys Prior.
Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.
Hailing from Detroit, Jonathan is excited to start his media career at News4JAX in November 2023. He is passionate about telling stories that matter to the community and he is honored to serve Jacksonville.
Carlos Acevedo is a photojournalist at WJXT News4Jax and a University of North Florida graduate with a degree in Communications, concentrating in Digital Video Production. Since joining News4Jax in 2024, he has been responsible for shooting compelling news stories that capture and share important events with the community.
