Every year, the USF College of Education’s Extra Yard for Teachers tailgate grows bigger, better, and more spirited—and this year was no exception. On Saturday, September 20, the Bulls brought home a victory on the field, while the College of Education and USF Athletics, came together to celebrate the educators who make a difference every day.
The day kicked off with our annual tailgate, where alumni, faculty, students, and friends gathered for food, games, giveaways, and plenty of Bull pride. The tailgate provided the perfect space for faculty and alumni to reconnect and for our community to honor the teaching profession.
Inside Raymond James Stadium, the spotlight shone brightly on a few of our alumni who are also some of the region’s Teachers of the Year:
- Cynara Appling (Polk County, 2025)
- Kelly Rozell (Sarasota County, 2025)
- Ronnique Major (Sarasota County, 2024)
We were also proud to welcome superintendents Van Ayres of Hillsborough County Public Schools and Kevin Hendrick of Pinellas County Schools, along with USF President Rhea Law and our partners in USF Athletics. Together, we honored the commitment of educators who inspire and support students across Tampa Bay.
Special recognition goes to Dean Jenifer Jasinski Schneider, who represented the College of Education with the official game coin toss—a proud moment that underscored the significance of teachers in our community.
Again this year, we participated in the nationwide CFP Big Day, a College Football Playoff Foundation initiative where outstanding teachers are surprised with a $1,000 DonorsChoose.org gift code to support classroom projects. At USF, we were thrilled to honor Mrs. Rachel Strong from York PreK-8 Innovation Academy for her unwavering support of the USF mentorship program and her strong commitment to promoting and elevating the teaching profession.
It was a big win for the Bulls—and an even bigger win for education.
See more photos here