Hernando County

challengers k-8 school of science and mathematics

6-8th grade math

Jaime Suarez is a High Impact 6th – 8th grade math teacher at the Challenger K-8 School of Science and Mathematics in Hernando County. Jaime was selected as the 2025 Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year, standing out among nearly 185,000 Florida public school teachers across the state. Her exceptional instructional skills are evidenced by her remarkable 100% pass rate among her 2022-23 Algebra students on the end-of-course assessment!

As the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education, Mrs. Suarez passionately advocates for the teaching profession, elevating, celebrating and showcasing the invaluable contributions of Florida’s educators.

Jaime earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Troy University. Throughout her career, she has had multiple leadership roles, including grade level team lead, new teacher mentor, the Math Field Day coordinator and district’s science textbook selection committee member. She strongly believes in the importance of extracurricular activities for building relationships. This belief is reflected in the varying clubs she has initiated, such as the Video Productions Club in Clay County and the Rubrik’s Cube Club at Challenger K-8, in Hernando County. Additionally, Jaime brings her enthusiasm and energy to her role as the Cheerleading coach at Challenger K-8.

Jaime is a proud mom of two, a 15-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter. She and her husband, Neil, have just celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary, marking two decades of partnership and shared joy.

Jaime’s dedication to fostering a love of learning is evident in her belief that every child has the potential to succeed.