- April 28, 2024
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Tanner Norvell wants his students to always "stay stoked."
The words are front and center on a banner in his classroom, a gift from a former student. In a statement to the Observer, Norvell said the phrase goes beyond just surfing slang (Though Norvell does love surfing).
"To me that means appreciate everyday, spread joy and happiness, appreciate the little things and take a moment to enjoy nature/life," Norvell said. "Give your loved ones that extra hug and let the people you care about know you love them. In a way, it means to live that ‘you only live once’ lifestyle. Also, for an extra quick one, you only get so many birthdays in life, take of the day off and enjoy it."
Norvell is one of the five district finalist for Volusia County Schools' 2025 Teacher of the Year. Now in his 11th year of teaching, Norvell, who teaches 10th and 11th grade Cambridge AICE International History and AICE U.S. History at Seabreeze High School, jokes that he never planned to be a teacher.
He only knew he wanted a career where he would be able to help kids. Shortly after graduating from the University of North Florida with a bachelor's in psychology, as he was waiting tables, he spoke to his mother, who had just retired from 31 years of teaching, finishing her career at Ormond Beach Middle School.
"She told me some words I will never forget: 'Tanner, I love my job and I love what it has allowed me to accomplish with my family and how it has shaped all of you,'" Norvell recalled. "I am one of five growing up and we all had our own individual passions. I decided to step in some of those shoes and give it a shot."
His mom told him to give teaching at least two years to decide if he liked it.
Norvell fell in love with teaching.
"Every day is new and every day I get to tell stories and joke with my students," he said. "It has been the best time of my life and I cannot imagine doing anything else."
He said feels honored and thankful to have been nominated as Seabreeze's Teacher of the Year, having graduated from the school in 2008 himself. The recognition is not something he could have accomplished without the support of his family, school administrators and coworkers, he added.
Norvell said he never wants to let his students down. His class is listed as a college course, and for students to earn the credit, they must pass the end-of-year exam. If a student doesn't pass, he finds himself thinking about what more he could have done to help them, he said.
Seeing the "ah-ha" moments of students keeps him motivated too.
"If I can make a student appreciate history even a bit more when they leave my class, then that makes me happy," Norvell said. "Lastly, I am described as a bit competitive and I like to see my alma mater on top."
