Payten Ford (BME 2022) has been named Manatee Cove Elementary School’s 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year.

She has been the Music Teacher at Manatee Cove Elementary School since 2022. Currently in her 3rd year of teaching, she instructs and inspires 810 students in grade levels Pre-K through 5th grade.

We are incredibly proud of Payten who also received the Outstanding Senior in Music Education award in the Spring of 2022. She is a bright star in the field.