Linda Patrick Evanchyk has spent most of her life in Okaloosa County. Her father, the late Morris Patrick, retired from the US Air Force at Hurlburt AFB, and then from civil service at Eglin AFB. Her mother, the late Alice Patrick, was a homemaker and a cafeteria worker for the school district. Evanchyk graduated from Choctawhatchee High School in 1974, obtained her Associate of Arts Degree from O
kaloosa Walton Junior College, (now named Northwest Florida State College), and her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of West Florida. of West Florida. Her background is in communications-particularly public relations and publications. Evanchyk began her teaching career in Jacksonville, FL in 1979 at Raines High School. At Raines she taught English and was the teacher adviser for the student newspaper. Her colleagues selected her as the Raines Teacher of the Year in 1982. From 1984 until her retirement in 2017, Evanchyk was a member of the faculty of Choctawhatchee High School in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. She taught all grades in the English department, drama and speech over the years, but is most noted for her work with students in journalism. Evanchyk advised the student yearbook for 7 years and the student newspaper for 30 years. While at Choctaw High, Evanchyk coordinated the school's 50th and 60th anniversary celebrations, was on the committee that started the Choctaw High School Hall of Fame, and served as a mentor for many teachers. Evanchyk also worked beyond the classroom as the Okaloosa County School District's coordinator for National Board Certified Teachers for ten years, was the sole writer/editor of a school district publication, and wrote curriculum programs for the district's journalism courses. ACCOLADES:
*National Board Certified
*Inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame
*Okaloosa County Teacher of the Year
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