MIAMI – Miami Carol City Senior High School teacher Fedrick Ingram received a surprise end of-the-year bonus: he was named a Florida Department of Education Macy’s 2006 Teacher of the Year finalist.

Ingram is one of five finalists vying for the prestigious honor. Finalists were selected from district winners and represent over 165,000 Florida teachers. The winner will be announced July 26 in Orlando and will be considered for National Teacher of the Year.

Ingram is an eight-year veteran with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. He is fine arts chair and band director at the school. He has a bachelor’s degree in music education from Bethune-Cookman College and is working toward his master’s degree in educational leadership in Barry University.