By: Andrew Atterbury, Treasure Coast Newspapers
MARTIN COUNTY — Patrick Farley gave Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart a puzzled look as she burst into his classroom Wednesday afternoon.
Stewart arrived with a gaggle of staffers from Tallahassee and, more importantly, an oversized check for $15,000, made out to the fifth-grade teacher at Crystal Lake Elementary.
Farley, 33, had been paying close attention to Stewart's travels through the state the past few days, surprising educators with the news they were among the top five Teacher of the Year finalists.
He was certain he missed the cut, so he was completely taken aback when he got that same recognition Wednesday, Farely said.
"We're putting Crystal Lake on the map," Farley said after finding out he, too, was a finalist…