six teachers chosen as finalists
Six Brevard Public Schools teachers found out they were selected as finalists for the 2016 Teacher of the Year.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — Six Brevard Public Schools teachers found out last week they were selected as finalists for the 2016 Teacher of the Year.
The finalists are: Sandra Cook, Rockledge High; Christine Ferrer, Ralph Williams Elementary; Mark Peters, Port Malabar Elementary; Shruti Raman, Apollo Elementary; Callie Williams, Astronaut High, and Ana Woodbrey, Hoover Middle.
These individuals were selected from among the 89 district teacher of the year nominees by a panel of judges comprised of principals and teachers from the north, central and south areas.
Finalists were measured against a rigorous set of criteria that include teaching philosophy and practice, leadership, professional development and parental engagement in the learning process.
Dr. Desmond Blackburn
“These finalists demonstrate the expert and innovative practices occurring in our classrooms every day,” said Desmond Blackburn, BPS superintendent.
“It is an honor to recognize these passionate teachers who utilize their strengths and skillsets to make learning environments rich and rewarding for our students.”
The 2016 BPS teacher of the year will be chosen by a committee composed of education and civic leaders in the formal selection process and will be announced in the ceremonies at the ABC Awards Gala on January 27, 2016 at The King Center in Melbourne.
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The winner will be Brevard’s representative in the state’s 2016-17 Florida Department of Education-Macy’s Teacher of the Year.
Additional information on the six finalists follows:
• Sandra Cook, Rockledge High
Employed with the district for 19 years, Sandra Cook has taught math at Rockledge High for the past three years. Cook enriches the lives of her students by implementing collaborative classroom activities. Just as she provides guidance to her students, Cook also serves as a role model to her peers as she mentors three teachers and facilitates school and district-based professional development. She assists other teachers in writing PGPs and is a member of Rockledge’s peer review team. She serves as the National Honor Society sponsor and heads up the gifted student program at her school. Cook has received state recognition for her presentation about parent involvement and student success. She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in instructional leadership. “Ms. Cook is that rare teacher who has the ability to not only teach her students, but to inspire them to reach new heights,” said Tony Hines, Rockledge High principal.
• Christine Ferrer, Ralph Williams Elementary
At Ralph Williams Elementary in Rockledge, Christine Ferrer has taught sixth grade for the past 10 years. Ferrer has been recognized multiple times as the school’s social studies teacher of the year and she is known for incorporating character education in her units. Her teaching style “empowers students and involves them in high level learning though collaborative group work, projects, and creative presentation,” said Chris Reed, Williams’ principal. In addition to her teaching role, Ferrer serves on the IPPAS and CTE learning professional teams. She was instrumental in securing a $90,000 grant for a classroom set of Chromebooks. “She shares her personal passion for learning with her students and colleagues, and continues learning and growing professionally through class work, in-services, and collaborative work with peers,” said Reed.
• Mark Peters, Port Malabar Elementary
As an educator for the past 32 years, Mark Peters creates a climate of caring and respect at Port Malabar Elementary in Palm Bay in his position as physical education and health teacher. Peters has spent his entire 32 years at Port Malabar. He serves the school as supervisor of the school’s crossing guards and sponsors the school’s garden club. Another contribution is the implementation of the school’s FAN program which combines fitness and nutrition with family fun. The annual Jump Rope for Heart program Peters spearheads has raised over $20,000 for the American Heart Association over the last five years. “He has strived to provide educational opportunities and physical fitness that develop and motivate our students in their overall performance and well-being,” said Principal Cindy Whalin.
• Shruti Raman, Apollo Elementary
Employed by the district for 10 years, Shruti Raman teaches second grade at Apollo Elementary in Titusville. Fueled by her desire to cultivate positive habits of learning through curiosity and research tools, Raman inspires her students to become active participants in their education. Through her involvement in various professional learning development conferences, courses and trainings, Raman consistently demonstrates her commitment to using technology to reinforce strong standards-based education. “Her special gift is demonstrating a superior ability to foster excellence in education and contributing to the continuous improvement of student learning by focusing on creativity and critical thinking,” said Frank O’Leary, Apollo’s principal. Raman serves on the school’s SAC and PGP peer review team.
• Callie Williams, Astronaut High
Journalism teacher, Callie Williams has worked at Astronaut High in Titusville for 12 years. She incorporates social media skills into her classes and teaches the yearbook and TV production courses as well. Williams believes that after students complete a year in her program, the skills they acquire in writing, communication, and photography will last them a lifetime. She and her students attend numerous workshops, conventions, and summer yearbook camp to hone these skills. Williams is active in the Florida Scholastic Press Association. “Journalism is a real-world class,” she said. “We create tangible products that become a part of the school’s history.” She has a bachelor’s degree in English and liberal arts from Auburn University.
• Ana Woodbrey, Hoover Middle
Media specialist, Ana Woodbrey’s dedication to Hoover Middle in Indialantic is evident in the many programs she champions there. Her reach includes managing the media center, integrating technology into classroom teachers’ lessons, teaching students cyber safety, serving as media cohort coach, SAC secretary, and technology committee member. Woodbrey follows her mother’s example of long term service to Brevard Public Schools as she has worked for BPS for 18 years. She has a master’s in information studies and collaborates with local public library and university professors to help bring the library classroom to the community. Principal Lena Wiebelt said, “Woodbrey goes above and beyond her job description to ensure all Hoover Middle students become effective users of information and ideas.”
BPS Teacher of the Year nominees are listed by school area and finalists are highlighted:
SCHOOL
FIRST NAME
LAST NAME
AREA
Bayside High
Danny
Miller
South
Central Middle
Ronald
Wilcox
South
Christa McAuliffe Elementary
Josena
Marshall
South
Columbia Elementary
Heather
Ball
South
Discovery Elementary
Stephanie
Connolly
South
Gemini Elementary
Denise
Coverstone
South
Harbor City Elementary
Morgan
Diaz
South
Heritage High
Michael
Broud
South
Hoover Middle
Ana
Woodbrey
South
Indialantic Elementary
Carla
Etherton
South
Jupiter Elementary
Virginia
Campbell
South
Lockmar Elementary
Janet A.
Walter
South
Meadowlane Intermediate
Stephanie
Woodbury
South
Meadowlane Primary Elementary
Christine
Bell
South
Melbourne High
Michael
Ferguson
South
Palm Bay Elementary
Jesse
Hodge
South
Palm Bay Magnet High
Philip
Snyder
South
Port Malabar Elementary
Mark D.
Peters
South
Riviera Elementary
Tammie
Rutkowski
South
Roy Allen
Misty
Myers
South
South Area Adult Education Center
Paula
Alvarez
South
South Area Alternative Learning Center
Eric
Kohler
South
Southwest Middle
Janet A.
Tucker
South
Stone Magnet Middle
Heather
Eising
South
Sunrise Elementary
Gina
Sherman
South
Turner Elementary
Michael
Gladden
South
University Park Elementary
Lori
Ziarno
South
West Melbourne School of Science Elementary
Lindsay
Nichols
South
West Shore Jr./Sr. High
Jessica
Hartman
South
Westside Elementary
Renee
Grant
South
Cambridge Elementary Magnet
Jonell
Clevenger
Central
Cocoa High
Marilyn
Borges
Central
Creel Elementary
Vicki
Carbee
Central
Croton Elementary
Alicia
Kuntz-Murphy
Central
DeLaura Middle
Heather
Haskett
Central
Eau Gallie High
Earhart
Brenda
Central
Endeavour Elementary
Christy
Meraz
Central
Fairglen Elementary
Jaclyn
Crotwell
Central
Golfview Elementary Magnet
Mallory
Williams
Central
Hans Christian Andersen
Krystal
Kapatos
Central
Holland Elementary
Jensee
Lee
Central
Instructional Exceptional Student Education
Michelle S.
Patterson
Central
Johnson Middle
Holly Kinder
Ford
Central
Kennedy Middle
Caroline
Hatten
Central
Longleaf Elementary
Barbara
Jaynes
Central
Manatee Elementary
Susan
Teeter
Central
McNair Magnet Middle
Megan
Cooper
Central
Ocean Breeze Elementary
Lias
Van Dam
Central
Quest Elementary
Theresa
Lally
Central
Ralph Williams Elementary
Christine
Ferrer
Central
Rockledge High
Sandra
Cook
Central
Sabal Elementary
Deborah
James
Central
Satellite High
Mary Elizabeth
White
Central
Saturn Elementary
Julie
Fletcher
Central
Sea Park Elementary
Catherine V.
Bloom
Central
Sherwood Elementary
Connie
Markle
Central
Suntree Elementary
Kay
MacDonald
Central
Surfside Elementary
Chimene
Rice
Central
Viera Charter
Judith “Lynne”
Boucher
Central
Viera High
James Anthony
Gentile
Central
Andrew Jackson Middle
Marcy
Cipolletti
North
Apollo Elementary
Shruti
Raman
North
Astronaut High
Callie S.
Williams
North
Atlantis Elementary
Josefa Marie
Pinkerton
North
Audubon Elementary
Ryan
Palmer
North
Cape View Elementary
Stephanie
White
North
Challenger 7 Elementary
Amanda
Howell
North
Cocoa Beach Jr/Sr High
Mary Ellen
Galanopoulos
North
Coquina Elementary
Teresa
Qualls
North
Edgewood Jr/Sr High
Catherine P.
Alex
North
Enterprise Elementary
Roxanne L.
Pace
North
Freedom 7 Elementary
Marie-Claude
Thellend
North
Imperal Estates Elementary
Holly
Barbour
North
Jefferson Middle
Laurie
Broadway
North
Lewis Carroll Elementary
Ann
Thrapp
North
Madison Middle
Christina
Cerrato
North
Merritt Island High
Judith P.
Hernandez
North
MILA Elementary
Selina M.
Black
North
Mims Elementary
Joanna
Summy-Brown
North
Oak Park Elementary
Kathy
Owens
North
Pinewood Elementary
Mark
Meyers
North
Riverview
Stephanie
Drone
North
Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary
Christine
Snow
North
Roosevelt Elementary
Jennifer
Mele
North
Sculptor Charter
Susan
Brees
North
Space Coast Jr/Sr High
Lorie
Marshall
North
Titusville High
Jaqueline M.
Berley
North
Tropical Elementary
Carla
McCluney
North
Virtual Instruction Programs
Miriam Belen
Campa
North