Teacher of the Year
Finalists
Representing more than 117 years of teaching experience in a
multitude of subject areas, from elementary, middle and high
school grades, these BPS Teacher of the Year finalists
symbolize the high quality of Brevard’s teaching force. The
2010 BPS Teacher of the Year will be chosen by a committee
comprised of education, business and civic leaders in a
formal selection process and will be announced in ceremonies
at the Teacher of the Year banquet on March 4.
Andrea Boley – Southwest Middle School
Andrea
Boley has been teaching music for 27 years with 21 of those
at Southwest Middle School. She currently serves as
department chairperson and is the Brevard County Middle
Schools All-County Honor Choir chairperson. She also
received a 25 Year Teaching Award from the Florida Music
Educators Association. Boley is the sponsor of Southwest’s
chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and is a former
State chairperson for Tri-M. According to Principal Todd
Scheuerer, "Ms. Boley’s deep commitment to her students
creates a world in which her students can find
understanding, direction and a foundation from which to
launch their dreams.”
Kathy Crisafulli – Audubon Elementary School
Kathy
Crisafulli has been a Library Media Specialist for 4 years
and has taught at Audubon Elementary for a total of 12
years. Crisafulli was a recipient of the Florida Power
Library Award 2009-2013 and is also a recipient of the
Florida Writers Association’s Royal Palms Literary Award.
To motivate her students and promote reading, she creates a
theme for each grade level and assumes a character role such
as “Detective Cynthia Sleuth.” According to Audubon’s
Principal Lynn Francisco, “Students know Mrs. Crisafulli
loves reading and literature so they catch this excitement
and want to go to the library as much as possible.”
Andrea DeFrates – Space Coast Jr./Sr. High School
Andrea
DeFrates has been teaching Biology in Brevard County for
eight years, all at Space Coast Jr./Sr. High School. She
acts as the club sponsor for the Environmental Club,
Community Problem Solvers and the Future Medical Professions
Club. In 2006 DeFrates received the Area IV
Superintendent’s Award for establishing the J. Kyle Braid
Leadership program at Space Coast Jr./Sr. High. Robert
Spinner, Space Coast Principal says, “She is an exemplary
teacher, committed to the profession, who believes that
students should be actively involved in their education.
Every student and every adult she deals with feels like they
are important to her.”
Christina Donohue – Atlantis Elementary School
An
Atlantis Elementary School teacher for the past four years,
Christina Donohue currently teaches fourth grade. In 2008
she received an Area IV Teacher Innovation Award for her use
of technology. Donohue initiated a Charter Elementary
National Honor Society at Atlantis and acts as the club’s
advisor. She has helped to organize FCAT Information Nights
which helps alleviate the anxiety of parents as their
children prepare for the exams. She is also the sponsor of
the school’s Earth Club and brought an outdoor classroom to
Atlantis. Donohue has served as the Scholastic Director for
the local Pop Warner league and has recently been appointed
as Assistant Director for the Mid-Florida area. Atlantis
Principal Sherry Tomlinson said “Ms. Donohue has an
emotional and professional stake in each of her students.
She puts everything she has towards helping them and the
school at large be successful.”
Cynthia Hosken – Spessard L. Holland Elementary School
Cynthia
Hosken has taught physical and health education at Spessard
Holland Elementary for the last six years.
She is the Chess Club and Running Club sponsor and serves on
the Brevard County Physical Education Leadership Team. When
not teaching at Holland, Hosken is actively involved in Boy
Scouts. According to Nancy West, Principal at Holland
Elementary, “Cynthia Hosken models positive attitudes for
students, parents and staff. She is a dynamic and effective
leader, compelling staff to reach for greater excellence in
serving students and the surrounding community.”
Sherie Jenkins - West Shore Jr./Sr. High
A
science teacher at West Shore Jr./Sr. High for the past 12
years, Sherie Jenkins has been a member of the teaching
profession for 14
years. She is currently the Science Department Chair as well
as a member of the Reading Leadership Team and Cross
Curriculum Writing Team. Jenkins was a National Association
of Biology Teachers Outstanding Biology Teacher finalist in
2004, as well as a 2009 Intel Science Schools of Distinction
Award finalist. She also acts as West Shore’s Senior
Project Coordinator, overseeing the yearlong senior
assignments. Rick Fleming, West Shore Principal, says, “Ms.
Jenkins inspires students and fellow employees alike and her
genuine enthusiasm for her work is truly contagious. She is
truly fantastic!”
Raul Montes – Cocoa High School
Raul
Montes has been teaching Science at Cocoa High for 31
years. He serves as the Science Department Chairperson and
is the Science Coach for Cocoa High. Montes is also the
school’s swim coach, boys tennis coach and National Honor
Society sponsor. He is a member of the Florida State
Science and Engineering Fair Scientist Review Committee as
well as a Florida Foundation of Future Scientist board
member. In 2006, Montes was one of the first inductees into
the Brevard Public Schools Science Teacher Hall of Fame. He
also received the BPS Exemplary Science Award in 2001 and
2005. Dr. Stephanie Soliven, Principal at Cocoa High, feels
that “Mr. Montes is truly the spokesperson of Cocoa High.
He is a dedicated professional and is considered a legend in
our community.”
Mary Morton – Meadowlane Intermediate School
Mary
Morton is currently a fifth grade teacher at Meadowlane
Intermediate School and has been teaching for 13 years. She
was also nominated Teacher of the Year at Central Middle
School in 2004. Morton serves on the school’s Reading
Leadership Team and is the chairperson of the Young
Authors/Quality Literature Day committee and is actively
involved in the community. According to Kerri Nash,
Meadowlane Intermediate Principal, “Ms. Morton builds strong
relationships and provides an environment where students
feel safe to learn and be themselves. It is amazing to see
the students’ growth as they progress in her care.”
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Redistricting
Update
On January 19, The
Brevard County School Board approved attendance boundary
changes for the South Area middle and elementary schools.
On February 9, the Board will hold a public hearing on the
Central Area schools. To view the voted upon changes
for the South Area and the proposed changes for the Central
Area, please visit the district's website at
http://www.brevard.k12.fl.us/fp-includes/communityforum/Attendance_Boundary.html.
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Thank You PBPD
Palm Bay Elementary
would like to thank PBPD officers who helped them celebrate
National Literacy Week by reading to the students.



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Brevard Public Schools 2009 History/Geography Bee
Winners
|
|
4th Grade |
5th Grade |
6th Grade |
|
First Place |
Ethan Hart |
Matthew Johnson |
Austin Strenecky |
|
School |
Ralph Williams Jr. Elementary |
Suntree Elementary |
Ralph Williams Jr. Elementary |
|
Second Place |
Kyra Norton |
Jackson Johns |
Omkar Kulkarni |
|
School |
Roy Allen Elementary |
Mims Elementary |
Meadowlane Intermediate |
|
Third Place |
William Howald |
Sydney Bailey |
J. Blake Mordas |
|
School |
Suntree Elementary |
Mila Elementary |
Suntree Elementary |
Brevard Public Schools and charter schools select
student winners from grades 4, 5 and 6 to represent
their school at the district level History/Geography
Bee. Students compete against other students that
represent their grade level. 62 schools participated,
with 3 grade-level representatives per school.
The Bee consists of six rounds: Florida History, Florida
Geography, U.S. History, U.S. Geography, North American
History and North American Geography. All questions are
aligned to the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards
for Social Studies. During each round students use
electronic devices to record their answers for 10
questions related to the topic for that round. All
students meeting the round criteria of correct answers
proceed to the next round. Students remaining after the
six rounds compete in a single elimination round to
determine the winner.
4th Grade
Ethan Hart won first place by meeting the criteria of
8/10 questions during the fourth round. The other
contestants (7) did not meet criteria and there was a
play off for second and third place between William
Howald, Kyra Norton, and Kelli Lynch of Sherwood, all of
whom achieved 7/10 correct answers in the fourth round.
5th Grade
Jackson Johns and Matthew Johnson had a play off for
first place with single elimination questions. Matthew
won by answering the following question:
Which U.S. colony was established to be a place where
debtors could start new lives?
6th Grade
Austin Strenecky and Omkar Kulkarni had a play off for
first place with single elimination questions. Austin
won by answering the following question:
Name the Florida Native American tribe that lived in the
Biscayne Bay region.
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Florida
Applies for Race to the Top Grant
On Jan.
19, 2010, Governor Charlie Crist submitted Florida’s
application for federal Race to the Top funding on behalf of
State Board of Education Chairman T. Willard Fair and
Education Commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith and certified by
Attorney General Bill McCollum. Sixty school districts,
three lab schools and the Florida School for the Deaf and
the Blind, as well as five local teacher union presidents
signed official Memorandums of Understanding pledging their
commitment to the reform initiatives outlined in Florida’s
application request for $1.14 billion.
If Florida is
successful in obtaining a grant award, half of the total
award will be distributed to participating school districts
according to a federal funding formula to implement
locally-developed comprehensive education reform plans
focused on accelerating student learning and improving the
quality of education their schools provide. The remaining
funds will support state-level projects benefiting all
school districts statewide. Award notifications are expected
to be announced in April, 2010.
To view a copy of
Florida’s Race to the Top application, visit
http://www.fldoe.org/arra/racetothetop.asp.
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What’s
On
Two new shows have aired on BPS-TV. The shows will be
airing three days per week throughout the month of
February. The show titles and times are below:
BPS Outstanding School Libraries: Mondays at 5 pm,
Wednesdays at 6:30 pm, and Saturdays at 2:30 pm
Brevard Public Schools Employee of the Year for 2010:
Mondays at 5:30 pm, Wednesdays at 5:30 pm, and Saturdays at
6:00 pm
You can see BPS-TV on Channel 198 on Bright House Cable.
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