For Immediate Release: November 23, 2011
Six Finalists Selected for 2012 BPS Teacher of the Year
VIERA – Brevard Public Schools announced the names of the six outstanding educators who have been selected as finalists for the 2012 BPS Teacher of the Year. Each finalist was notified in person by Superintendent Dr. Brian T. Binggeli at his or her respective school.
The finalists – three elementary and three secondary school educators – were selected from the 90 Teachers of the Year from each of the district schools and education service center areas. The finalists will now contend for the honor of being named Brevard 2012 Teacher of the Year.
“The Teacher of the Year program highlights outstanding educators who exemplify the best the profession has to offer,” said Superintendent Binggeli. “These are dedicated leaders who passionately believe in what they do and the vital role that teachers have in preparing students to succeed in an ever-changing environment.”
The 2012 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 ABC Awards Gala on January 19, 2012. The winner will be Brevard’s representative in the state’s 2013 Teacher of the Year competition and be the recipient of more than $3,000 in cash and prizes. Finalists for the 2012 BPS Teacher of the Year are listed below in alphabetical order.
w Carleen Beard – 6th Grade Teacher – Freedom 7 Elementary School of International Studies
A five year veteran of Brevard Public Schools, Beard is currently teaching sixth grade at Freedom 7. The school’s Assistant Principal, Mary Helen King had this to say about Beard, “She is an enthusiastic person who puts her everything into what she does with her students and her colleagues.” King continued, “While her students know the expectations, they also know she cares about them and is ready to listen to them when needed.”
w Kimberly Botelho – 3rd Grade Teacher – Columbia Elementary
Kimberly Botelho has been teaching in Brevard for 15 years. For the past year, she has been teaching third grade at Columbia Elementary in Palm Bay. Botelho’s principal, Linda Jennings said, “Mrs. Botelho is an outstanding educator in every respect. She provides an excellent learning environment for her students that include instruction in all modalities.”
w Debra Connaughton – Kindergarten Teacher – Enterprise Elementary School
A National Board Certified Teacher, Debra Connaughton has taught kindergarten to students at Enterprise Elementary for the past 16 years. Her principal, Theresa Lee said, “As a kindergarten teacher she is the first teacher for many children. Not only does she provide a safe and caring environment but she lets the children know from the start that her classroom is a magical place where they will learn, laugh, grow and flourish.”
w Shereen Luchten – 8th Grade Science Teacher – McNair Magnet Middle School
Shereen Luchten has taught science at McNair Magnet Middle School in Cocoa for the past seven years. She recently received her master’s degree in Educational Leadership and serves as chairperson for McNair’s School Advisory Council. Her principal, Rosette Lipscomb Brown, says, “Mrs. Luchten’s exceptional capabilities as a teacher leader are an asset to the students, faculty, and staff members at McNair Magnet School.”
w Carole Quintal – Senior High English Teacher – Merritt Island High School
Carole Quintal has taught English at Merritt Island High for eleven years and that happens to be the number of years she has been with the district. Mr. Gary Shiffrin, Merritt Island High’s principal says this of Quintal, “Carole is an experienced teacher who exemplifies the school system motto of ‘serving every student with excellence as the standard.’ She is enthusiastic and is passionate for what she does….”
w Keith Schachter – 7th Grade World Cultures Teacher– Stone Middle
Mr. Schachter is currently in his fourth year of teaching Social Science at Stone Middle School. Schachter’s principal, Andrew Johnson, in his recommendation letter said, “History and Social Studies are the boilerplate and keys to our future and Keith Schachter is a noteworthy key master.”
Listed below are the names of all of Brevard’s TOY nominees.
|
School/Department |
First Name |
Last Name |
|
Alternative Sites |
Scott |
Pedrick |
|
Andrew Jackson Middle |
Laurie |
Severs |
|
Apollo Elementary |
Sharon |
Davis |
|
Astronaut High |
Jackie |
Barnett |
|
Atlantis Elementary |
Andy |
Hanson |
|
Audubon Elementary |
Beth |
Green |
|
Bayside High |
Cindy |
Moore |
|
Cambridge Elementary Magnet |
Amy |
Bennett |
|
Cape View Elementary |
Linda |
Thornton |
|
Central Middle |
Bruce |
Ericson |
|
Challenger 7 Elementary |
Angela |
Ellis |
|
Christa McAuliffe Elementary |
Maureen |
Tassone |
|
Clearlake Middle |
Dianne |
Alexis |
|
Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High |
Amy |
Moffett |
|
Cocoa High |
Sarah |
Hoffman |
|
Columbia Elementary |
Kimberly |
Botelho |
|
Coquina Elementary |
Debra |
Matthues |
|
Croton Elementary |
Catherine |
Murphy |
|
DeLaura Middle |
Debbie |
Austin |
|
Discovery Elementary |
Stephanie |
Connolly |
|
Dr. W. J. Creel Elementary |
Katie |
Furfey |
|
Eau Gallie High |
Steven |
Vilgats |
|
Edgewood Jr./Sr. High |
Ryan |
Cilsick |
|
Endeavour Elementary Magnet |
Kellie |
Campbell |
|
Enterprise Elementary |
Debra |
Connaughton |
|
Fairglen Elementary |
Gwen |
Pagni |
|
Freedom 7 Elementary School of International Studies |
Carleen |
Beard |
|
Gardendale Elementary Magnet |
Jennifer |
Cogswell |
|
Gemini Elementary |
Caryn |
Good |
|
Golfview Elementary Magnet |
Cindy |
Stewart |
|
Hans Christian Andersen |
Patricia |
Hoffman |
|
Harbor City Elementary |
Matt |
Tingle |
|
Herbert C. Hoover Middle |
Scott |
Sweinhart |
|
Heritage High |
Leslie |
Raulerson |
|
Imperial Estates Elementary |
Dana |
Carraway |
|
Indialantic Elementary |
Katie |
Hull |
|
James Madison Middle |
Juli |
Sharpe |
|
John F. Kennedy Middle |
Kasey |
Edwards |
|
John F. Turner Elementary |
Jeananne |
Salas |
|
Jupiter Elementary |
Stacy |
Cirino |
|
L.B. Johnson Middle |
Amy |
Eller |
|
Lewis Carroll Elementary |
Rebecca |
Witkowski |
|
Lockmar Elementary |
Paula |
Dobey |
|
Longleaf Elementary |
Marie |
Burrough |
|
Manatee Elementary |
Tabitha |
Best |
|
Meadowlane Intermediate |
Holly |
Hanak |
|
Meadowlane Primary |
Mary |
Georgeff |
|
Melbourne High |
Michael |
Mahl |
|
Merritt Island High |
Carole |
Quintal |
|
MILA Elementary |
Danielle |
Mascolo |
|
Mims Elementary |
Gena |
Hart |
|
Oak Park Elementary |
Merewyn Danine |
Patrick |
|
Ocean Breeze Elementary |
Peggy |
McGuire |
|
Palm Bay Elementary |
Melissa |
Long |
|
Palm Bay High |
Rebecca |
Paxton |
|
Pinewood Elementary |
Christine |
Snyder |
|
Port Malabar Elementary |
Sarah |
Hayden |
|
Quest Elementary |
Lori |
Kessel |
|
Ralph M. Williams, Jr. Elementary |
Carol |
Pangle |
|
Riverview Elementary |
Erica |
Worthington |
|
Riviera Elementary |
Delaine |
Roneker |
|
Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School of the Arts |
Angela |
Schoon |
|
Rockledge High |
MAJ John |
Mallamaci |
|
Ronald McNair Magnet |
Shereen |
Luchten |
|
Roy Allen Elementary |
Loralee |
Franklin |
|
Sabal Elementary |
Nicole |
McMahan |
|
Satellite High |
Kevin |
Bowman |
|
Saturn Elementary |
Barbara |
Meade |
|
Sculptor Charter School |
Jacqueline |
Flynn |
|
Sea Park Elementary |
Lisa |
Vaughan |
|
Sherwood Elementary |
Shana |
Bisset |
|
South Area Alternative Learning Center |
Natasha |
Douglas |
|
South Lake Elemetnary |
Loura |
Dandridge |
|
Southwest Middle |
Daniel |
DeSousa |
|
Space Coast Jr./Sr. High |
Valerie |
Eastman |
|
Spessard L. Holland Elementary |
Lynn |
Roley |
|
Stone Middle |
Keith |
Schachter |
|
Student Services |
Kimberly |
Parker |
|
Sunrise Elementary |
Joe |
Moxley |
|
Suntree Elementary |
Eileen |
Ferland |
|
Surfside Elementary |
Susan |
Iacono |
|
Theodore Roosevelt Elementary |
Connie |
Claybough |
|
Thomas Jefferson Middle |
Dianne |
Parrish |
|
Titusville High |
Christopher |
Bainbridge |
|
Tropical Elementary |
Yolanda |
Summers |
|
University Park Elementary |
Zachary |
Roddenberry |
|
Viera High |
Amy |
O'Reilly |
|
West Melbourne Elementary School for Science |
Kristine |
Staniec |
|
West Shore Jr./Sr. High |
Jeanie |
Griffin |
|
Westside Elementary |
Janene |
Jost |
For more information about the nominees or the Teacher of the program, please contact Pam Escobar at 321-633-1000 ext. 796.
