Page 2 - 2019 May BPS news

Brevard Public Schools: My Year-in-Review
By: Mark W. Mullins, Ed.D., Superintendent, Brevard Public Schools
Visiting schools has been the highlight of my first year as superintendent. I’ve seen our educators in action, doing what they do best: teaching and preparing our youth in innovative and inspiring ways. I’ve witnessed our students open their minds and imaginations to the world of opportunity that an unrivaled education affords them.
I’ve watched kindergarten teachers bring learning to life for our littlest scholars during center time, and interacted with newly-minted teens while making clay bowls in a middle school art class. I’ve observed high school students in small
schools with their own histories and traditions — can share the common thread of community. Our neighborhood schools are the heart of Brevard. They are what bind us and uniquely define us.
Together, we’ve celebrated achievements such as a sixth National Blue Ribbon School distinction for our district (West Shore Jr./Sr. High); the No. 1-rated elementary school in the state of Florida (Freedom 7); two high schools recognized in the top 100 in
the nation (West Shore and Edgewood Jr./Sr.), and two others ranked among the best in Florida (Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High (#25) and Bayside High (#85)). We are also home to three of only
four Florida Arts Models Schools (FAMS) in the state (Longleaf Elementary, Saturn Elementary and McNair Middle).
Our third grade reading scores improved in the last year and we continue to be well about the state average.
Last year, 39-percent of our graduates earned industry certifications in Career & Technical Education (CTE) and STEM courses, the second highest in the state. BPS also ranks second in the state for how well it prepares college majors for STEM fields, and we are number one for the percentage of students who take physics. Satellite High’s automotive program was second runner up in the nation for the 2018 “Automotive School of the Year,” and Eau Gallie High just celebrated having the first high school students in the nation to earn their National Aerospace/Aircraft Assembly certification, allowing them to work as entry-level aircraft technicians. I’m also pleased we received special state appropriations to expand our welding and manufacturing programs.
I am proud of our 88-percent graduation rate last year -- which was the second highest among Florida’s largest school districts – and the achievements of our 5,073 graduating seniors this past school year:
Our teachers set the standard
It has been a privilege getting to know the people who make Brevard Schools the “A” rated district it is. I respect and admire our 9,300 employees who dedicate themselves to serving nearly 70,000 students with excellence.
groups working on a project-based activity designed to incite free thinking and collaboration.
Through every classroom experience, I’ve been awed by the immeasurable talent that we have in our schools, both in our teachers and our students.
Our teachers set aside the external pressures and daily challenges of the profession to bring their “A” game. As a former teacher, I know personally how difficult that can be at times. So, I am grateful beyond words for their dedication and resilience.
What makes Brevard a high-performing, A-rated school district lies not in the numbers, but the people responsible
for achieving and maintaining our exceptional status.
Celebrating performance
Throughout my travels across this 72-mile long county, I’ve continued to marvel at how a district as diverse as ours — 83
BPS NEWS is a publication of Brevard Public Schools.
Superintendent
Mark Mullins, Ph.D.
School Board Members
Misty Belford, District 1 Cheryl McDougall, District 2 Tina Descovich, District 3 Matthew Susin, District 4 Katye Campbell, District 5
Published by the Division of Government and Community Relations
Assistant Superintendent: Matt Reed Editor: Nicki Hensley
Graphic Designer: Daniel Jankowski
BREVARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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• 2,050 graduated with honors
• More than 900 earned Bright Futures scholarships
• 434 earned AA/AS degrees along with their high school
diploma