Page 3 - 2019 May BPS news

The hardest part of this job has been marshaling the resources to adequately recognize and reward our employees.
I want you to know that we are working to find a balanced
solution to our economic challenges. I want Brevard Schools to be the leader in compensation and I know we will get there because it’s the right thing to do.
Our students make the ride worthwhile
I also have been so impressed by the hard work and ingenuity of our students.
I will never forget the “Real Men Wear Pink” campaign which brought me closest to two of my passions -- working with students and supporting a cause near and dear to my heart (breast cancer awareness). The pink ties created by our fashion design students were not only instrumental in helping us become the fundraising leader in the county, but allowed us to showcase a program that was once in the shadows. Today, fashion technology and design services is offered at six of our high schools!
I’ve had the rare opportunity of seeing government at its best when we chaperoned our student leaders to Tallahassee and watched them exercise their civic responsibility lobbying legislators for new vaping restrictions, better labeling and funds for youth anti-vaping education.
I’ve played a mean game of kickball with students from
Palm Bay Elementary, received a sock hop and jive lesson
at Surfside, and served as a librarian for a day at Southwest Middle. These and so many other experiences have lifted my spirits and given me faith in our future.
Our schools are an invaluable farm system for the next generation of engineers, athletes, actors, artists, musicians and so on. We are growing future problem solvers and igniting the minds of our next inventors and innovators.
We’ve made great progress in other areas as well
I am extremely proud of the successful implementation
of our School Emergency Operations Plan and grateful
for the strong support from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, which manages District Security for BPS. Our School Resource Offices from the BCSO and city police departments do excellent work. We have we’ve implemented additional measures, from drills to mass communications tools, to further ensure the safety and security of our schools.
I equally appreciate the additional funding we received from the state legislature last year to better serve students’ mental health needs. It has allowed us to add social workers to our schools, provide additional resources to students and teachers, and to team with outside practices to provide counseling services beyond the school day.
And, while visiting schools, I have seen the positive impact of
the voter-approved half-cent sales surtax for building renewal. Our facilities team is has led much-needed repairs and improvements across the district while ensuring we remain
on budget and on schedule, as voters expect. The tax-funded initiative has consistently received perfect audits.
Private-sector support
I have seen first-hand the community’s tremendous generosity and support for public schools.
Organizations such as the Children’s Hunger Project, Love, INC. and countless other non-profit and faith-based groups have donated time and supplies to our schools. Civic organizations, such as Rotary Clubs, have recognized our students for decades. Our area chambers of commerce have helped bring the business community together under our Partners In Education program.
BPS’ relationships with the private sector have given students access to subject matter experts, resources and opportunities the likes of which only the Space Coast could provide. Consider, for example, our annual Harris STEM Challenge and Boeing Destination Mars Challenge Day, as well as internship opportunities offered by companies such as Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.
When they get to high school, many students connect with our many industry-certification education programs and the career opportunities those afford to students after graduation.
Building the bridge to our future...
In my school visits I’ve had the privilege of meeting teachers who were once my students. It made me realize, how many of them are homegrown, teaching in the schools they grew up in. Now, they are leading by example and, I hope, fostering the next generation of educators.
Retention and recruitment is tougher than it’s ever been in the education workforce. We have our own feeder system that we need to continue to nurture and encourage, so that as our children grow and matriculate through school, they see the value in teaching and in turn find a calling in our noble profession.
But if the past year has shown me anything, it’s that we have the talent, connections and the resources to further our progress and prosperity for all of Brevard.
For now, I wish you and your family a safe, fun and restful summer.