Page 2 - BPS News Nov 2017

Six teacher-leaders named as TOY nalists
Dedicated and outstanding teachers help make Brevard Public Schools a leader in educa on. From the district’s pool of talent, six teachers were named as nalists for the 2018 Teacher of the Year dis nc on.
They are Amanda Howell, Oak Park Elementary;
Brandon T. Jenkins, Heritage High; Kris na Latraverse, Columbia Elementary; Connie Royster McLellan, Manatee Elementary; Michael Speer, Kennedy Middle, and Amy Teed, Jackson Middle.
They were selected out of 90 nominees by a panel of judges comprising principals and teachers from all over the county. The candidates were measured against a rigorous set of criteria that includes teaching philosophy and prac ce, leadership, professional development and parental engagement in the learning process.
The 2018 BPS Teacher of the Year will be chosen by a commi ee of educa on and civic leaders and will be announced at the Applauding Brevard’s Champions (ABC) Awards Gala on Jan. 24, hosted by the Brevard Schools Founda on. Community Credit Union is the premier sponsor of the event, which will be held at the King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne.
Additional information on the six nalists follows.
Amanda Howell, Oak Park Elementary
Gi ed Student Program teacher Amanda Howell is in her 12th year with BPS and her second year at Oak Park Elementary in Titusville. Howell works with GSP students from Oak Park, Mims and Pinewood elementary schools and leads collabora ve projects between
gi ed and excep onal educa on students. In addi on, Howell serves as a hospital-
homebound teacher and Odyssey of the Mind board member, tutors students-in-transi on and is the assistant coach for Space Coast Jr./Sr. High’s JV so ball team.
“Amanda truly cares about seeing everyone succeed around her and is constantly building leaders within our school and community,” said Oak Park Elementary Principal Jennifer Brockwell.
Brandon T. Jenkins, Heritage High
Director of Bands Brandon T.
Jenkins has been at Heritage High
in Palm Bay during his ve years
with BPS. Since Jenkins assumed
leadership of the band program, it
has more than quadrupled in size
with approximately 130 current
members and seen an increase in
assessment scores from poor and fair to superior. He has created mul ple instrumental ensembles at the school and uses technology daily to aid in teaching and enhancing the classroom experience.
“I can count on Mr. Jenkins to arrive at school ready
to impart his love for music to eager students. He has developed our Heritage High School band program into a superior-rated concert band for the past three years,” said Dr. John Harris, principal of Heritage High.
Kris na Latraverse, Columbia Elementary
Kris na Latraverse, an art teacher at Columbia Elementary in Palm Bay, has worked for the district and the school for three years. To improve the rst impression of the school, Latraverse and her students created 523 ceramic owers and installed them along the front walkway.
She is also dedicated to crea ng connec ons between the school faculty and families, and
uses social media and a blog to involve families in their child’s crea ve projects, and to connect with renowned ar sts and authors.
BPS NEWS is a publica on of Brevard Public Schools.
Superintendent
Desmond K. Blackburn, Ph.D.
School Board Members
Chairperson: Misty Belford, District 1 Vice Chairman: John Craig, District 2 Tina Descovich, District 3
Ma hew Susin, District 4
Andy Ziegler, District 5
Published by the Division of Government and Community Rela ons
Assistant Superintendent: Ma Reed Editor: Jennifer Wol nger
Graphic Designer: Daniel Jankowski
BREVARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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