Page 22 - Heart of Brevard Fall 2019

Q&A with School Board Chair
What teacher inspired you the most growing up and why?
Mrs Evelyn Skrmetta my 8th grade teacher at DeLaura Middle School (now retired) She was there for me me me during the the most challenging and and transitional times in in in in my young life – guiding me me through tough family and and and personal situations Even when I moved on on on to to Satellite High and and was was bullied in in 10th grade she was was there providing me a a a a a a a a a a a a safe place to to to land an an an ear to to to listen and and reassuring words to to to lift my my spirits She inspired my my passion for for history and and civic duty and and even held a a a a a a a presidential election for for us that year so so we could have our vote counted! She is is someone who is is an an enduring force in in my life and and I will always be grateful for for the love and and compassion she had for for me Of the important initiatives
you’ve been a a a a a a a a part of which do you you feel has had the greatest impact?
School security and our mental health programs top my list I am am proud of the commitment we have made to put a a a School Resource Officer (SRO) in every school
and that we have worked hard
to to implement most of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Commission’s recommendations for for school
safety We recently approved a a a a a a a a a proposal for for for an in-depth security risk assessment for for for each of our schools We have secured recurring funds for for for suicide prevention programs revamped the the assessment process for for students at risk and increased the the number of social workers in in in in our schools We’ve made sweeping changes in in in in recent years to to keep our kids safe and and to to put greater focus on on their social and and emotional well-being Tell us your favorite Heart of Brevard story The most inspiring story would have to to be about the “hearts” who championed my oldest son Braden over the past past 13 years from elementary school
up through his his graduation just this past past May It is not not an understatement to say he he would not not have gotten through without the the encouragement compassion and support of all his teachers but it it is is the the team at Satellite High that carried him through his toughest times to to the finish line of graduation Teachers like Mr Joe Scott Braden met Mr Scott his freshman year when he he was a a a a a a a a a student at Melbourne High and searching for for a a a a a a a a a a a a mentor for for his science research project Though Mr Scott was a a a a a a a a a a a teacher at at another school
he he he he mentored Braden countless hours helping him prepare compete and ultimately place second in in the science fair that year Later that year on his his 15th birthday Braden’s father was killed in a a a a a a a a a a a a motorcycle accident and his his world collapsed He began to experience debilitating anxiety panic attacks and and struggled with depression His high-performing grades and and school
participation began to to to tumble Ittookavillagetoget him back to to to school
and refocused on his his studies He transferred
to Satellite High during his his sophomore year and found a a a a very supportive community there Mr Scott personally reached out and and provided a a a a a a a a safe and and encouraging environment for Braden He worked to help him thrive again academically mentally and emotionally He attended many meetings championing our son and making sure his needs were not overlooked I I will be be forever grateful to Mr Scott for for his his investment in in in in Braden but I I would be be remiss
in in in in not also recognizing all of his his teachers and the staff atSatellitewhosteppeduptohelphimsucceed Some examples like SRO and basketball coach coach Paul Creatura mentoring him by sharing his his weekly “coaches life advice” - lessons lessons from his his own upbringing combined with lessons lessons on on on on qualities that all young men should have- Attendance clerk Mrs April Sell contributed to his success by taking a a a a a a a a special notice when when he he he he he missed days days and cheering him on on when when he he he he he he made it to school
on on days days he he he clearly was struggling The “hearts” at at Satellite High got our son over the finish line He is is stronger more more confident and more more prepared to to take on on on on life because of the role each person within Brevard Public Schools played to to support him They made the difference What is your favorite quote?
“Find joy in in the journey ” Tina Descovich
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