BR EVAR D
n o t e b o o k
January 22, 2007
First Glance
WatCh the SuPerintendent’S Forum on BPS-tv, Channel 9 on Bright houSe CaBle
Harris Corporation is one of Brevard Public School’s most involved business partners. Through it’s numerous corporate employee outreach programs, Harris Corp. has contributed thousands of dollars in donations and offered employee hands-on support to Brevard Public Schools. They have also provided supplies and equipment for many of our students in need. On the next Superintendent’s Forum we’ll talk with the President and CEO of Harris Corp. about their mission to help our students and teachers be the best they can be. This show will air from Sunday, January 21st through Saturday, January 27th at these show times:
2007 Teacher of the Year finalists announced
The 2007 Teacher of the Year finalists were announced January 12 at a luncheon hosted by Brevard County Superintendent, Dr. Richard A. DiPatri. Each finalist was selected after being interviewed by an area selection committee. According to Dr. Richard A. DiPatri, “These eight teachers represent the thousands of outstanding teachers in Brevard County. I was extremely impressed by their enthusiasm, passion and commitment. Selecting one to represent the county will be no easy task.” The eight finalists were selected from the over 5,000 teachers employed within the district. The winner will be revealed at the annual banquet held on February 28th at the Radisson Resort in Port Canaveral. Anthony Colucci has been teaching for seven years and has spent all those years with Sculptor Charter School in Titusville. He is currently a Social Studies teacher for grades six through eight. Mr. Colucci has a Master of Arts degree in Basic Classroom Teaching, with an emphasis in Social Studies from the State University of New York at Albany. He is currently working on his National Board Certification. He has served as the Social Studies Department Chair since 2000 and was a presenter at the 2005 Core Knowledge National Conference, presenting his K-8 Florida History Sequence. Principal, Pat O’Sullivan, praises Mr. Colucci, “There are so many things that he does. He is committed to the curriculum and is a leader on our campus.” Julie Cooke has been teaching for 23 years and has been at Palm Bay High School since 1985, where she is currently the school’s Media Specialist. Ms. Cooke has a Master of Arts in Library Science from the University of South Florida. Ms. Cooke is a member of the Florida Association of Media Educators. She sponsors Florida Teen Reads at a local bookstore each month. John Thomas, principal, proclaims, “Julie is a Pirate through and through and has done a great job at Palm Bay High. Not only does she reach her homeroom students, she touches the entire school and community.” Joanna DiPeppe has been teaching for 20 years and has been at Satellite High School since 2000, where she currently teaches Advanced Placement English. Ms. DiPeppe has a Masters degree in Secondary Education Curriculum and Instruction from Hood College and is a National Board Certified Teacher. Since she began teaching AP English, her program has grown from 48 students in two classes to 118 students in five classes. When asked about Ms. DiPeppe, a former student said, “She has a pure passion for both learning and teaching and compassion towards her students.”
Program airing times:
Monday • 6:30 pm Wednesday • 11:00 pm Thursday • 7:30 pm Friday • 8:30 pm
Sunday • 12:30 pm and 7:00 pm
Saturday • 2:00 pm and 10:30 pm
Bright House Networks Channel 9
Brevard Public Schools Customer Service Center (321) 633-1000, ext. 500 www.brevard.k12.fl.us
Laura Harris has been teaching for 28 years and has been at Holland Elementary in Satellite Beach since 2003, where she is currently the school’s music teacher. Ms. Harris has a Bachelor of Music Education from East Texas State University and completed her Orff Certification from George Mason University. Ms. Harris’ choruses have been featured on “Good Morning, America” and have performed for former President George Bush in the White House gardens. Ms. Harris’ principal, Larry Kuhn, states, “All of our teachers do a great job, but she’s one of the best. I am extremely pleased to have her represent our school.” Patricia Kunze has been teaching for 16 years and has been at Edgewood Jr/Sr High in Merritt Island since 2003, where she currently teaches seventh and eighth grade Advanced Language Arts. Ms. Kunze has a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Organizational Communication from the University of Central Florida. She is currently pursuing her National Board Certification. She is a member of the Brevard Council of Teachers of English and judged the organization’s 2006 writing contest. A fellow teacher and former parent of one of her students explains, “She inspires students to reach beyond their potential and truly express themselves in their writing.” Melanie Petty has been teaching for 11 years and has been at Atlantis Elementary in Cocoa since 2002, where she currently teaches fourth grade. Ms. Petty has a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood and Elementary Education form the University of West Florida. She is a writing specialist for three Brevard County schools and is a certified “Thinking Maps” trainer. Ms. Petty’s principal, Sherry Tomlinson stated, “Ms. Petty is one of those teachers who can be counted on to do whatever it takes to allow students to be successful and the school, as a whole, to be successful.”
Lee Ann Fain Schultz has been teaching for 18 years and has been at Manatee Elementary in Viera since its opening in 2003. She is currently the school’s art teacher. Ms. Fain Schultz has a Bachelor of Arts in Art from the University of Central Florida and is a National Board Certified Teacher. She is the recipient of the 2006-2009 Brevard Cultural Alliance “Excellence in Visual Arts” Award and was a past nominee for the Florida Art Education Association’s “Elementary Art Educator of the Year.” Manatee Elementary’s Volunteer of the Year says, “She is more than a teacher of art; she is a teacher of life.”
Sherie Troisi has been teaching for 21 years and has been at Palm Bay Elementary since 1998, where she is currently a Reading Coach. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida and is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Ms. Troisi was a recent presenter at the Just Read, Florida! Leadership Conference held in Orlando in 2006. Her principal, Victoria Barkwell, shares, “Ms. Troisi is one of those rare individuals who can be described as a ‘natural’; she teaches just as easily as she breathes; it’s a part of her and she is a master of her craft.”
A Wellness Note
Have you made your New Year’s resolution to be physically fit? The Wellness Department is here to help. An excellent indicator of overall health status is waist to hip ratio. Measure your waist circumference just above the belly button at the narrowest point of your abdomen. Measure your hip circumference at the widest part of your hips. Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement. A healthy ratio for women is < 0.80 and for men < 0.95. Visit http://www.healthcalculators.org/calculators/waist_hip.asp for more information.