Categories: Brevard County Public Schools

Six Finalists Selected for Teacher of the Year

VIERA – Brevard Public Schools announced the names of the six outstanding educators who have been selected as finalists for the 2012 BPS Teacher of the Year. Each finalist was notified in person by Superintendent Dr. Brian T. Binggeli at his or her respective school.

The finalists – three elementary and three secondary school educators – were selected from the 90 Teachers of the Year from each of the district schools and education service center areas. The finalists will now contend for the honor of being named Brevard 2012 Teacher of the Year.

“The Teacher of the Year program highlights outstanding educators who exemplify the best the profession has to offer,” said Superintendent Binggeli. “These are dedicated leaders who passionately believe in what they do and the vital role that teachers have in preparing students to succeed in an ever-changing environment.”

The 2012 BPS Teacher of the Year will be chosen by a committee comprised of education, business and civic leaders in a formal selection process and will be announced in ceremonies at the ABC Awards Gala on January 19, 2012. The winner will be Brevard’s representative in the state’s 2013 Teacher of the Year competition and be the recipient of more than $3,000 in cash and prizes. Finalists for the 2012 BPS Teacher of the Year are listed below in alphabetical order.

– Carleen Beard – 6^th Grade Teacher – Freedom 7 Elementary School of International Studies

A five year veteran of Brevard Public Schools, Beard is currently teaching sixth grade at Freedom 7. The school’s Assistant Principal, Mary Helen King had this to say about Beard, “She is an enthusiastic person who puts her everything into what she does with her students and her colleagues.” King continued, “While her students know the expectations, they also know she cares about them and is ready to listen to them when needed.”

– Kimberly Botelho – 3rd Grade Teacher – Columbia Elementary

Kimberly Botelho has been teaching in Brevard for 15 years. For the past year, she has been teaching third grade at Columbia Elementary in Palm Bay. Botelho’s principal, Linda Jennings said, “Mrs. Botelho is an outstanding educator in every respect. She provides an excellent learning environment for her students that include instruction in all modalities.”

– Debra Connaughton – Kindergarten Teacher – Enterprise Elementary School

A National Board Certified Teacher, Debra Connaughton has taught kindergarten to students at Enterprise Elementary for the past 16 years. Her principal, Theresa Lee said, “As a kindergarten teacher she is the first teacher for many children. Not only does she provide a safe and caring environment but she lets the children know from the start that her classroom is a magical place where they will learn, laugh, grow and flourish.”

– Shereen Luchten – 8th Grade Science Teacher – McNair Magnet Middle School

Shereen Luchten has taught science at McNair Magnet Middle School in Cocoa for the past seven years. She recently received her master’s degree in Educational Leadership and serves as chairperson for McNair’s School Advisory Council. Her principal, Rosette Lipscomb Brown, says, “Mrs. Luchten’s exceptional capabilities as a teacher leader are an asset to the students, faculty, and staff members at McNair Magnet School.”

– Carole Quintal – Senior High English Teacher – Merritt Island High School

Carole Quintal has taught English at Merritt Island High for eleven years and that happens to be the number of years she has been with the district. Mr. Gary Shiffrin, Merritt Island High’s principal says this of Quintal, “Carole is an experienced teacher who exemplifies the school system motto of ‘serving every student with excellence as the standard.’ She is enthusiastic and is passionate for what she does….”

– Keith Schachter – 7^th Grade World Cultures Teacher– Stone Middle

Mr. Schachter is currently in his fourth year of teaching Social Science at Stone Middle School. Schachter’s principal, Andrew Johnson, in his recommendation letter said, “History and Social Studies are the boilerplate and keys to our future and Keith Schachter is a noteworthy key master.”

Listed below are the names of all of Brevard’s TOY nominees.

School/Department	First Name	Last Name
Alternative Sites	Scott	Pedrick
Andrew Jackson Middle	Laurie	Severs
Apollo Elementary	Sharon	Davis
Astronaut High	Jackie	Barnett
Atlantis Elementary	Andy	Hanson
Audubon Elementary	Beth	Green
Bayside High	Cindy	Moore
Cambridge Elementary Magnet	Amy	Bennett
Cape View Elementary	Linda	Thornton
Central Middle	Bruce	Ericson
Challenger 7 Elementary	Angela	Ellis
Christa McAuliffe Elementary	Maureen	Tassone
Clearlake Middle	Dianne	Alexis
Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High	Amy	Moffett
Cocoa High	Sarah	Hoffman
Columbia Elementary	Kimberly	Botelho
Coquina Elementary	Debra	Matthues
Croton Elementary	Catherine	Murphy
DeLaura Middle	Debbie	Austin
Discovery Elementary	Stephanie	Connolly
Dr. W. J. Creel Elementary	Katie	Furfey
Eau Gallie High	Steven	Vilgats
Edgewood Jr./Sr. High	Ryan	Cilsick
Endeavour Elementary Magnet	Kellie	Campbell
Enterprise Elementary	Debra	Connaughton
Fairglen Elementary	Gwen	Pagni
Freedom 7 Elementary School of International Studies	Carleen	Beard
Gardendale Elementary Magnet	Jennifer	Cogswell
Gemini Elementary	Caryn	Good
Golfview Elementary Magnet	Cindy	Stewart
Hans Christian Andersen	Patricia	Hoffman
Harbor City Elementary	Matt	Tingle
Herbert C. Hoover Middle	Scott	Sweinhart
Heritage High	Leslie	Raulerson
Imperial Estates Elementary	Dana	Carraway
Indialantic Elementary	Katie	Hull
James Madison Middle	Juli	Sharpe
John F. Kennedy Middle	Kasey	Edwards
John F. Turner Elementary	Jeananne	Salas
Jupiter Elementary	Stacy	Cirino
L.B. Johnson Middle	Amy	Eller
Lewis Carroll Elementary	Rebecca	Witkowski
Lockmar Elementary	Paula	Dobey
Longleaf Elementary	Marie	Burrough
Manatee Elementary	Tabitha	Best
Meadowlane Intermediate	Holly	Hanak
Meadowlane Primary	Mary	Georgeff
Melbourne High	Michael	Mahl
Merritt Island High	Carole	Quintal
MILA Elementary	Danielle	Mascolo
Mims Elementary	Gena	Hart
Oak Park Elementary	Merewyn Danine	Patrick
Ocean Breeze Elementary	Peggy	McGuire
Palm Bay Elementary	Melissa	Long
Palm Bay High	Rebecca	Paxton
Pinewood Elementary	Christine	Snyder
Port Malabar Elementary	Sarah	Hayden
Quest Elementary	Lori	Kessel
Ralph M. Williams, Jr. Elementary	Carol	Pangle
Riverview Elementary	Erica	Worthington
Riviera Elementary	Delaine	Roneker
Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School of the Arts	Angela	Schoon
Rockledge High	MAJ John	Mallamaci
Ronald McNair Magnet	Shereen	Luchten
Roy Allen Elementary	Loralee	Franklin
Sabal Elementary	Nicole	McMahan
Satellite High	Kevin	Bowman
Saturn Elementary	Barbara	Meade
Sculptor Charter School	Jacqueline	Flynn
Sea Park Elementary	Lisa	Vaughan
Sherwood Elementary	Shana	Bisset
South Area Alternative Learning Center	Natasha	Douglas
South Lake Elemetnary	Loura	Dandridge
Southwest Middle	Daniel	DeSousa
Space Coast Jr./Sr. High	Valerie	Eastman
Spessard L. Holland Elementary	Lynn	Roley
Stone Middle	Keith	Schachter
Student Services	Kimberly	Parker
Sunrise Elementary	Joe	Moxley
Suntree Elementary	Eileen	Ferland
Surfside Elementary	Susan	Iacono
Theodore Roosevelt Elementary	Connie	Claybough
Thomas Jefferson Middle	Dianne	Parrish
Titusville High	Christopher	Bainbridge
Tropical Elementary	Yolanda	Summers
University Park Elementary	Zachary	Roddenberry
Viera High	Amy	O’Reilly
West Melbourne Elementary School for Science	Kristine	Staniec
West Shore Jr./Sr. High	Jeanie	Griffin
Westside Elementary	Janene	Jost

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Anonymous says:

05/08/2012 at 1:23 pm

Congrats to all the teacher's ...especially Mrs. Dandridge from South Lake elem! What you teach my daughter today will shape her future for tommorow! and as always...“The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.” Thanks Alaysia's mom
Anonymous says:

05/08/2012 at 1:23 pm

Congrats to all the teacher's ...especially Mrs. Dandridge from South Lake elem! What you teach my daughter today will shape her future for tommorow! and as always...“The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.” Thanks Alaysia's mom