The Florida Department of Education today released its annual charter school performance report, which highlighted students in charter schools outperformed their peers in traditional schools in nearly every category. [Read more…] about New Report Finds Florida Charter School Students Consistently Outperform Their Peers in Traditional Public Schools
Education
Gargoyle wins Society of Professional Journalists regional “Mark of Excellence” nomination
Flagler College students earned top nominations earlier in March from the Society of Professional Journalists. [Read more…] about Gargoyle wins Society of Professional Journalists regional “Mark of Excellence” nomination
Giving challenge accepted, records smashed in Flagler’s annual fundraising event
Flagler College hosted its fourth annual Giving Day in a 50 hour period starting Wednesday, March 13. The result is $121,443 in smashed records across the board, including the participation of 1,323 donors which is triple last year’s record of 397. [Read more…] about Giving challenge accepted, records smashed in Flagler’s annual fundraising event
Stetson University Adopts Statement Supporting Free Expression on Campus
Statement reflects many thoughtful discussions over more than a year
On college campuses across the country, conversations about race, politics and other issues have become flashpoints in the debate over free speech. [Read more…] about Stetson University Adopts Statement Supporting Free Expression on Campus
AP Photojournalist, Who Helped Open News Bureau in North Korea, to Speak at UT March 25
National Geographic photographer and Associated Press photojournalist David Guttenfelder, who helped open an AP bureau in North Korea, will speak at The University of Tampa on Monday, March 25, at 10 a.m. [Read more…] about AP Photojournalist, Who Helped Open News Bureau in North Korea, to Speak at UT March 25
Making autonomous vehicles more secure, many attacks at a time
Florida Polytechnic University researchers are using newly invented attacks to improve the security and resiliency of cyber-physical systems (CPS), such as autonomous vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and power systems. [Read more…] about Making autonomous vehicles more secure, many attacks at a time
Guest Speakers and Game Designers to Give Presentation March 29
Game designers and digital media scholars Stephanie Boluk and Patrick Lemieux will present their research on video games at The University of Tampa on Friday, March 29, as part of the Scholar’s Symposia. [Read more…] about Guest Speakers and Game Designers to Give Presentation March 29
UNF School of Nursing Director Named ‘Advocate of the Year’
Dr. Lillia Loriz, director of the School of Nursing Flagship Program at the University of North Florida, was selected as “Advocate of the Year” by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing for her advocacy efforts and advancing academic nursing at the federal level. [Read more…] about UNF School of Nursing Director Named ‘Advocate of the Year’
Florida Department of Education Puts Money Back in Teachers’ Pockets with Fee Cut
Future teaching workforce will save as much as $5 million per year
The State Board of Education today voted to lower first-time and re-take registration fees for certification exams that are required to earn a teaching certificate, effective April 22, 2019. [Read more…] about Florida Department of Education Puts Money Back in Teachers’ Pockets with Fee Cut
Commissioner Corcoran Names Florida’s 2019 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year
At a meeting of the State Board of Education, Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran today named Michelle Kefford, of Broward County, as the 2019 Principal of the Year and Bernadette Pletcher, of Manatee County, as the 2019 Assistant Principal of the Year.
Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran said, “Under Michelle Kefford’s and Bernadette Pletcher’s leadership Charles W. Flanagan High School and James Tillman Elementary have made tremendous strides. They are obliterating the negative narrative that too often surrounds Title I schools, and I am honored to recognize these educators and their students for tremendous growth. I hope that others will look to them as models for what Florida’s public schools should be for our students.”
Principal Achievement Award for Outstanding Leadership
The 2019 Principal of the Year was awarded a cash prize of $3,500. The four other state finalists were awarded a check for $1,000, and each district winner was awarded a check for $270.
Michelle Kefford, Charles W. Flanagan High School, Broward County
Michelle Kefford has been an educator for more than 19 years and has been the principal at Charles W. Flanagan High School since 2011. With her at the helm, Flanagan High School earned its first ever A and has received an A for six out of the seven years. Since her tenure as principal, she has initiated several programs including “Kefford’s Kids,” a mentoring program and “Falcon Flyers,” an initiative to enable middle school students to earn high schools credits at Flanagan High. As a passionate educator, she has held various positions on district committees; volunteers on several city and county committees; and works continuously to build school pride and staff morale.
The four other Principal of the Year finalists are listed below:
- Joshua Balkom, Deane Bozeman School, Bay County
- Cynthia Emerson, Vero Beach Elementary, Indian River County
- David Alfonso, Palm Beach Lakes High School, Palm Beach County
- Linda Burris, Largo Middle School, Pinellas County
Outstanding Assistant Principal Achievement Award
The 2019 Assistant Principal of the Year was awarded a cash prize of $2,500. The four other state finalists were awarded a check for $750, and each district winner was awarded a check for $205.
Bernadette Pletcher, James Tillman Elementary, Manatee County
Bernadette Pletcher has been the assistant principal at James Tillman Elementary school since 2014. While she has been assistant principal, James Tillman Elementary has improved its school grade from an F to a B. She is known as an extraordinary educational leader that promotes learning and growth for all students through effective partnerships with families and staff members. Her colleagues described her as an innovative life-long learner who instills a passion in her students and staff.
The four other Assistant Principal of the Year finalists are listed below:
- Derek Negron, Carol City Middle School, Miami-Dade County
- Tiffany Scranton, Mellon Elementary School, Putnam County
- Samantha Piscopo, Dan McCarty Middle School, St. Lucie County
- Angelia Stuckey, Suwannee High School, Suwanee County
The Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year awards are sponsored by the Florida Lottery.
Candidates for these awards were nominated by the superintendent from their respective school districts. Complete lists of candidates from each district for both categories are available online: 2018-19 Principal Achievement Award for Outstanding Leadership District Winners and 2018-19 Outstanding Assistant Principal Achievement Award District Winners.
The Principal Achievement Award for Outstanding Leadership was established in 1988 to recognize Florida principals for their contributions to their schools and communities. The Outstanding Assistant Principal Achievement Award was established in 1997 to honor assistant principals that have utilized teamwork and leadership to increase student achievement and greatly improved school environments.
For more information about Florida’s educator recognition programs, visit fldoe.org/teaching/recognition.
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit fldoe.org.