The education community lost one of its brightest stars with the passing yesterday of Deputy Chancellor of Educator Quality Dr. Brian Dassler. Please see below for the remarks Commissioner Stewart made today during the State Board of Education meeting:
Yesterday was one of the saddest days of both my professional career and my life. I am heartbroken over the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Brian Dassler. He joined the Florida Department of Education in 2013 and brought with him an unrivaled passion for students, educators and the field of education as a whole.
It is only fitting that he was scheduled to be recognized during this meeting for having volunteered 50 hours as mentor between July 1st and December 31st 2016. For Brian, it wasn’t enough that he spent countless hours encouraging students and providing professional development to educators in his official capacity. In his free time, he also mentored a student at Godby High School here in Tallahassee.
Brian was one of a kind. He was always the first to highlight the positive in any situation, and through his inherent goodness and relentless drive, he inspired others to go the extra mile and believe they too could make a difference.
For evidence of that fact, look no further than the position Brian held before becoming Deputy Chancellor – founding principal of a charter high school in New Orleans and the chief academic officer of the arts conservatory for the state of Louisiana. He went to New Orleans Post-Katrina – at a time when lifelong residents weren’t even sure they would ever return.
That was Brian.
He fiercely believed in the city and its people, and more than anything, he could not turn his back on a group of students and educators who had already been dealt one of the worst hands our nation has ever witnessed.
It comes as no surprise that the school and its students succeeded. And, in typical Brian fashion, he maintained the relationships he had built during that time and he returned regularly to celebrate in the achievements of his former students and colleagues who had seamlessly become friends.
Brian was always destined for greatness. Even in his first job, as a high school English teacher in Broward County, his impact was significant. He was one of the founding teachers of the Urban Teacher Academy Program and he was recognized as the county’s teacher of the year.
I believe he was able to achieve so much in his short 38 years because he never lost his desire to learn. Brian earned bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Florida where he has twice been named an outstanding young alumnus.
We are truly heartbroken. His loss will be deeply felt throughout the nation, and he will never be forgotten.
florida department of education
Commissioner Stewart Recognizes Outstanding School Volunteers
Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart today recognized outstanding school volunteers at the youth, adult and senior levels from across the state. The Outstanding School Volunteer award is presented each year to school volunteers who have exhibited exceptional commitment to quality education in Florida.
“School volunteers supplement the hard work Florida’s educators and school personnel do every day and help to fill the gaps when parents and guardians are not available,” said Commissioner Stewart. “I hope that the outstanding volunteers we are recognizing today will serve as an inspiration for all Floridians to get more involved in their communities.”
Awardees will receive a congratulatory letter from Commissioner Stewart and a mounted certificate, and are often recognized by the school district in which they volunteered. The list of winners and a brief summary of their service is posted at Outstanding School Volunteers.
2016-2017 Outstanding School Volunteer Award Winners
Florida’s Panhandle and Big Bend (Region I)
- Youth: Zenani Johnson; James S. Rickards High School; Leon County
- Adult: Kerrie Densman; Bagdad Elementary and Avalon Middle School; Santa Rosa County
- Senior: Margaret Gorday; Blue Angels Elementary School; Escambia County
North and North Central Florida (Region II)
- Youth: Remie Bivens; Newberry High School, North Marion High School, and ACPS Camps Crystal; Alachua County
- Adult: Michelle Clark; Creekside High School; St. Johns County
- Senior: Donald Clark; Bannerman Learning Center; Clay County
Central Florida (Region III)
- Youth: Todd Eagle; Heritage High School; Brevard County
- Adult: Stacia Losh; Jensen Beach Elementary School; Martin County
- Senior: Zillah C. Gould; Read-Pattillo Elementary School; Volusia County
Tampa Area and Southwest Florida (Region IV)
- Youth: James Watkins; Horizon Elementary School; Polk County
- Adult: Kristina Engelsberg; B.D. Gullett Elementary School; Manatee County
- Senior: David Porter; Sunset Hills Elementary School; Pinellas County
South Florida (Region V)
- Youth: Renee Runge; Suncoast High School; Palm Beach County
- Adult: Jacynth Brown-Woodside; Suncoast High School; Palm Beach County
- Senior: Eddie Rhodes; Belle Glade Elementary, Glades Central High School, Lake Shore Middle School, Glade View Elementary and West Tech Academy; Palm Beach County
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.
Florida Continues to Lead Nation in Advanced Placement Exams and Narrow the Achievement Gap
Performance potentially saves students as much as $122 million in college costs
According to the Advanced Placement (AP) Data Report issued today by the College Board, Florida ranks first in participation in the AP exams during high school and third in the nation for improvement over the last decade.
Governor Rick Scott said, “These results are proof that the investments we are making in education are preparing students to begin college and enter the workforce prepared to succeed. With the ‘Fighting for Florida’s Future’ education budget, we once again increase funding at all levels to ensure Florida remains the best state in the world to live, work and receive an education.”
Commissioner of Education said, “We are thrilled that Florida’s students have once again demonstrated a strong commitment to academic success, and I am confident this is just the ‘tip of the iceberg’ for the graduating Class of 2016. Support from teachers and school administrators is integral to students on their education journey, and I thank them for the ongoing guidance and support they provide to help their students reach their full potential.”
There are significant financial benefits to students who perform well on AP exams. According to the College Board, in May 2016, Florida public and private high school students took a total of 191,987 AP® Exams that resulted in scores of 3, 4, or 5. Based on students’ opportunity to earn at least 3 college credits for each AP Exam score of 3 or higher, this represents an estimated 575,961 college credits. At an average rate of $211.87 per credit hour, the total potential cost savings for the state’s students and families was $122,028,857.
Florida highlights of the AP Report include:
- At 53 percent, Florida jumped from second to first in the nation for the percentage of 2016 graduates who took an AP exam during high school and eliminated the AP participation gap for its Hispanic students.
- Hispanic students made up 22.1 percent of the 2016 graduating class in Florida, yet they accounted for 22.6 percent of AP Exam takers. Hispanic students made up 21.2% percent of the graduates scoring 3 or higher on an AP exam during high school.
- African American students made up 14.6 percent of the 2016 graduating class in Florida and accounted for 9.0 percent of AP Exam takers. Black/African American students made up 4.4 percent of the graduates scoring 3 or higher on an AP exam during high school.
- Over the last decade, the number of Florida graduates participating in AP more than doubled, increasing from 44,893 students in 2006 to 84,986 students in 2016, an increase of 89 percent.
- At 29.5 percent, Florida’s percentage of 2016 graduates who potentially earned college credit with a score of 3 or higher exceeded the national average (21.9 percent).
- Florida is third in the nation for improvement over the past 10 years in the percentage of graduates scoring 3 or higher during high school. Between 2006 and 2016, Florida improved by 11.0 percentage points, from 18.5 percent in 2006 to 29.5 percent in 2016.
For more information, visit AP Cohort Data Report.
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.
Florida Lottery reaches $1 billion in education contributions with four months left in the fiscal year
$31 billion total over 29 years
The Florida Lottery today announced another record – $1 billion in contributions to education for the 15th consecutive year. Additionally, the Lottery reached the $1 billion mark for this fiscal year earlier than any other year in Florida Lottery history. This brings the Lottery’s life-to-date education contributions to more than $31 billion.
“This milestone would not have been possible without the support of our loyal players, dedicated retailers and hardworking Lottery staff,” said Florida Lottery Secretary Tom Delacenserie. “The Lottery will continue working hard every day to advance our mission of maximizing contributions to education in a manner that is consistent with the dignity and integrity of the state.”
Over the past 29 years, the Florida Lottery has established itself as a dependable funding source for public education. For 15 consecutive years the Lottery has transferred more than $1 billion to education, while remaining one of the most efficient lotteries in the nation. Additionally, the Lottery has contributed more than $5 billion to the Bright Futures Scholarship Program to send over 750,000 students to college.
Florida Lottery contributions represent approximately six percent of the state’s total education budget. Lottery funds are appropriated by the Florida Legislature and are administered by the Florida Department of Education.
