Monroe County School District administrators, teachers and staff were honored at the annual Employee Recognition Banquet on Saturday night, May 17, 2008. Randy Acevedo, Superintendent and Frances St. James, Deputy Superintendent presented awards to Administrators, Teachers, Inclusion Teachers, and Support Personnel of the Year.  Mike Henriquez and Pedro Fraga, Executive Directors, assisted. Pictured is Superintendent Acevedo with Christelle Orr, teacher of the year.

Recipients and detailed comments are found in the banquet's program . A video picture gallery of all employees recognized, was created by Shawn Shockley, Sugarloaf School. Photos of the evening were taken by Ken St. James, IT Director.

Superintendent Randy Acevedo has announced that Mark Hooper, Career and Technical Education Coordinator, has been selected by the Florida Department of Education to represent the Monroe County School District at the 2008 Chancellor’s Leadership Seminar for Workforce Education.  This program is designed to further develop and refine the leadership capabilities of potential leaders to improve and enhance workforce education in Florida.

Dr. Messier has been selected to attend the Japanese Fulbright Program this October, 2008. She will depart for Tokyo, all expenses paid, as a participant in the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund (JFMF) Program. Dr. Messier selected from a pool of over 1,700 applicants by a panel of educators to earn this honor. This program allows distinguished educators in the U.S. to travel to Japan in an effort to promote greater intercultural understanding between the two nations.

The Keys Council of Math and Science Educators are proud to announce the 2008 Teachers of the Year for Math and Science.  Congratulations to Melissa O’Keeffe and Kathy Brady for being chosen as the K–5 Math and 6–12 Science Teacher’s of the Year, respectively.   These teachers were honored at the KCMSE spring meeting on May 21.  

Lower Keys students and staff were recognized by the Superintendent and School Board at the May 27th School Board Meeting in Key West. The Dade Lodge, #14 Masons has generously donated beautiful plaques to be awarded to Key West elementary students that exhibit exemplary Citizenship at their schools. The Masonic Citizenship awards were awarded to Glynn Archer students:  Aliciya Hunter and Michael Stern.

Superintendent Randy Acevedo has announced that Gerald Adams School Principal Frannie Herrin has been selected as a "You Make a Difference" award recipient from the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council.

The FDDC award selection committee chose Herrin for her exemplary practice of including students with developmental disabilities in general education settings.

Two ceremonies are planned in honor of the award. The first is a luncheon June 20 in Orlando where Herrin is to receive a $500 mini grant to enhance inclusive practices. The second is to be at a local school board meeting in the fall.

Herrin said, “I have always felt honored to be a part of this fabulous school and this award is not mine alone—it comes from a collaborative effort. The most important facet of my role, is to ensure a culture of acceptance and respect for all.”

“Ms. Herrin is a hero for exceptional students. She makes sure all students succeed and are prepared for middle school,” Acevedo said.

Randy Acevedo, Superintendent,  has announced that  Ms.  Ruth Bryant from Glynn Archer School is the district's 2007-2008 Inclusion Teacher of the Year. She is a highly motivated and compassionate educator.

Connie Adams, Glynn Archer School principal states, "Mrs. Bryant has been a team player from day one.  Her  ideas, resources, and experience  make the inclusion process successful."

Governor Charlie Crist presented one of four Point of Light awards to Sunny Booker of Marathon at the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee Wednesday, Feb. 27. Superintendent Randy Acevedo said, “Sunny’s commitment to youth shows not only in her full-time job as the safe school coordinator but also in her passion and dedication to volunteer as the director of MYCP.

This year several of the Student Services team have received Superintendent Acevedo’s Whatever it Takes awards and have been recognized for various state-wide awards. The Department of Student Services includes school guidance counselors, psychologists, therapists, nurses, social workers and staffing specialists. Governor Crist has selected February 4th – 8th as Florida Student Services Week. Please take time during the week of February 4th – 8th to say thank you to a member of the Student Services team at your school. Dr. Messier recently attended a state reception to represent the district in accepting a Points of Light Award for Executive Director Michael Henriquez.

Key Largo School is proud to announce that 7th Grade Teacher, Mrs. Lisa Giles, has received the DCAT “Making a Difference Award, which is presented by the National Science Teacher Association.  She is recognized and honored for the excellent science program she has implemented with her 7th Grade Alternative Education Students.  Mrs. Giles’ effective teaching strategies combined with her science program have influenced her students to explore and investigate science and its application to global problems. Lisa will receive $2,500 for her program along with the actual award in Boston on March 28th, at the NSTA Conference.

Dawn Schweinsberg has been named Monroe County School District's School-Related Person of the Year.

The School Related Employee of the Year Program honors personnel for significant contributions they make to their school, students, and the district school system. 

The following staff, students and vendors were recognized by the School Board and Superintendent at the January 15th Board Meeting, for showing exemplary professionalism, student achievement and district support: Ayesha Osbourne – HR Department, Masonic Lodge Awards for Gerald Adams Students of the Month, The Real Yellow Pages from AT and T Awards Program, Wayne Fey from Anchor Structural and Associates Inc. and Coach Robert James – Key West High School Football Coach.
 

Governor Charlie Crist has recognized Mike Henriquez as this week’s Point of Light for exemplary volunteerism. Mike coordinates volunteers annually to raise funds for the Relay for Life charity in Key West. Mike is the first of four Points of Light selected from Florida’s Hispanic community, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. “Mike’s ability to inspire and motivate members of his community is an indication of outstanding leadership,” said Governor Crist.

The recognition of schools, staff, programs and eductional partners was first on the recent school board agenda. Key West High School was selected by Newsweek to be included in the top 5% of schools in the nation for the number of Advanced Placement exams taken by their students.   The teachers pictured were thanked for their committment to the students at Key West High.

At the July 31st  School Board meeting in Key West, Superintendent Randy Acevedo honored Executive Director of Instructional Services Mike Henriquez. Through Henriquez’s leadership and direction, each member of the Instructional Services Team influenced a positive difference in Monroe County Schools this year. The district has earned an A for the second year in a row. Acevedo says, "Programs Mike and his team have implemented over the last three years, have made a huge impact on student success. I want parents and stakeholders to know our schools and the district as a whole are changing – and for the better."

Superintendent of Schools, Randy Acevedo, is pleased to announce that Harry Russell will be the new principal of Marathon High School.   For the last four years, Mr. Russell has served as the assistant principal at Horace O’Bryant Middle and Stanley Switlik Elementary.