Appointments & Reassignments

May 2, 2006  The Board approved the following appointment:  Eugene Adach, Chief Plans Examiner.

May 16, 2006  The Board approved the following appointments: Juana Romaniuk, Project Manager III, Facilities and Construction; Terri Shermett, Coordinator, Preschool, Exceptional Student Education;  Marilynn “Lynn” Strong, Associate Superintendent, Human Resources; Michaelle Valbrun-Pope, Area Director, School Improvement (South Central); Jeffrey Williams, Administrative Assistant to the Area Superintendent (North Area); Daniel Traeger, Special Assignment, Principal, High School Reform; David Gordon, Principal, Pompano Beach High; Interim Principals: Maria Bach, Challenger Elementary; David Basile, South Plantation High; Eugene Butler, Coconut Creek High; Marc Charpentier, Pembroke Pines Elementary; Anne Dilgen, Monarch High; Wendy Galinsky, Hollywood Park Elementary;  Katherine Hinden, New River Middle; Tracy Lockhart-Talley, Dave Thomas Center; Sharon Moffitt, Atlantic West Elementary; Leo Nesmith, Lauderhill Middle; Donna Patton, Dania Elementary; Stephanie Shipe, North Lauderdale Elementary; Teresa Thelmas, Coconut Palm Elementary; and Hudson Thomas, Margate Middle.

The Board also approved the following reassignments: Judith Zinn, Director, School Improvement; Roberta Insel, Area Director, School Improvement (South Central) Special Assignment,Coordinator, Evaluation; Interim Principals: Deborah Davey, Miramar High; Camille LaChance, North Side Elementary; Andrew Luciani, Arthur Ashe Middle; Kevin Sawyer, Boyd Anderson High; Principals: Millicent Thorpe, Riverland Elementary; Olivia Vega, Thurgood Marshall Elementary; Luwando Wright-Hines, Location to be announced; and Ramon Dawkins, Sunland Park Elementary.

June 6, 2006  The Board approved the following appointments: Marie “Ann” Conway, Director, Operational Audits; Debra Friedman, Director, Program Development & Alignment; Karla Gary-Orange, Principal, Special Assignment, Area Coordinator, Exceptional Student Education (North); Lisa Lorbeck, Planner, Growth Management Impact; Mark Quintana, Curriculum Specialist, Educational Programs; Hector Troche, Area Coordinator, Student Services (North); Robert Gibson, Principal, Palmview Elementary; Interim Principals: Ann Andersen-Kowalski, Stoneman Douglas High and Kenneth King, Larkdale Elementary;  Building (Trade) Inspectors (Plumbing): Chris Flynn and Raymond Kowalski.

The Board also approved the following reassignments: Deedara Hicks, Director, Effective Schools Program; Luwando Wright-Hines, Principal, Hollywood Hills High; Interim Principals: Heather Hedman-DeVaughn, Lauderdale Manors Elementary and Enid Valdez, Piper High; Assistant Principals: Lois Abcug, Driftwood Elementary; Joseph Balchunas, Silver Lakes Elementary; Gwendolyn Bush-Bullock, Piper High; Regina Cameron, Plantation High; Fabian Cone, Larkdale Elementary; Delicia Decembert, Chapel Trail Elementary; Cynthia Ellis, Forest Glen Middle; Timothy Gadson, location to be announced; Frank Gaines, Boyd Anderson High; Angela Jackson, Rickards Middle; Debra Johnson, Stranahan High; Sheron Jordan, Endeavor Primary Learning Center; Amanda Miles, Sawgrass Springs Middle; Elpidio Muniz, Arthur Ashe Middle; Carol Nissen, Tequesta Trace Middle; Gregory Pluim, Sea Castle Elementary; Frederick Robinson, North Lauderdale Elementary; Willowphine Rosado, Eagle Point Elementary; Valerie Thomas, Deerfield Beach Middle; Elgin Watts, Royal Palm Elementary; Angeline Willen, Lauderdale Lakes Middle and Patricia Yackel, Pines Lakes Elementary; Interim Assistant Principals: Christine Recchi,  Coral Glades High and Donna Boruch, Boyd Anderson High.

New Wellness Policy Goal:
Prevent Obesity

In the last 20 years, the number of overweight children has doubled, while the number of overweight adolescents has tripled. In Broward County, 28% of high school students are overweight or at risk for being overweight and 72% don’t meet current recommendations for physical activity. The Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 2004 mandates that school districts adopt a local wellness policy to reduce childhood obesity. Broward County Public Schools’ Wellness Policy is geared toward helping children learn and adopt healthy behaviors while they’re still young.  The policy includes establishing better eating habits and increasing physical activity. Each school and department will identify a champion to implement the Wellness Policy, which allows individual sites flexibility to develop objectives to meet the overall policy goals.

Specific policy goals include:
• Providing nutrition and health education in multiple languages from elementary through high
school for both students and family members
• Expanding the Physical Education Department’s Commit 2B Fit™ Program and opportunities for
students to take part in age-appropriate physical education and physical activity during recess
• Serving cafeteria food that promotes the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including whole
grains, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables and low-fat milks
• Supplying vending machines with a variety of nutritious foods
• Encouraging healthy choices for classroom celebrations and rewards
• Implementing fundraisers that support a healthy lifestyle through non-food
and nutritious food fundraisers

The Wellness Policy Committee, chaired by Board member Dr. Robert Parks, developed the policy with input from multiple community stakeholders. The District’s Nutrition Committee and the Broward County School Health Advisory Committee – whose membership includes representation from the Broward Dietetic Association, the American Diabetes Association, Broward County Health Department and others – also made recommendations. Principals, District administrators and parents worked together to develop a policy that would establish a culture of wellness within the District while enabling students to learn the importance of choice and balance. The Wellness Policy Committee will measure progress toward achievement of the goals and report to the School Board on an annual basis.

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After the Storm...
Panic Attacks and You?

Nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina, the people of New Orleans were, as reported by The New York Times (June 21, 2006), experiencing an epidemic of depression and post-traumatic stress disorders. We here in South Florida did not experience anything nearly as traumatic as the Katrina victims.  However, stormy nights and the anticipation of future storms may still stir something up for many of us.  Could it be a panic attack?

What is a panic attack?
Panic attacks are a common anxiety-related disorder.  The National Institute of Mental Health reports that 19.2 million adults are affected.  The onset of a panic attack is either “triggered” (brought on by exposure to a particular situation) or “spontaneous” (no apparent connection or cause).  A person experiencing a panic attack usually has cardiac symptoms and trouble breathing.  The attack usually begins quickly and builds rapidly to a peak.  The entire episode usually lasts less than a half hour.  You may only have them a few times in your life or several times per week. 

These are the signs of a panic attack.
• Chills or hot flashes
• Heart pounding/racing
• Choking sensation
• Sweating
• Dizzy, lightheaded or faint
• Numbness
• Fears of loss of control
• Chest Pains

Panic attacks are common and often easily treated.  Untreated, they can be severely debilitating.   Severe panic attacks may be a sign of a panic disorder and may require professional intervention. Contact the Employee Assistance Program at  754-322-9900 for more information on panic attacks and anxiety disorders.