DISTRICT OFFICIALS RECEIVE FLORIDA COMMENDATION MEDAL AWARDS

Pictured are Florida Commendation Medal Award recipents Ed Kessler, Systems Analyst III, Conferencing Services Systems, Vijay Sonty, Chief Information Officer, Education Technology Services and Dr. Gary Brown, Analyst, Conferencing Services Systems. Not pictured is Superintedent Frank Till.

Four Broward County Public School District officials have received the prestigious Florida Commendation Medal Award, a military honor, for meritorious service to the Florida Army National Guard during the 2004 hurricane season. Honored at a ceremony held in Tallahassee were: Dr. Frank Till, Superintendent; Vijay Sonty, Chief Information Officer, Education Technology Services (ETS); Dr. Gary Brown, Analyst, Conferencing Services Systems; and Ed Kessler, Systems Analyst III, Conferencing Services Systems.

The officials were honored for the pivotal role the District's Conferencing Services Systems Department, a division of Education Technology Services (ETS), played when four storms struck the region.

During what is now called "Operation Gulf Winds '04", the nation's resources were stretched thin due to the conflict in the Middle East. Using its telecommunication services and expertise, ETS supported the Florida National Guard and the Broward Emergency Response Team. ETS Conferencing Services provided valuable collaborative tools for interagency communication throughout the state. The ETS conferencing team secured services for emergency use and worked with equipment manufacturers to provide an on-going and constant line of communication throughout the storm season.

A cutting-edge leader in the instructional and information technology fields, Conferencing Services of ETS plans to not only continue its partnership with the Florida Army National Guard, but also develop new relationships where its technological expertise can be implemented to positively affect the local, state, national and international communities.

For more information on the services provided by Conferencing Services at ETS, please call 754-321-0484.

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Two Departments and One School Earn
SUNSPRA Awards

Each year, the Sunshine State School Public Relations Association (SUNSPRA) presents Sunshine Medallion Awards to honor school district schools and departments that demonstrate exemplary public relations projects, programs and publications. This year, Broward had three winners:

* Newsletter - First Place
(Large District Category)
Human Resources Development: "Focus on Staff Development"

* Special Purpose Publication -
First Place
Rock Island Elementary School: "Limousine Ride and Luncheon"

* Teacher Recruitment -
First Place (Large District Category)
Instructional Staffing Department: "Live and Teach in Paradise" Teacher Recruitment CD and brochure

Women's History Match Game Contest Winner Named
The winner of this year's Women's History Month Match Game is Shauntay Cunningham-Poole who works in the Guidance Department at Whiddon-Rogers Education Center. Her contest entry was the first received with 100% correct answers and her prize was one befitting a contest that celebrates women from around the world -- a gift certificate for dinner for two at The Caspian Persian Grill, in Plantation -- a restaurant with a unique cultural theme. The restaurant graciously donated the prize.

Sponsored by the Diversity & Cultural Outreach Department, the game and contest were first developed in 2000 to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of women around the world and through the ages. Although the contest is only open to employees, the game may be played by anyone. Many teachers use the game as a reading and research tool in the classroom.

For additional information about the Women's History Month Match Game & Contest, contact Nancy Weintraub, Community Liaison, Diversity & Cultural Outreach, at 754-321-2090.

Match Game winner Shauntay Cunningham-Poole(L) is presented with her prize by Nancy Weintraub, Community Liaison, Diversity & Cultural Outreach