National Italian American Foundation Taps Broward Teacher for Top Honors
“Congratulazioni” to Maryclair Curmaci-Singer who teaches Italian at Everglades High School in Miramar. She was recently selected as the 2005 National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) Teacher of the Year and received her award at the 30th annual NIAF convention held in Washington, D.C. The foundation credits her ability to use creative teaching techniques to improve enrollment in the school’s Italian language classes for distinguishing her from her peers. Maryclair’s award includes free summer classes at a choice of two universities in Italy as well as a summer stipend.
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Dianne Sepielli |
Homeless Program Coordinator Receives Honor
The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAECHY) recently named Dianne Sepielli, Coordinator of the District’s Homeless Program, Outstanding Individual Working in a Program. She received the award at the Annual NAECHY Conference held in Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to her duties with the District, Dianne currently serves as chairperson of the Homeless Initiative Partnership, serves on the Department of Education advisory board for homeless issues and serves on FEMA’s emergency food and shelter program.
County’s Top Arts Teacher Touted
Each year, the Broward County Commission’s Cultural Division names an Arts Teacher of the Year. For 2005, that honoree is J.P. Taravella High School drama teacher Lori Sessions. An 11-year teacher at Taravella, she is a two-time nominee of the Arts Teacher of the Year and is included in the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers for the years 2000, 2002 and 2004.
South Plantation Boasts 49 AP Scholars
In recognition of exceptional achievement on the college-level 2005 Advanced Placement Program (AP) exams, 49 South Plantation High School students have earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board. Thirty-five of the students graduated with the class of 2005, while the remaining 14 are currently enrolled this year.
Virtual Counselor Makes Magazine’s Top 100 List
Each year, InfoWorld, a popular technology magazine, selects the nation’s top 100 technology projects based on their ability to save money and help day-to-day tasks run more smoothly. The District’s “Virtual Counselor” not only made that prestigious list, but also was named one of the top 20 finalists for Project of the Year award to be announced in March. The project was also featured in an issue of the magazine. Senior Data Warehouse Analyst Phyllis Chasser submitted Virtual Counselor for the award. Virtual Counselor provides a secure method for both educators and parents to monitor students’ academic progress online. Attendance records, test scores and class rank are available and parents can even schedule in-school appointments with guidance counselors online. |
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Dianne Sepielli |
Technology Manager Earns Distance Learning Association Award
The United States Distance Learning Association recently presented Daryl Diamond, Project Manager in Technology and Instruction for Education Technology Services (ETS), with its Bronze Award for Excellence in Distance Learning. This award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in distance learning and highlights those instructors, programs and distance learning professionals who have distinguished themselves in the field. Daryl is credited with creating innovative programs that incorporate both videoconferencing and online learning and earned this award specifically in recognition of the videoconferencing programs she created to prepare teenage parents at Hallandale Adult High School to successfully complete the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). She was also recognized for collaborative programs she developed that enabled online students from Broward Virtual Education and other students in the District who are studying Japanese to discuss events of World War II with students in Japan.
Students, Staff Plant Pinwheels for Peace
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Monarch High School teachers Ellen McMillan (l) and Anne T. Ayers, creators of the Pinwheels for Peace project.
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Two fine arts educators at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek involved the school’s students in a highly visual peace promotion that quickly caught on locally, nationally and even internationally. Dubbed “Pinwheels for Peace,” the event took place on September 21st, the International Day of Peace – on the school grounds where more than 5,000 handmade pinwheels were planted in a symbolic gesture of peace. Of those pinwheels, 2,000 were created in memory of people who have died as a result of violence.
Hoping to promote peace as more than just a word, the teachers chose pinwheels because they are a childhood symbol that reminds us of a time when things were simple, joyful and peaceful. The pinwheels were personalized with thoughts of war and peace, tolerance, cooperation, unity and living in harmony with others. The project was enthusiastically embraced by schools and organizations around the globe and it’s estimated that 500,000 pinwheels were planted in more than 1,350 locations throughout the world on that day – a true credit to the creators of Pinwheels for Peace. Next year’s event promises to be even bigger. For more information, visit ( www.pinwheelsforpeace.com). |
