Satoko Fisher
Broward Virtual School

“Learning must be fun and exciting! I ‘edutain’ my students,” says Satoko Fisher, a veteran teacher with the District. Having taught Japanese for more than 26 years, she has learned that keeping an open mind is the key to effectively teaching students. Ms. Fisher came to the United States to learn English, as she was fascinated with the American culture. She has visited more than 30 countries and enjoys experiencing different foods, people and customs. She uses that same drive to motivate and encourage her middle and high school students.

Sheldon Jordan
Village Elementary School

Sheldon Jordan’s teaching philosophy is to teach a child, you must first reach a child. Mr. Jordan believes that as an educator, it is his job to provide students with a safe and nurturing learning environment. He encourages his students by telling them that it does not matter what they did last year, last month, last week, yesterday, or even the moment before entering class – what matters is now. A proud graduate of Broward County Public Schools, Mr. Jordan takes his job as an educator personally. Realizing that his students are people first, his goal is to give every student an opportunity to become successful.

Catherine Lozada
Wilton Manors Elementary School

Catherine Lozada strives to create a classroom community where students of all abilities learn and grow together. “I believe in modeling the character traits of love, tolerance, trust, respect and acceptance. Although some students may be differently-abled, everyone deserves the opportunity to reach his/her fullest potential,” says Ms. Lozada. With nearly 20 years of experience as a teacher, this baseball fan has learned that being calm is her superpower. Her unlimited amount of patience has allowed her to recognize the social, emotional and behavioral needs of her students.”

Lise Clara Mabour
Northeast High School

There is a video recording of Lise Clara Mabour as a high school senior, more than six years ago, stating that she hopes to inspire invention and leave a legacy of innovation at Northeast High School. Years later, she returned, with a strong determination to achieve this goal by igniting the same passion in her students. “The focus for educating our future generations needs to be on teaching students how to use the new technology available to make rational and informed decisions.” The first person in the history of the Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam program to complete a project as a student and an educator, Ms. Mabour continues to work every day to fulfill the goal she set many years ago.

Kristin Murphy
Nova Middle School

Be respectful and never lie are the only rules in Kristin Murphy’s classroom. “To always do the right thing is, perhaps, one of the most important lessons we can teach our students,” says Ms. Murphy. An educator for more than 20 years, she never accepts anything less than a student’s true potential and encourages her students to do the same. “Some of my students are living the difficult situations we discuss in class. Every word that comes out of my mouth has the ability to affect my students.” When she is not in class, Ms. Murphy is a CrossFit competitor and a Dragon boat racer.

Philip Bullock
Walker Elementary School

“We can never lose sight of the fact that every student is unique with very different academic and social needs. Therefore, instruction must be adjusted to meet these needs,” says Philip Bullock, in his fourth year as principal of Walker Elementary School. An educator for more than 30 years and a father of five children, Mr. Bullock has firsthand knowledge of what students need to achieve success. “We cannot only teach the curriculum, we must also teach the child and meet them where they are, not where we want them to be.”

Kathryn Marlow
Seminole Middle School

Having served nearly a decade at Seminole Middle School, Kathryn Marlow is a firm believer that “student learning increases significantly when the student has a positive relationship with the teacher and knows that the teacher truly cares.” This lover of rock and roll music is dubbed by her students as a cool principal. Ms. Marlow believes, “it is critical to offer engaging curriculum and courses that speak to the 21st century learner. High-interest classes such as the Dark Side of Fairy Tales and Sports & Politics take reading in middle school to the next level. Courses such as Theme Park Engineering will have students running to class.”

Cory Ann Smith
Ramblewood Middle School

As an educator, Cory Ann Smith focuses on the needs of the students she serves. Whether as a teacher or an administrator, Ms. Smith believes that, “all students need to feel a connection with their teachers and leaders. There must be a genuine caring relationship established for them to learn and grow.” When Ms. Smith entered Florida State University, she was a communications major with a goal of becoming a news broadcaster. More than 20 years later, she is in her fifth year as the principal of Ramblewood Middle School and does not regret her career change. “I am exactly where I was meant to be.”

Mary A. Barba
Sheridan Technical College and High School

For the last five years, Mary Barba has served as the assistant principal at Sheridan Technical College & High School. Spanning more than 18 years, her career started as a fifth-grade classroom teacher. “I would like students to know that their voices need to be heard and their opinions matter. They have the power to effect change, not only for themselves, but for future generations as well,” says Ms. Barba. The first female athlete from Cooper City High School to receive a full-ride scholarship to a major university, Ms. Barba, has always focused on the big picture and her long-term goals.

Erin Brown
Hollywood Hills High School

“What matters most when educating our students,” says Erin Brown, assistant principal at Hollywood Hills High School, “is teaching them morals, perseverance and a strong work ethic.” An educator for more than 15 years, Ms. Brown goes to work each day with the purpose of providing a safe, engaging, and caring learning environment. “Throughout my career, I have learned that modeling the behavior you wish your students to exhibit, as well as establishing a caring relationship, will assist students in meeting the expectations set for them. As an educational leader, I believe it is our duty to help produce productive, ethical members of society.”

Dr. Moira Sweeting-Miller
Monarch High School

According to Dr. Moira Sweeting-Miller, assistant principal of Monarch High School, students succeed best when they are college, career and life ready. “This not only means that they are college or career bound when they graduate, but also that they are literate and able to think critically,” says Dr. Sweeting-Miller. She has worked with the District for more than 23 years and is a firm believer in lifelong learning. “I am dedicated to motivating and encouraging students and teachers to strive for excellence, and wish for every student to graduate, pursue his/her dreams with passion and most of all to dance like no one is watching.”

Iris Connery
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Montessori Academy

Iris Connery, a 28-year Broward County Public Schools veteran, believes that “if ethnic and social barriers are removed, every child is capable of learning and succeeding.”  She uses her love of history and Native American heritage stories to influence the next generation, instilling in students that education is still relevant in today’s world. “As adults, we have to acknowledge the next generation is more sophisticated at a younger age,” says Ms. Connery. “The technology they hold in their hands is powerful and should be used to shape their future.”

Sue DePasquale
Food and Nutrition Services Department

For nearly 35 years, Sue DePasquale has encouraged students to learn something new every day. Ms. DePasquale believes that equal opportunity is key to educating the next generation. Additionally, through her career growth from a general cafeteria worker to an assistant coordinator, she realizes that every student wants the same thing - positive acknowledgment. Her influence on the students she encounters daily is evident. “I believe in their potential to be great, regardless of their physical, mental, financial or parental circumstance,” states Ms. DePasquale. An avid Miami Dolphins fan, Ms. DePasquale is holding on to the hope that they will be great again.

Paul Fletcher
Stirling Elementary School

Paul Fletcher is very passionate about his role at Broward County Public Schools. Once appointed as the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teacher’s assistant, he enrolled in online classes and read books to familiarize himself with the unique developmental abilities, challenges and opportunities of his students. As an advocate for ESE students, he speaks on their behalf at community and school advisory board meetings. Like his father, famous African-American leader and activist, Arthur Fletcher, who coined the statement, ‘A mind is a terrible thing to waste,’ Mr. Fletcher plans to complete his career by continuing to fight for those who may not be able to fight for themselves.

Brittany Poitier
Broadview Elementary School

“The next generation are the future leaders of our nation,” says Brittany Poitier, who believes that supporting and showing love to her students prepares them for leadership roles. She focuses on the whole student and addresses the root of any issue, which may include hunger, homelessness and social need. “Students cannot function if he or she is hungry or homeless. Once we assist in getting the student’s social and environmental needs met, the student will blossom in a way never seen before. A spokesperson for autism awareness and a race car driver, Ms. Poitier is fully equipped to drive her students to achieve their goals.

Rachel Robuste
Liberty Elementary School

Rachel Robuste counts on her words and actions to ignite the potential of her students.  Each day, she greets students individually and uses this opportunity to infuse value and self-esteem in them. This, she says, makes them feel accepted and confident. “Children have a natural desire to be accepted, so when that need is met, it becomes easier for them to be successful in school,” says Ms. Robuste. “A confident student is able to strive for excellence. In addition to academics, students today need increased opportunities to develop skills of empathy, tolerance and respect.”