April 29, 2015 Volume iV, ISSUE 7Story Board is an interactive newsletter. All sponsor ads and text in blue are links!

Office of School Choice administrative secretary,

Jeanette Ribak, stands about four feet, 10 inches

in her stocking feet, but she is a superhero to

her colleagues in the department. “We always

knew you were our superhero in the office,”

said director of school choice, Stephanie Archer.

“Now you are the super hero for all of Brevard

County (schools).”

Ribak and her husband, Mitch, BPS business

partner and owner of Tropical Realty of Suntree,

are actively involved with the Sturge-Weber

Foundation and Jeanette was selected as the

BPS/Sprint Superhero for April 2016. “Sturge-

Weber Syndrome (SWS) is a rare disorder with

abnormal blood vessels in the brain, skin and

eye that can cause seizures, paralysis, strokes,

migraines, learning problems, vision-loss, and

other serious health issues,” she said.

The couple have been involved with the foundation

for 10 years. “When my granddaughter, Lola, was

diagnosed with SWS, my husband and I made the

decision to do whatever we could to help her,”

Jeanette explained. “We wanted the best for her.

We found Dr. Anne Comi, of the Hunter-Nelson

Sturge-Weber Syndrome Center at Kennedy

Krieger Institute in Baltimore. Dr. Comi is the

leading SWS researcher in the world. Our hopes

and dreams of helping Lola are through research

to find a cure for this rare disorder. Dr. Comi and

her team recently discovered the cause.

It is our hope that they someday find a cure.”

BPS SPRINt April superhero

BPS/Sprint superhero, Jeanette Ribak, is surrounded by her husband and colleagues in the

Office of School Choice.

BPS STORYBOARD - April 29, 2015 - VOLUME IV, ISSUE 7 - PAGE 1

continued on page 2

When you came into our life

We prayed that you would go

Sometimes what we want

Isn’t what we get, this I know

We don’t like that you are here

You make everyone cry

You bring sadness and fear

We wish we could bid you good bye!

Now with each dawning day

As I kneel on my knees

I pray for a cure

For your orphan disease

The children affected

Don’t deserve what you’ve done

The seizures, medications, and disfigurements on some

I pray for the doctors, their research, their dedication for sure

And the children and families for the things they endure

You ripped at our hearts

Oh the things that you do

Please listen Sturge-Weber

I’m talking to you

No more will you take the things I hold dear

Like laughter and love and my hopes this is clear

Sturge-Weber Syndrome as unwelcome as you may be

You’ve changed me forever, for the better, this I see

The appreciation I feel from this life changing event

Like the kindness of strangers from donations that are sent

When I look at sweet Lola with her beautiful smile

The message is clear and the pain is worthwhile

She’s an angel, a gift, sent from heaven above

Full of laughter, excitement, and an undeniable love

I promise you now and this you can be sure

I will not stop fighting until there’s a cure

Dear Sturge-Weber Syndrome: by Jeanette Ribak

Lola is now 10 years old. She, her brother Henry, and her parents moved to Merritt Island a year and a half ago after living in California and Arkansas. Lola’s dad is in the U.S. Air Force. Approximately one in 20,000 births are diagnosed with SWS, according to Ribak. “No two cases of SWS are the same,” she said. “Unfortunately, we know of several children who have passed away due to complications

from SWS. We are passionate about our cause.”

Ribak credits BPS and the entire Brevard County community for its supportive nature. The foundation puts on a golf outing that always sells out, Ribak said and the last BPS jeans day held in support of SWS raised over $4,000. “I am very honored to work with such wonderful people at Brevard Public Schools. Thank you.”

BPS STORYBOARD - April 29, 2015 - VOLUME IV, ISSUE 7 - PAGE 2

Carol Kindt:

In Storyboard, we feature our District’s superheroes. Those folks who go above and beyond with super powers to serve not only their job duties, but the community

as a whole. We often wonder which super heroes are the inspiration for these employees.

BPS’s new associate superintendent for human

resources, Dr. Carol Kindt, names Wonder Woman as her favorite superhero. “Wonder Woman is inspirational,” she said. “She is strong,

has no fear, and she works for good.”

Kindt hopes to “continue to create services and processes to better serve our students

catching up with dr. b

Deputy superintendent/chief human resources officer, Dr. Carol Kindt returns to Brevard County with her heart invested.

Early in my tenure as BPS’ new superintendent, I focused on four specific challenges

facing our district; two of which were fiscal constraints that make it difficult to adequately

compensate employees or maintain the buildings they work in and an urgent need to address

employee morale. With the departure of two key senior staff members came an opportunity

to hire exemplary professionals in the field of finance and human resources that I am

confident will lead strategic efforts to meet these challenges head on.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Carol Kindt as our new deputy superintendent/chief human

resources officer and Pennie Zuercher chief financial officer.

Chief financial officer, Pennie Zuercher brings vast experience to the District.

Pennie Zuercher:BPS’ new associate superintendent for finance Pennie Zuercher identifies Bat Girl as her super hero of choice. “She came into a male dominated (world), but she found a way to find her niche and be a super hero to Gotham too.”

BPS STORYBOARD - April 29, 2015 - VOLUME IV, ISSUE 7 - PAGE 3

ultimately. Human resources can be the biggest support system arm of this District,” she said. She lists providing “stellar customer service” and “capturing and supporting the best and brightest talent” as her top goals for this position.

Kindt grew up in Cocoa Beach and she considers her move here as coming home. Her dad worked in the space program and she is the youngest of four children. After graduating from Cocoa Beach High, she attended both University of Florida and then University of Central Florida, where she ultimately earned her bachelor’s degree. She received her master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University and her doctoral degree from the University of Florida.

After spending 24 years at Orange County Public Schools, including six as its senior executive director of human resources, Kindt spent a year in Montgomery County, MD, as its associate superintendent for human resources and development. Montgomery County is the nation’s 17th

largest school system serving over 150,000 students with 202 schools and nearly 23,000 employees.

She is excited every day to have an opportunity to make a difference. As she embarks on her first few months here she hopes to get to know her finance team members, senior staff, department heads, and Board members to learn what works and what they think doesn’t work. “In my first year, I want to visit each school and talk with the staff to learn how financial services can better service the staff’s needs,” Zuercher said. “(I want) to put together a plan to meet those needs.”

Zuercher is a Florida native. She was born in Tampa and grew up in the Orlando area. Zuercher’s husband Geoff, a retired police officer, lives in Polk County with their son Ben, who is graduating high school next month before joining the U.S. Navy. This summer, Geoff will join Pennie in their new home in Cape Canaveral. The couple have two grown children as well. Son Ryan, 30, is married and living in Washington, D.C. with his wife who attends law school at American University. Austin, 26, is in Tallahassee and is engaged to a teacher for Leon County Schools.

Zuercher comes to BPS after 33 years in the world of finance. Most recently, she served as

BPS STORYBOARD - April 29, 2015 - VOLUME IV, ISSUE 7 - PAGE 4

Carol Kindt continued Pennie Zuercher continued

Kindt’s greatest personal accomplishment is her two sons, Aaron, 28, a track and field/cross country coach at University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS; and Zachary, 26, who works at Universal Studios in Orlando. “I am so proud of them,” she said. “They are great men.”

Her greatest professional accomplishment is the Lean Six Sigma Sterling Award designation her team of 98 professionals at OCPS received in June 2015. This is the governor’s award for operational excellence performed by a team, she explained. “As I stood back and watched them (during the

awards ceremony), I was so proud of them. It was professionally gratifying to see people who had such passion and had worked so hard be rewarded for the work they did.”

Kindt offers this advice to people considering a career in education: “You are not working with machines. Be prepared that this is going to

touch you. You have to learn to take care of yourself,” she said. “This is an emotional job and your heart’s going to be a part of it.”

the director of accounting for the Polk County School District. Prior to that she worked as a budget officer for both Manatee and Pinellas County schools. In the private sector, Zuercher has served as a chief financial officer. She holds a bachelor’s degree of science from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK and a master’s in business administration from The University of Phoenix in Tampa. She has her certified public accountant accreditation from the state of Oklahoma.

Public education is important to Zuercher. “The opportunities I was afforded in high school helped me plan my future,” she said. “It taught me that education was an important tool to be taken advantage of. This is my way of giving back for those opportunities that were given to me.”

Public perception is one of the big challenges facing BPS, Zuercher believes. “We cannot have the greatest impact on the education of children when the community does not trust us to do our job,” she said. “We have to find a way to earn their trust through collaboration and transparency. Then, and only then, can we make the greatest impact on the education of our students.”

“This is my way of giving back for those opportunities that were given to me.”.” Pennie Zuercher

Carol Kindt continued Pennie Zuercher continued

Visit ccuFlorida.org/founders for ways to save money with our special deposit & loan offers.Share account with a one time membership fee required. Membership is available to Brevard,Orange, Osceola, Indian River, Volusia, and Polk County residents. Federally insured by NCUA.

We appreciate you. Thank you for all you do!

BPS STORYBOARD - April 29, 2015 - VOLUME IV, ISSUE 7 - PAGE 5

“This is an emotional job and your heart’s going to be a part of it.” Carol Kindt

PE Teacher Competes Nationally

Indialantic Elementary gifted teacher, Virginia Hamilton, has been selected as the silver winner of the Humane Society Academy’s 2016 Humane Teacher of the Year award.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization. The organization has given the humane teacher

award annually since 1981, recognizing outstanding teachers who consistently incorporate humane education into their curriculum and motivates students to get involved in community service for

animals. Hamilton was chosen for her commitment to humane education—the teaching of kindness toward people, animals, and the environment through her programs such as C.H.E.C.K., Aim Humane, and Canine Commandos.

“We love that Ms. Hamilton brings students to animal shelters to learn the plight of homeless pets firsthand and makes a difference for them while learning academic skills,” said Heidi Colonna, curriculum and educator outreach manager for the Humane Society. “Her work serves as an example to all those in the teaching profession, and we are excited to recognize her for her achievements in humane education.”

Indialantic Elementary gifted teacher, Virginia Hamilton selected as the Humane Society’s teacher of the year.

Eau Gallie High physical education teacher, Tim Powers, wins SHAPE award.

Eau Gallie High teacher, Timothy Powers, was honored as the southern district high school physical education teacher of the year by SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators, at its 131st national convention and expo in Minneapolis this month. “It was a great honor to represent the state of Florida and the 13 states of the Southern District in Minneapolis. The experience was truly life changing and I look forward to continuing Shape America’s goal of 50 million Strong by 2029,” Powers said.

Powers has taught at Eau Gallie for nine years and has found the AVID methodologies to be extremely effective with his students. Through AVID, students learn organizational and study skills, develop critical thinking, learn to ask probing

questions, receive academic help from peers, and participate in motivational activities. In addition to incorporating reading and writing into his physical education lessons, Powers also uses technology by utilizing tablets to capture videos and provide student self-assessment of movements to better understand a skill or concept.

“My physical education classes are held to the same rigorous academic standard as any other class,” Powers said.

Indialantic Teacher Wins Humane Society Award

BPS STORYBOARD - April 29, 2015 - VOLUME IV, ISSUE 7 - PAGE 6

Teachers Honored by Barnes & Noble

BPS business partner, Barnes & Noble recently recognized two teachers in the My Favorite Teacher contest. Heritage High AICE English teacher, Christina Spychalsky, and Nancy Morse, a math teacher at Edgewood Jr./Sr. High were selected.

The contest provides students with the opportunity to express their appreciation for their teachers by submitting poems,

essays, or thank you letters as a form of nomination, which demonstrates the ways in which their favorite teacher has impacted their lives and in what ways. Edgewood Jr/Sr High seventh grade student, Kaitlyn Sollberger, selected Spychalsky and Edgewood Jr/Sr High junior, Erroshell Campbell, chose Morse.

“It was a humbling announcement to learn one of my students thought of me as her favorite teacher. In my opinion, each student is my favorite one and I like to express to them how much they contribute to the class and that we are a team and a community where we can make good educational choices and pursue our dreams,” Morse said.

“My nominating student, Erroshell Campbell, is the real winner,” Spychalsky said. “Her time and effort to convey her feelings in such an eloquent and personal essay made the difference.”

Both teachers advanced to the regional competition where five winners will be selected to receive prizes and recognition.

(l-r) Blackburn, Heritage High 11th grade student Erroshell Campbell, Heritage English teacher Christina Spychalsky, and Ziegler smile at Barnes & Noble.

l-r) BPS Superintendent Dr. Desmond Blackburn, Edgewood Jr/Sr High seventh grader Kaitlyn Sollberger, Edgewood math teacher Nancy Morse, and Board Chairman Andy Ziegler celebrate the win.

BPS STORYBOARD - April 29, 2015 - VOLUME IV, ISSUE 7 - PAGE 7

A parent recently brought to the attention of the BPS plant operations and maintenance department the number and severity of potholes in the driveway at Cocoa High. The customer service representative at plant ops notified lead groundskeeper, Matt Noelle. He dispatched assistance right away and the parent was so happy she wrote back with praises.

“I wanted to extend my gratitude about how fast this work was completed

with patching the potholes in the driveway of the school. I noticed last week how quickly maintenance was reacting and this morning, drove over a smooth, asphalt patched pothole. Thank you all for your assistance,” Michelle Long said.

Way to go, grounds team.

Shout Out to Maintenance

Please be reminded if your temporary certificate expires June 30, 2017 you must complete all

requirements in order to be employed with the district for the next school year. There are no

extensions or exceptions to this requirement. Do not delay. Get started now.

Review your statement of eligibility from the Department of Education for your individual requirements:

• Take and pass any subject area test(s).

• Take and pass the professional education test.

See www.fl.nesinc.com for more information.

• Complete the new teacher induction program.

• Teach one full year.

Get started now if your temporary certificate expires June 2017

For more information about completion

of your education courses check out the

many universities who offer on-line courses

throughout the year and summer.

Any questions regarding your certification

requirements, contact the certification

department 321-633-1000 ext. 210 or 211.

BPS STORYBOARD - April 29, 2015 - VOLUME IV, ISSUE 7 - PAGE 8

News You Can UseAll current teachers of the year are invited to attend the inaugural BPS Teacher Leadership Council’s Teacher of the Year Summit on May 11 from noon to 3:30 p.m. at the Rockledge Country Club. The event is sponsored by BPS and the Brevard Schools Foundation.

The BPS Teacher Leadership Council works to promote teacher advocacy, leadership, communication, and service throughout the school district. The council works behind the scenes to accomplish these goals by sponsoring special events, communicating with teachers, district leadership, and supporting pre-service and novice teachers. At the summit, attendees will be treated to a plated

buffet lunch, enjoy guest speakers and receive updates from our district leaders. The attending teachers of the year will learn about the council’s mission and goals, as well as receive information about opportunities for teacher leadership in the district.

For more information, please contact executive directors Lucy Haddock, at Haddock.lucy@brevardschools.org, or Christina Donohue at Donohue.christina@brevardschools.org.

April 6 was National Walking Day sponsored by the American Heart Association to remind people of the health benefits of taking a walk. BPS participated in this event

with its spring 2016 200 mile You Got This walking challenge. Participants were asked to walk

10,000 or more steps that day in order to be entered to win a gift card from BPS business partner, Sports Authority. Nearly 200 BPS employees completed the challenge. Cigna health coach Joni deBlecourt-Whelen presented the gift to winner Lindsay Kerstetter a seventh grade teacher at Central Middle in West Melbourne.

Walkers Reap Health Rewards

BPS STORYBOARD - April 29, 2015 - VOLUME IV, ISSUE 7 - PAGE 9

The following grants have deadlines approaching. Check them out if you need something in your school or classroom.

The National Weather Association is accepting applications for its 2015-16 Sol Hirsch Education Fund grants, which support projects aimed at improving K-12 education in meteorology and related sciences.

Eligibility: Teachers, program directors, school district supervisors, and other individuals or groups proposing to improve the education of K-12 students in meteorology.Amount of Awards: up to $750Deadline: June 3, 2016http://www.nwas.org/grants/solhirsch.php

Kinder MorganFoundation supports K-12 programs that promote the academic and artistic interests of young people in science, music and math. Grants will be awarded for academic programs, including tutoring, arts, and environmental education programs.

Eligibility: Non-profits, public schools and private schools in areas where Kinder Morgan has operations may apply. Brevard County is included.Amount of Awards: up to $5,000Deadline: Next one is May 10. Then July 10, September 10, November 10.

http://www.kindermorgan.com/pages/community/km_foundation_guidelines.aspx

National Education Association (NEA) Foundation learning and leadership grants provides support to public school teachers and support professionals to fund participation in high quality professional development experiences such as summer institutes or action research; or to groups for collegial study (including study groups, action research, lesson study, or mentoring experiences for new faculty or staff).

Eligibility: Public school teachers and support personnel.

Amount of Awards: $2,000 for individualsDeadline: June 1, 2016

http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/learning-leadership-grants/

Wild Ones, a non-profit environmental education and advocacy organization, is accepting applications from projects that aim to enhance and develop an appreciation for nature using native plants.

Eligibility: Schools, nature centers, and other nonprofit places of learning that focus on educating K-12 students.Amount of Awards: $500Deadline: October 15, 2016

http://www.wildones.org/seedsfor-education/sfe

Check Out These Grant Opportunities

BPS STORYBOARD - April 29, 2015 - VOLUME IV, ISSUE 7 - PAGE 10

BPS Storyboard is a publication of Brevard Public Schools for employees published by the Department of Community Relations.

Michelle Irwin, director Debra Foley, editor Dan Jankowski, layout Abby Rex, assistant

Contributing editors:

Dinah Kramer Carlos Lorenzo Patty Snorf

Brevard Public Schools, 2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, Fl 32940For more information call 321-633-1000, ext. 796. To submit editorial copy or to place an ad, please contact foley.debra@brevardschools.org.

Retirement

• FRS retirement plans • DROP • Social Security • The importance of saving early.

Employees in all career stages are cordially invited to attend:Using FRS to Plan for your Retirement

May 18, 2016 5-7 p.m.ESF Board Room

Register in ProGOE course number 14015. For more information, 321-633-1000 x260

Workshop covers:

Orange Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Preparation:

1. In small bowl, combine raisins and orange juice and let sit overnight.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3. In mixer bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs and orange peel. Add baking soda and flour. Stir in raisins, soaking liquid, and oats. Mix well.

4. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 12 minutes. Don’t overbrown. Transfer to racks and

cool completely.

Ingredients:

1 ½ C. raisins

6 T. orange juice

1 C. butter (room temperature)

1 ½ C. sugar

2 eggs

4 t. grated orange peel

2 C flour

2 t. baking soda

2 ½ C. rolled oats

Yield: 3 dozen

BPS STORYBOARD - April 29, 2015 - VOLUME IV, ISSUE 7 - PAGE 11