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Brevard Head Start teachers receive Florida Region 4 awards; district recognizes classroom and coaching work
Summary
Brevard Public Schools Head Start staff Janice Smith and Michelle Dale were honored as Region 4 Teacher and Staff of the Year by the Florida Head Start Association; the board recognized their classroom practices and district coaching work.
Brevard Public Schools on Feb. 25 recognized two Head Start employees who were named Region 4 Teacher and Staff of the Year by the Florida Head Start Association.
Carrie Barlow, assistant director of Brevard Public Schools Head Start, presented the honors and said Janice Smith, a Head Start teacher at Enterprise Elementary, was named Teacher of the Year for Region 4, and Michelle Dale was named Staff of the Year for Region 4 in recognition of her work as an instructional coach.
Why it matters: The Region 4 awards highlight district staff work in early childhood education. Barlow and others described Smith's and Dale's career paths and the practices cited in the recognition: Smith began as an instructional assistant and became a Head Start teacher in February 2015, has 11 years of military service and multiple degrees, and received her Florida teaching certificate in pre-K through third grade. Barlow said Smith "initiated a project to provide a hundred gym bags filled with essential items like blankets, books, and health supplies to her classroom families in need." The district later noted that 25 of those bags were delivered to the Department of Children and Families for children removed from homes.
Michelle Dale was described as holding an associate degree in early childhood education, a bachelor's degree in business administration and a Florida early-childhood teaching certificate. She began as a Head Start teacher nine years ago and became an instructional coach in February 2018. Barlow said Dale helped lead the district's HITS (high impact reading interventions and targeted supports) training for early childhood teachers.
Barlow and other district presenters framed both awards as reflecting leadership and efforts that improve classroom instruction and family services. Janice Smith, accepting recognition, said she was "much more comfortable talking in front of 3 to 5 year olds than I am adults" and expressed gratitude for colleagues. Colleagues in the meeting noted that winning both awards from the same district is uncommon; Barlow said the Region 4 recognition covers eight states.
Ending: Board members greeted the honorees and asked for a photograph; no board action was required for the recognition.
