- April 28, 2024
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Flagler County recently announced its teachers and employees of the year. From these nominees, a districtwide teacher and employee of the year will be chosen 6 p.m. Jan. 12, at a ceremony at Flagler Auditorium. School winner are as follows:
TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
David Nelson
Flagler Technical Institute Adult and Community Education
David Nelson began working for Adult Education in 2003, with the Commercial Vehicle Driving program as a part-time instructor.
In 2005, Nelson started full time and became a third-party tester for the state of Florida, which allowed him, in 2007, to be certified as examiner trainer for the state and Flagler County Adult Education.
Rosemarie Alfano
Belle Terre Elementary School
Rosemarie Alfano began teaching at Bunnell Elementary School in 1999, after moving to Palm Coast, from New York.
During her seven years at Bunnell, she was an exceptional student education inclusion and resource teacher, taught pre-K ESE, worked as a guidance counselor, and served as the school curriculum specialist.
In 2006, she joined the Belle Terre Elementary family, where she is a second- and third-grade inclusion specialist. She also teaches several Tier 3 Response to Intervention groups and is on the school’s leadership team, core RTI team and technology team.
Michelle Coolican
Buddy Taylor Middle School
Michelle Coolican is a science teacher at Buddy Taylor Middle School.
“I love teaching science, whether it’s earth and space, biology, physics or chemistry,” Coolican said. “Making connections with the students and seeing their excitement and enthusiasm about science topics is so rewarding. One of the greatest rewards of teaching is making a positive impact in a child’s life and having them say, ‘Science is my favorite class!’”
Tara Millette
Bunnell Elementary School
Tara Millette taught fourth and fifth grades in Broward County before finding her home at Bunnell Elementary, where she has been teaching for six years.
“I hold high expectations for each of my students ... because I truly believe in each one of them, and want to see them reach their maximum potential,” she said.
Sarah Poppe
Flagler Palm Coast High School
Sarah Poppe began her teaching career as a young girl in a make-believe classroom in her garage. For the last six years, she has been continuing her dream of teaching at Flagler Palm Coast High School, where she has taught intensive reading, English, and for the last five years has held the reading coach position.She is also the head softball coach.
Suzanne Haibon
Indian Trails Middle School
For the last six years, Suzanne Haibon has been working at Indian Trails Middle School as an exceptional student education teacher.
Haibon is actively involved with the Special Olympics of Flagler County and also volunteers for the Buddy Walk as the school’s team captain.
“I am continually inspired by the determination and accomplishments of the students that I teach,” she said.
Christine Brink
Matanzas High School
Christine Brink settled in Palm Coast in 1997 and began teaching at Flagler Palm Coast High School in 2004. Brink transferred to Matanzas High School when it opened in 2005. She teaches anatomy and physiology and biology and coaches the MHS Science Olympiad team.
“For me, being a teacher is more than just standing in front of a room giving a lecture or demonstration,” Brink said. “It is about being someone the students can trust to be fair and honest with them.”
Teresa Shipp
Old Kings Elementary
Teresa Shipp has been a guidance counselor since 2005 at Old Kings Elementary School, where she implements the positive behavior support program.
“My goal as a counselor is to always do what is best for our students, and to learn as many names as I can,” Shipp said.
Michael Snider
Pathways Academy
Michael Snider wears many hats at Pathways Academy, including dean, registrar, counselor and most recently exceptional student education resource teacher.
Before moving to Palm Coast, Snider taught troubled teens in West Palm Beach. He taught at Buddy Taylor before Pathways.
Jennifer Colindres
Rymfire Elementary School
Jennifer Colindres teaches sixth grade.
“Teaching is an art form,” she said. “Making learning interesting is a goal that I strive for daily. I believe learning is an active process in which engaged students will thrive.”
Valerie Sanson
Wadsworth Elementary School
Valerie Sanson has worked in elementary education for 23 years, and currently teaches health at Wadsworth Elementary.
She volunteers with the Good News Club after school program, Flagler Beach Environmental Preservation Council, Gamble Rogers Memorial State Park, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Mu Alpha Theta, Florida’s Jay Watch, Whispering Meadows Ranch, Kiwanis K-Kids and Save Flagler’s Beach.
EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR
Barbara Korn
Adult and Community Education
Barbara Korn works at the Early Learning Center at Bunnell Elementary as a voluntary pre-kindergarten teacher.
“(I) have fallen in love with early childhood education,” Korn said.
Denise Winters
Belle Terre Elementary School
Faye Dolce
Buddy Taylor Middle School
Faye Dolce has worked at Buddy Taylor for the last six years, as a paraprofessional.
“When all is said and done, at the end of the day I love my job and the people I work with,” Dolce said.
Lora Petraglia
Bunnell Elementary School
Lora Petraglia started at Bunnell as a paraprofessional, then as a secretary. She now works as the front office receptionist.
Dawn Curry
County Office
In 2001, Dawn Curry became the receptionist at Old Kings Elementary. Two years later she transferred to the Human Resources Department as a personnel specialist, where she is known as the “queen of leave.”
“In the Human Resources Department we are the first impression to all our new employees,” Curry said. “We get to know not only the new employees, but all employees.”
Maria Fernandes
Custodial
Sharon Roberts
Food Service
Sharon Roberts started working in the food service department at Flagler Palm Coast in 1987. After five years, Roberts left to join the food team at the hospital, while her husband opened a business in Bunnell, Mr. Hot Dog and More.
In 1995, they sold the hot dog stand, and Roberts returned to FPC. She is known to wear different hats for each and every holiday and any special event. Her favorite extra curricular activity is dressing up for homecoming week and riding through the cafeteria on a motorcycle and throwing candy to the kids.
Kathalene Picano
Flagler Palm Coast High School
Kathalene Picano has been a member of the Bulldog family for five years, where she works as administrative assistant for the Athletics and Activities Department.
Linda Ricci
Indian Trails Middle School
Linda Ricci started her work at Flagler Schools in the food service department before transferring to a paraprofessional position, and has worked as the guidance office clerk at Indian Trials for four years.
“I never thought I would say that about any job, but my co-workers and students make it a pleasure to come to work every day,” Ricci said.
Maryann Mlinac
Matanzas High School
Before moving to Palm Coast and working for Flagler Schools, Maryann Mlinac worked for the Federal Aviation Administration, Navy Seal Team and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
When starting with Flagler Schools Mlinac worked as a computer proctor at Matanzas High School, where she also filled in as a sign language interpreter. She is now the secretary for the dean’s office.
Joyce Beamer
Old Kings Elementary School
Joyce Beamer has worked as a one-on-one paraprofessional in the kindergarten-through-second-grade self-contained class, at Old Kings for eight years.
“I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with some of the kindest, sweetest, loving young children in our community,” Beamer said. “Their unconditional love and sweetness makes me smile every day.”
Clarice Dias
Pathways Academy
Clarice Dias works at the secretary at Pathways.
“I enjoy helping the kids and their parents,” Dias said. “I was brought up in a household where English was the second language, so I know how it feels to have parents that don’t fully understand.”
Doug Gesek
Plant Services
Violet Ruffalo
Rymfire Elementary
Violet Ruffalo has worked for several school districts over the last 20 years. She joined the Rymfire Elementary School team as an attendance clerk in 2006.
“I am proud of my accomplishment, but know that it truly takes a team to accomplish our duties and responsibilities to our students,” Ruffalo said.
Mike Pinto
Technology
Miguel DeCastro
Transportation
Cindy Cashman
Wadsworth Elementary School
Cindy Cashman said her first love is Wadsworth Elementary. She has worked at Indian Trails, then Belle Terre, but is now the executive secretary at Wadsworth, where both her daughters attended school.
“This is my 17th year with Flagler County Schools,” Cashman said. “And every day, I learn and grow right along with the students.”
