St.Lucie Classroom Teachers Association and Classified Unit

Our Union wants to recognize those members of the SLCTA that are in the news for positive reasons. This area of the website will be dedicated to just that. If you know of a member that is worthy of recognition for something positive, we want to know about it. Please click HERE to send us information on a member doing "good".

Kelly Southall, a fourth grade teacher at Fairlawn Elementary, is the 2009-10 recipient of the Loretta Adams Award. Kelly is committed to providing an inclusive educational environment for all students. Her knowledge on learning styles, strategies and accommodations is unsurpassed. She is able to make learning connections for all students. She is a model teacher for true differentiated instruction and provides assessments in a variety of ways. She teaches concepts that provide focus and foundation and provides flexible grouping as students move across the continuum of educational needs. Mrs. Southall exemplifies the words “Every Student Every Day”.

Each year three awards are presented to teachers who utilize technology in the classroom to both enchance the curriculum in an innovative manner and to motivate student learning. Dawn Herrera, a representative from Dell Inc. attended the School Board meeting on May 12 to present a laptop computer to each of the winners. This year our union member recipients were: Jack Babcock, Jr. from Southern Oaks Middle, Claudia Martin-Vegue from St. Lucie West K-8, and Mrs. Jane Whitaker, Allapattah Flats K-8. CONGRATS!!

”Que Pasa, St. Lucie” entry into the Sunshine State School Public Relations Association (SUNSPRA) Medallions Awards for Broadcast TV Programs entered by Linda Tapia from Migrant/Title 1 Department won FIRST PLACE! Congratulations

Christine Sarao St. Lucie Elementary As a school counselor at St. Lucie Elementary School in Fort Pierce, Florida, Christine Sarao loves helping everyone at her school. The best part of my job is the direct contact with students, she says. Her interaction includes one-on-one counseling and group work. She also coordinates the school`s state testing, a time-consuming task. Sarao says the worst part of the testing administration is the time it takes away from the students. The testing involves a lot of paperwork and coordination, but she still finds the time to help her students through tough academic, social or family issues. She also works hard to ensure that families who are not fluent in English have equal access to the school`s resources. In addition to helping students, Sarao provides support for the teachers at her school in order to give them the tools they need to help their students. I spend a great deal of time consulting with teachers on interventions and strategies to increase student achievement and decrease behavior problems, she says. In order for teachers to improve their effectiveness with students, it is important that they have the appropriate support. Sarao has been at St. Lucie for three years and has worked in the school counseling field for 15 years. She is a nationally certified school counselor. When she`s not helping students, parents and teachers, Sarao performs in ballet and contemporary dance. Bridges Transitions congratulates Christine Sarao for making a difference in the lives of her students!

The NASA Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate Project awards one-year fellowships to 40 educators annually. This year, 10 of the 40 recipients were Florida educators. Congratulaitons to our own - Marc Turull of Oak Hammock K-8, who was one of the selected for this award.

The St. Lucie County Cultural Affairs Council (CAC) is pleased to announce the recipients of this year`s Lucie Awards. The Lucie Awards honor St. Lucie County residents that have been instrumental in the arts throughout their life. At the Jan. 13 Cultural Affairs Council meeting, the committee unanimously approved 4 recipients: One of which is our very own, Patrick Madden. All four recipients have played major roles in the cultural development of our community. Patrick Madden, Port St. Lucie High School drama director, is well known for bringing the appreciation of culture to his students. He has provided thousands of students and members of the community with the opportunity to participate in and appreciate the theatre. His county-wide summer theatre program allows all county students to share in his enthusiasm of the arts.

This year`s essay question addressed the environment, asking entrants, How has technology educated you on helping the environment and how or why has it changed your behavior to be more environmentally friendly? Rivers Edge Elementary received $61,000 for technology and software. Saundra H. Rohn, Gifted Resource teacher, submitted the winning entry on behalf of her school and will be awarded the Samsung Ultra Mobile PC, a handheld multi-media PC which features a 7 LCD screen and built-in keyboard. The grand prize and first prize schools will receive technology from Samsung including its award-winning and energy efficient LCD high definition televisions, laptops, multi-function products, smart phones, digital camcorders and cameras, blu-ray players, LCD computer monitors, and color printers, as well as Microsoft`s latest, award-winning software. The program`s newest partner, DIRECTV, will provide cash grants and the SCHOOL CHOICE educational television programming package*.

Rivers Edge would like to congratulate CTA Members Veronica Carter (3rd Grade) and Gail Doole (1st Grade) on receiving Wal-Marts Teacher of the Year awards. All the teachers at Rivers Edge received goody bags from Wal-Mart in recognition of our two outstanding teachers.