Amy Parsons has a message for her fellow teachers with frenetic schedules: Go into your classrooms and ignore those messy desks, stacks of ungraded papers and 50-plus unread emails.

“Just stop, and take a breath, and look inside yourself. You’re what matters. You have the ability to make an impact. You have the magic beans to plant the joy and love of learning inside a child’s mind,” Parsons said during her Teacher of the Year Award acceptance speech.

“You can touch their hearts with your words and impact their lives forever. What really matters is you: your heart, your compassion, your passion,” Parsons said.

Be real. Be truthful. Be there for them while you have them. And don’t forget to make good choices,” she said.

Parsons, a sixth-grade teacher at Tropical Elementary on Merritt Island, said she was “beyond humbled and honored” to take Teacher of the Year honors during the ABC Awards program Wednesday night at the King Center for the Performing Arts.

The Brevard Schools Foundation hosted the fourth annual event. The other Teacher of the Year finalists were:

  • Shelley Ruiz, Cambridge Elementary Magnet
  • Vanessa Skipper, Cocoa High
  • Michael Coppola, Astronaut High
  • Rebecca Carlson-Burke, Christa McAuliffe Elementary
  • Cindy Washington, Stone Magnet Middle

Parsons has been with Brevard Public Schools for 11 years, and she serves as a peer coach for other teachers. She teaches language arts, reading and social studies.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Central Florida.

Michael Gillard, MILA Elementary head custodian, also received a standing ovation after he was named Employee of the Year. He mentors students in recycling, gardening and science fair programs.

“Whatever position we hold in the district — whether administration, teaching, custodian — it is all for the benefit of the kids,” Gillard said.

Employee of the Year finalists were Shelly Acker, a South Area Transportation secretary; Robyn Emison, a Palm Bay Magnet High technology associate; Jessica Mosca, accounting services payroll manager; Susan Owens, a Manatee Elementary school bookkeeper; and Lisa Strickland, an Oak Park Elementary instructional assistant.

Saturn Elementary Principal Michael Miller and Brevard Virtual School Assistant Principal Heather Price were each honored as Administrator of the Year.

Volunteer of the Year Awards went to Deanna Dickman at Creel Elementary, Theresa Paige at Christa McAuliffe Elementary, and Lee Mace at Cocoa High.

Foundation Awards of Distinction went to the National Space Club Florida Committee, BB&T, Jane Davidson, the Galesi Family Foundation, Community Credit Union and Ben Buchanan.

Students supplied musical entertainment from Viera High, Quest Elementary, Allen Elementary, Golfview Elementary, Melbourne High and Tropical Elementary.

Source: Florida Today