Broward County Announces Teacher of the Year Finalists and Their Impact

Honoring Excellence in Education

• 🏆 This week, Broward County will announce its Teacher of the Year from a group of five finalists.
• 🌟 The finalists represent diverse teaching roles, working with students of all ages and needs across the district.

Denise Moore: Building Resilient Leaders

• 💡 Denise Moore, a literacy coach and classroom support specialist, aims to help every child grow in a safe, supportive space.
• 🌱 She believes teaching means building leaders for today and the future, a passion she's held since childhood.
• 👏 Moore uses positive reinforcement to encourage her students, fostering a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Maybel Cologne: Advocating for Underserved Students

• 💖 Maybel Cologne, an exceptional student education support facilitator, dedicates her days to students needing extra support.
• 🗣️ She emphasizes the importance of advocating for students and their families, particularly those who are underrepresented.
• ✨ Cologne, with over 20 years of experience, believes these students have the greatest potential and she absolutely adores them.

Dr. Simma Salala: Inspiring Confidence in Science

• 🔬 Dr. Simma Salala, a science department head, tackles the challenge of student confidence in science with creative and hands-on lessons.
• 🚀 Her goal is to ease students' stress and make learning a process that changes lives, impacting students as they grow into confident adults.
• 🌟 She is committed to being part of their journey and seeing them develop into valuable citizens.

Alilona Tinorino Allen: Engaging First Graders

• 🍎 Alilona Tinorino Allen captivates her first graders at Pasadena Lakes Elementary with her teaching, ensuring she has everyone's attention.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For 18 years, her focus has been on the children, considering her classroom a second home and family.
• 📚 She dedicates significant time to planning for the next day, ensuring continued engagement and learning.

Fatima DeLeon: Hands-On Science Education

• 🧬 Fatima DeLeon, a science teacher at Rickards Middle School, brings hands-on activities and labs into her temporary classroom.
• 🍬 Examples include building DNA out of candy and cell cycles out of gummy worms to provide an experiential learning environment.
• 🛠️ Despite ongoing construction, she ensures students receive a valuable science education experience comparable to schools with dedicated labs.