Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) announced its top teacher, principal, assistant principal and school-related/District employee during the 2019 Caliber Awards Ceremony at the Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, February 21, 2019. The annual ceremony recognizes and honors the dedication and hard work of the District’s outstanding educators, leaders and staff.
The event was attended by more than 1,300 guests to honor the nearly 700 talented nominees and 16 extraordinary finalists vying for their respective coveted titles.
Congratulations to the 2019 Caliber Awards winners! And the winners are…
*Teacher of the Year: Kristin Murphy, Nova Middle School
“Be respectful and never lie are the only rules in my classroom. Character development is what matters most when it comes to educating the next generation,” said Kristin Murphy, who teaches world history and pre-law at Nova Middle School. “To always do the right thing is, perhaps, one of the most important lessons we can teach our students.” An educator for more than 20 years, Murphy believes that a good teacher adjusts his or her teaching style to meet the needs and strengths of each student. She never accepts anything less than a student’s true potential and encourages her students to do the same. When she is not in the classroom, Murphy is a CrossFit competitor and a dragon boat racer, who spends hours preparing for competition.
*Principal of the Year: Philip Bullock, Walker Elementary School
“We can never lose sight of the fact that every student is unique with very different academic and social needs. Therefore, instruction must be adjusted to meet these needs,” says Philip Bullock, who is in his fourth year as principal of Walker Elementary School. A BCPS educator for more than 30 years and a father of five children, Bullock has firsthand knowledge of what students need to achieve success. “It has been my experience that for students to learn at their maximum potential, we must truly know what motivates them. We cannot only teach the curriculum, but we must also teach the child and meet them where they are, not where we want them to be.”
*Assistant Principal of the Year: Erin Brown, Hollywood Hills High School
“What matters most when educating our students, is teaching our students morals, perseverance and a strong work ethic,” says Erin Brown, assistant principal at Hollywood Hills High School. An educator for more than 15 years, Brown goes to work each day with the purpose of providing a safe, engaging and caring learning environment with numerous opportunities to develop students’ talents and interests. “Throughout my career, I have learned that modeling the behavior you wish our students to exhibit, as well as establishing a caring relationship, will assist students in meeting the expectations set for them.” As an educational leader, Brown believes it is her duty to produce productive ethical members of society.
*School-Related/District Employee of the Year: Brittany Poitier, Broadview Elementary School
“Once I can ensure a student’s social, emotional, environmental and nutritional needs are met, I see that student blossom in ways never seen before,” says Brittany Poitier, who is the community liaison at Broadview Elementary School. Poitier believes that guiding, supporting and showing love to her students prepares them for leadership roles. She focuses on the whole student and takes the time to address the root of any issue, which often includes providing support and resources to help families. A spokesperson for autism awareness and drag racer, Poitier is fully equipped to drive students to achieve their goals.
Special thanks to Caliber Awards presenting sponsor BrightStar Credit Union and to the following supporting sponsors: platinum sponsors Aetna, Bank of America and Nova Southeastern University – Abraham S. Fischler School of Education; gold sponsor Memorial Healthcare System – Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital; silver sponsors After School Programs, Inc. (ASP), Broward Principals and Assistants’ Association (BPAA), LEGOLAND Florida Resort and Sunshine Child Programs; and bronze sponsors Grand Canyon University and Herff Jones.
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