Position: Elementary School Teacher

School: Whispering Pines Elementary School

School District: Miami Dade County Schools

City, State: Miami, FL

About the Nominee: Special Education Teacher Mrs. Lisa Clifford’s inclusion classroom is set up with a nurturing atmosphere, allowing students to play and learn in a safe environment. Her students with disabilities have a variety of diagnoses such as Autism, Learning Disabilities, speech and language delays, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Emotional Behavior Disorders. Mrs. Clifford uses a hands-on approach, allowing students to explore their environment with all senses. She has working centers such as house area, where the children dress up as career people from firemen to ballerinas, and a toy and science area, which is filled with math exploring manipulatives, puzzles, magnets, bugs, magnifying instruments and other toys. Mrs. Clifford teaches her students how to interact appropriately to get their needs met. She engages her students while sitting on the floor, allowing her to be at eye level with them. She participates in all activities with her students from finger painting to blowing bubbles, all intended to get the students to engage in social language play and decrease their tactile sensitivities. She leaves a positive lifelong attitude toward school on their young minds. Not only does she touch the lives of the students but parents are forever grateful for changing their lives as well. Mrs. Clifford loves her job and does it with pride. Her classroom is her home away from home!

Position: Kindergarten Teacher

School: Nob Hill Elementary

School District: Broward County Public Schools

City, State: Sunrise, FL

About the Nominee: Wanda Kitchens has been a dedicated kindergarten teacher for more than 30 years. She has demonstrated a love for learning and helping motivate young children to be curious and become lifelong learners. She has a tremendous understanding and patience for young children and their needs, while at the same time focusing on academics and teaching them the magic of learning to read. Each student experiences a positive learning environment through the use of song, arts and crafts, and technology. She welcomes parents and volunteers and uses them effectively to support the learning of every child, regardless of their level and emotional needs. Her performance as a team leader and a teacher who is eager to learn the very latest strategies to improve instruction are examples of her leadership and dedication to the profession and her colleagues.

Position: 3rd Grade Math Teacher

School: Miramar Elementary

School District: Broward County Schools

City, State: Miramar, FL

About the Nominee: Mrs. Della-Pietra is not only a team player, but she is also a motivational, inspirational leader. She stands in front of her students, staff, parents, and school community to lead the way to the future educational trends of success for all stake holders. She is crucial person and proponent at the school for success of the school. Mrs. Della-Pietra never waits to be asked to do something, she sees something that needs to be done and she gets right to work on the task at hand. She encourages others to join in with her so that each and every person has input on the success of the school. Thus creating buy in from all stakeholders. The students find Mrs. Della-Pietra’s teaching style creative, hands-on, and extremely interactive. They look forward to math and to see its application to real life situations. Mrs. Della-Pietra expects nothing but the best from herself, in turn she expects nothing but their best from her students.

Position: K-5th Grade Special Education Teacher

School: Jane S. Roberts K-8 Center

School District: Miami Dade County Public Schools

City, State: Miami, FL

About the Nominee: Marta Noa is passionately involved at her school as a teacher and advocate for the special education students. She has been a SPED (special education) teacher for 16 years working with students with disabilities ranging from emotional behavior disorder students to autism spectrum disorder to general education inclusion. She takes the cause of her students to heart by always bringing to the attention of the administration and teachers not only the needs of her students but also their abilities. Mrs. Noa also serves on the board of the Down Syndrome Association of Miami, a non-profit organization that hopes to promote the positive awareness of people living with Down syndrome. Marta helps organize events that promote this awareness and provide support and services to parents and individuals with Down syndrome. Mrs. Noa always has a kind word and a hug for everyone, she truly loves others and cares about their welfare by taking action.