April 2022 | Vol. 48, Issue 9
An Orange County Public Schools employee publication
FOR THE LOVE OF CHILDREN AROUND OCPS pg. 8 RETIREMENT CORNER
pg. 10
pg. 13
Feature
EDITORS Shayla Cannady Alayna G. Riggins DESIGN & LAYOUT StudioJones Design ADVERTISING Adrienne Noel CONTRIBUTORS Sandra Carr Kimberly Eisenbise Beth Palmer To submit your story ideas, email orangepeal@ocps.net.
10
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY This June, the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games will take place here in Central Florida featuring competitions in 19 sports. The Games Local Organizing Committee needs more than 10,000 volunteers to fill more than 24,000 available shifts, including pre-game preparations beginning as early as May. Employees are encouraged to register for this opportunity to give back and get involved in something meaningful. To register as a volunteer, visit www.2022specialolympicsusagames. org. Once your registration is complete, more details will be provided.
The Orange Peal is a districtwide publication for and about the employees of Orange County Public Schools.
5
The School Board of Orange County, Florida, does not discriminate in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs and activities, on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other reason prohibited by law. The following individuals at the Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center, 445 W. Amelia Street, Orlando, Florida 32801, attend to compliance matters: Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer & Title IX Coordinator: Keshara Cowans; ADA Coordinator: Jay Cardinali; Section 504 Coordinator: Tajuana Lee-Wenze. (407.317.3200) ©2022
2
|
Orange Peal
7
TABLE OF CONTENTS 8 5
You’re The Best
7
District Dispatches
8
Around OCPS
10
For the Love of Children
13
Retirement Corner
16
Benefits Bulletin
13
Orange Peal
|
3
You’re The Best Anthony Jones, Dr. Phillips’ Girls Basketball coach, was named Florida High School Athletic Association’s 7A-District 11 Coach of the Year. Jones led the Lady Panthers to the state championship, which they won.
Joycelyn Henson, senior administrator in the Business Opportunity Office with Procurement Services, was recognized by Onyx Magazine as one of its “Women on the Move” in March. The magazine honors Florida’s most influential Black women in the business; education; government; media; and nonprofit sectors.
Rufus Redding, Jones High orchestra director, received the Music Education Service Award for 25+ years of music teaching at the Florida Music Association’s Professional Development Conference.
Photo Courtesy of Orlando Sentinel
Horizon West Middle School basketball team, coached by ESOL Compliance Specialist Chad Ryan, won the 2022 OCPS Boys Middle School Basketball Championship.
2368
The Orange County School Counseling Association honored the following employees at its February Student Services Recognition Ceremony: • Elementary School Counselor of the Year – Sonia Velarde, Eagle Creek Elementary • Middle School Counselor of the Year – Chloe Farrell, Horizon West Middle • High School Counselor of the Year – Heather Zoller, Horizon High • Post-Secondary Counselor of the Year – Elisa Mora, Winter Park High • Student Services Support Person of the Year – Deputy Cedric Broomfield, Shenandoah Elementary • School Social Worker of the Year – Jennifer Frye • School Psychologists of the Year – Kristyn DiCostanzo • Elementary Administrator of the Year (K-5) – Kari Darr, principal, Rock Springs Elementary • Middle School Administrator of the Year (6-8) – Kimberly Beckler, principal, Howard Middle • High School Administrator of the Year (9-12) – Betsy Theis, Ed.D., principal, Hospital Homebound) • Advocate of the Year – Helen Philpot, Ed.D., Cypress Creek High
Chloe Farrell
Elisa Mora
Sonia Velarde
Heather Zoller
Orange Peal
|
5
District Dispatches From left: District 3 School Board Member Linda Kobert; Media Specialist Kelli Gensler; Principal Marisol Mendez; Reading Specialist Jennifer Rabel; Social Studies Teacher Alecia Bryant; and School Board Chair Teresa Jacobs show they are “Stallion Strong.”
Meadow Woods Middle has been recognized with the Leader in Me Lighthouse Certification by FranklinCovey. Leader in Me schools provide learning and leadership development to its administrators and staff and students with leadership instruction. The program positively influences behaviors, which helps schools with addressing bullying, social-emotional learning and mental health. Meadow Woods is one of only five Florida middle schools with this certification. Orange County Public Schools will induct the fourth class into the OCPS Hall of Fame for their notable contributions to the district: • Alumnus Kenard Lang (Evans High, 1993) • Alumnus Belvin Perry, Jr. (Jones High, 1968) • Alumnus Gabriel Preisser (West Orange High, 2002) • Former OCPS Educator Marge LaBarge • Dr. Phillips Charities Board Chair James W. Ferber The in-person ceremony will be held Saturday, April 23 at 6 p.m., at Rosen Shingle Creek. Event proceeds will provide support for district and school programs that mobilize caring and committed adult advocates for our students.
High school seniors who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid qualify for a Pell Grant, one of the largest forms of federal aid available to low-income students. As Florida ranks No. 32 in the country for FAFSA completion, the Florida College Access Network started the Florida FAFSA Challenge in 2015 to encourage all Florida schools and districts to increase FAFSA completion by 5 percentage points over the previous year. Congratulations to the following schools that are 2021-22 FAFSA Champion Schools: • Acceleration East High • Oak Ridge High
2425
Nourish to Flourish The OCPS Mental Health Commission continues to share Nourish to Flourish gifts with randomly selected staff members to encourage them to pay attention to our physical; emotional; behavioral; cognitive; interpersonal; spiritual; and professional needs. Congratulations to the following recent recipients of a $25 gift card: • Michelle Martin, teacher for ESE Sally Ride Elementary • Carla Ingeme, First Grade teacher, Metrowest Elementary • Gloria Garcia, Second Grade teacher, Hiawassee Elementary
Left: Carla Ingeme
Michelle Martin
Orange Peal
|
7
To support Instructional Coach Michelle Hines, who has cancer, Blankner School is having a “Wear Green Day” each month.
Members of Orange Technical College – East Campus show their support and don the colors for Ukraine.
Windermere Elementary celebrated Art Teacher Tracy Gore during Visual Art Appreciation Month in March.
8
|
Orange Peal
It was all smiles for breakfast for Food & Nutritional Services team members during National School Breakfast Week.
Team members in the mighty High Schools Office serve over 60,000 students attending our 22 traditional high schools.
To honor Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to go into space, Cheney Elementary’s third-grade team engaged students in learning about all things space, during its monthly STREAM day.
The pandemic has taught the Orange Technical College – Avalon Campus team many things about what it means to show up and provide students with a reliable, relevant, safe and engaging learning environment.
During its March 8 meeting, the School Board recognized the East River High Astronaut Club for winning the Patch Design competition during the 10th Annual Student Astronaut Challenge at the Kennedy Space Center in February.
2527
Lake Nona High sponsors of the African American Culture Club; African American Youth Minority Club; The West Indian Cultural Society; Dance Club; and Theater department came together to lead their students to create a phenomenal Black History Showcase.
Positive Pathways Transition Center Principal Francis Pons and staff celebrated Black History Month with decorations and a staff luncheon.
Orange Peal
|
9
For the
Members of Barracuda Buddies (standing) help their schoolmates in Ms. Metz’s class.
O
n a recent Monday morning before lunch, students in Corin Metz’s class learned about amphibians in an ELA group lesson, started to make a rain cloud as part of an art project and learned that it’s not okay to have a tantrum as part of a social skills lesson. Metz’s six students all have a form of autism and other developmental disabilities. According to the advocacy group Autism Speaks, 1 in 44 children have Autism Spectrum Disorder (autism, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PPD-NOS) and Asperger’s syndrome). It is the fastest-growing brain developmental disorder in the United States, with children exhibiting social, behavior and communication challenges. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of autism manifest in early childhood and usually last throughout one’s life, as there is no cure. Here in Orange County Public Schools, students with autism and their teachers are supported through the Exceptional Student Education department. In working to ensure every student has a promising and successful future, students can participate in blended classes where they are expected to access, participate and make progress in the standards2625
10
|
Orange Peal
of Children based general education curriculum. Students with autism who need more carfeul attention also can attend an intensive school (see list on page 12) in their learning community area. Teachers like Metz make every effort to educate students with autism in their home school, alongside their peers without disabilities to build tolerance and acceptance. She developed Barracuda Buddies, a Thornebrooke Elementary service program where her students are paired with general education students once a week to perform classroom activities. “I wanted my self-contained students to have a more direct and meaningful structure to build relationships with their peers and to experience what other children experience,” said Metz, who has been an ESE K-2 teacher at Thornebrooke for 15 years and also is a 2022 OCPS Teacher of the Year finalist. “Buddies come into the classroom to do fun things like art projects, play on the playground or play board games. It has allowed them to interact socially with their buddies in a safe and more authentic environment. These friendships spill over into day-to-day school life. … Not only have my students benefited from Barracuda Buddies, but the peers that participate as a buddy with my students have grown themselves.”
“Early intervention is key. The earlier that we can target their needs and fill those gaps, the higher the chance of success longevity wise,” she said. “Because if they need speech, if they need behavior therapy, if they need occupational therapy, the sooner we can get them the services, the higher the likelihood of them coming out [of ESE classes into the general population].”
To help support teachers in classrooms with students with autism, the ESE department has several instructional coaches, behavior analysts and behavior coaches who work to support students with autism and other disabilities.
Rock Springs Elementary is one of 13 intensive schools around the district that serve students with autism.
On the west side of the county, Rock Springs Elementary has dedicated autism units for approximately 60 students, according to school assistant principal Karen Hall. Autistic Teacher Acta Jimenez has an intensive, self-contained class with three students with varying cognitive abilities whom she and paraprofessional Whitney McIntire work with. “Autistic children are very highly sensitive to noises, to change… . That’s a big thing, their oversensitivity, over stimulation,” said Jimenez, who has been teaching children with autism for more than two decades. “It’s different for everyone. There’s not one child [who is] the same, that you can do the same [thing] with. We deal with one behavior one way but deal another way with another student. You can’t read a book and assume that that’s gonna work, because it doesn’t.” Despite the burnout at times, teachers like Jimenez love the students and families they work with. “You either love it or you don’t, cause it’s not about the money,” said Jimenez, who also adopted three children, one who has autism. At the school, Varying Exceptionalities Teacher Apryl Cooke sees another 46 students with autism who are integrated into grades 3-5 general education. Of them, she works with 42 every day; the other four she consults with monthly for their academic goals.
Top: From left: Paraprofessional Whitney McIntire assists Teacher Acta Jimenez with three students in an intensive classroom. Bottom: From left: Teachers Acta Jimenez and Apryl Cooke lovingly serve students with autism at Rock Springs Elementary.
Orange Peal
|
11
assigned to each grade level, such as coloring autism ribbons to mailing letters to students in schools with autism units, she tries to promote support and inclusiveness among her school’s general education population. Walls credits her increased awareness to working with a student at Ocoee Elementary more than 10 years ago.
From left: Brittany Mills and Caitlin Beilke like to tag team when they go into classrooms to assess needs.
Instructional Coaches Caitlin Beilke and Brittany Mills provide professional development support for all autism teachers throughout the district. At the beginning of the school year they conducted a survey to let principals know they were available to help teachers with self-paced professional development courses with evidence-based strategies and an autism toolkit on Canvas (search autism).
“At the time, I really didn’t even know what autism was. So I read up on it, asked around and did my best to prepare myself and my [general education] students. …,” she said. “That first student touched my heart in a way that I couldn’t explain. From that point forward, I made it my mission to be an advocate for students with autism, as well as educate my peers in the profession about the importance of acceptance!”
“A lot of our teachers didn’t know we had those resources… . I’ve had so many teachers come back to us saying, ‘This was just exactly what I needed, and it allowed me to look with a different lens of how to help a child with autism,’” said Beilke. “Because we always say, ‘You meet one child with autism, you’ve met one child with autism.’ Because they’re all unique, and that’s why it’s a spectrum.” The two also provide trainings and try to visit schools three days per week to meet with teachers, assess teaching and classroom set-up needs in person, and provide a network of support so ESE teachers don’t feel isolated. Mills’ passion to help students with disabilities is personal. Her son “is what we would love to call pre-verbal because he just doesn’t use his voice yet. So he communicates in other forms — through pictures, through his AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) device, through sign language,” said Mills, who also is an OCPS graduate. “He’s been my push to really dive into autism, the instructional strategies, how I can help him as a parent, as an educator.”
To better connect her school community with students with autism and their families, Westpointe Elementary ESE Teacher Chrain Walls incorporates every grade into its April celebration for Autism Awareness Month. With activities 12
|
Orange Peal
To help raise awareness during Autism Awareness Month, Chrain Walls involves school staff and students in activities to promote acceptance.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Intensive Schools East Brookshire Elementary Glenridge Middle
Southwest Palm Lakes Elementary Southwest Middle
West Frangus Elementary
Innovation Office Westcreek Elementary
North Rock Springs Elementary
High Schools Office Dr. Phillips High East River High Lake Nona High Winter Park High
Southeast Andover Elementary Odyssey Middle
Retiree: David Wilson Years with OCPS: 16 OCPS Retirement Date: April 30 For his entire 16-year OCPS career, Security Officer David Wilson has warmly greeted visitors and staff at the Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center. Whether stationed at the building’s ID desk, Orange Technical College main campus desk or main garage entrance after work hours, Wilson always has a smile to welcome you. When he hangs up his Protective Services uniforms at the end of the month, Wilson will be retiring from a second role after a varied history in law enforcement. The West Virginia native joined the army in 1975 after high school and served in the military police. Work brought him to the Sunshine State, where he was a police officer in South Florida. Next he served as a federal police officer with the U.S. Department of Energy in Pinellas County, where he retired from when the facility closed in 1998.
Upcoming Workshops via WebEx • April 6, 5-6:30 p.m., New Employee Retirement Plan Choice https://orangepeal.pub/newemployeeplan • April 13, 5-6:30 p.m.,Using the FRS to Plan for Your Retirement https://orangepeal.pub/FRSplan • April 20, 5-6:30 p.m.,Nearing Retirement in the FRS https://orangepeal.pub/nearingretirement • April 27, 5-6:30 p.m.,Understanding the FRS Investment Plan https://orangepeal.pub/understandingfrs To register, visit https://ocps.catalog.instructure.com/. For more information, email retirement.services@ocps.net or call 407.317.3227.
Moving with his wife to Orlando to be closer to family, Wilson came out of retirement to work in security for the Orange County Convention Center. After being referred by a friend, he joined the school district in 2006. “I have many great memories from my time here at OCPS because of the great people I have worked with,” he said. In retirement, Wilson has some home improvement projects he wants to tackle. He also plans to put some tackle on fishing rods to catch largemouth bass as he spends time on freshwater lakes with friends. “I have been blessed to have such an interesting career,” Wilson said. “I have worked with and met some amazing people, many of whom have become lifelong friends. I am going to miss my Security and Police teammates and the daily interactions with all the employees here at the RBELC.” 15325
Orange Peal
|
13
Benefits Bulletin
On-site Mobile Mammography OCPS and Cigna have teamed up to bring the Women’s Center for Radiology’s Mobile Breast Center on location to offer screening mammograms in April (appointments at all locations start at 8 a.m.).
• Lake Nona Transportation Compound: Monday, April 25 • Pine Hills Transportation Compound: Tuesday, April 26 • Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center: Thursday, April 28 To make an appointment, call 407.841.0822, option 2. Please note: • Appointments are required and patients must meet the eligibility requirements in order to participate. Visit http://insurance.ocps.net and go to the Employee Wellness page for more information and instructions. • Walk-ins cannot be safely accommodated. • Patients must wear a mask at all times while on the mammography vehicle; no exceptions. • Only two patients are allowed on the mammography vehicle at a time (one in the screening room and one in the waiting area). • If you or any member of your household has COVID-19 symptoms, are awaiting COVID-19 test results or tested positive for COVID-19, do not attend the mobile mammography event. • Per guidance from the CDC, if you have recently been vaccinated for COVID-19, ask your health care provider how long you should wait to get a mammogram as some experts recommend waiting four-to-six weeks after getting your shot due to the possibility of swelling in the lymph nodes in the underarm. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect/other-procedures.html
Insurance Benefits Update As a result of ratification of the 2021-22 CTA and OESPA contracts, insurance benefit plan changes will be pushed to the 2022-23 plan year and the district will cover the costs associated with continuing the 2020-21 plan design for the current plan year. There are no premium increases associated with the proposed plan design changes. Watch for details of the proposed plans and annual enrollment dates in upcoming issues of the Benefits Bulletin, via email and posted on the Insurance Benefits intranet page, Enrollment Information. Annual enrollment is the only time to add benefits or change your current plans without an approved family status change.
16
|
Orange Peal
Plan Ahead for Optional Benefits Take a look at these optional benefits and be ready when annual enrollment is announced.
Life Insurance
Vision Insurance
While OCPS pays for term life insurance equal to your annual salary, with a minimum of $7,500, there are two optional life insurance plans you can purchase. • Dependent Term Life Insurance — You may purchase additional life insurance for your spouse/domestic partner in an amount up to $10,000 and for each eligible child up to $5,000, depending on your annual salary. • Group Universal Life Insurance — You may apply for additional life insurance coverage in amounts from one to five times your annual salary and also have the ability to make contributions to a cash accumulation fund. Your spouse/domestic partner may apply for coverage up to three times your annual salary with the availability of a cash accumulation fund. If you or your spouse/ domestic partner elect coverage, you may purchase a $5,000 or $10,000 policy for eligible dependent children. Evidence of insurability may be required for some elections.
The Humana Specialty Benefits Vision Plan provides benefits for eye examinations, lenses or frames through participating doctors. You can receive services from an out-of-network doctor and be reimbursed according to plan allowances.
Dental Insurance • DeltaCare Basic Dental Plan (HMO type) — This plan is designed for individuals who currently have healthy teeth and gums, and focuses on preventive dental maintenance. There are benefits for other more complex dental work is offered as well. You must use a participating general dentist to receive benefits. • DeltaCare Comprehensive Dental Plan (HMO type) – This plan offers a broader range of benefits, including some restorative dental procedures (fillings) at no charge after a $5 office visit copayment. It also offers a wide range of benefits for specialty referrals when you are referred by your participating general dentist. • Delta Dental PPO Dental Plan — With this plan, you have the freedom to select any dentist you wish. If you choose to see a participating PPO dentist, you will receive a higher level of payment for your dental work. You may decide at the time you receive services whether or not to use a participating provider.
Disability Insurance The disability plan helps you to cover your expenses if you are not able to work due to an accident or illness. You select the benefits from $200 to $7,500 that will replace your monthly income up to 66 2/3% of your salary. You also choose the waiting period so that benefits will begin after day 14, 30, 60 or 180. No health questions will be required for this year’s annual enrollment. The pre-existing limitation applies. The duration of benefits is based on your age when the disability occurs.
Flexible Spending Accounts Flexible Spending Accounts allow you to make payroll deductions on a pre-tax basis to pay for certain eligible health and/or dependent care expenses. There are two types of FSAs: • Medical – Used for health care expenses like deductibles, copayments, dental expenses, eyeglasses • Dependent Care – Used for expenses like day care, before- and after-school care programs, nanny expenses. A dependent is any person who either: (1) may be claimed as a dependent on the employee’s tax return and who is under 13 years of age or requires full-time care because of physical or mental incapacity; or (2) is the spouse of the employee and is physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself or herself The accounts are treated separately. You may participate in either or both accounts but may not transfer funds between accounts. When you enroll, you designate how much you want to put into your account for the plan year. The accounts are “use it or lose it” — that is, if you haven’t used all of the money in an FSA by the end of the plan year, you cannot carry over that money to the next year.
Orange Peal
|
17
Stretch Your Tax Savings with a Flexible Spending Account If you are eligible for health benefits, consider the following options to enroll in a Medical FSA and Dependent Care FSA (you can enroll in one or both):
Enrollment Enrollment is yearly. If you have an FSA and want to continue it for the next plan year, you MUST re-enroll during annual enrollment.
Tax benefit The money you deposit in your account(s) is automatically deducted from your gross pay prior to calculating federal and Social Security (FICA) taxes. Your account deposits are not considered current taxable income and therefore don’t appear on your W-2 form as taxable income. Since your taxable income is reduced, so are your annual taxes*.
Deductions YOU choose the annual amount(s) that will be deducted from your gross pay and transferred into your FSA. Deductions are taken over 10 months in 20 paychecks. • Medical FSA minimum contribution: $200; Maximum contribution: $2,850 • Expenses covered must be medically necessary as determined by a doctor. You may not consider premiums paid for any health insurance coverage or expenses for cosmetic surgery — these are not allowed usages of your FSA. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications require a prescription or Letter of Medical Necessity from your medical practitioner in order to be reimbursed from your Medical FSA. • Dependent Care FSA maximum contribution: $5,000 *Note: Amounts deferred under an FSA are not counted as wages when determining your Social Security benefit, so it is possible that there may be a reduction in your Social Security benefits. Also, if you do not have reimbursable expenses equal to your deposits in either FSA in the same year, you will lose the remaining funds in your account.
18
|
Orange Peal
Be on the Lookout for Diabetes Information OCPS, AdventHealth, Cigna and CVS Caremark have joined forces to bring you the Thrive-Diabetes Care Program at no added cost. Those 18 years or older who have a diagnosis of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and are covered by an OCPS Cigna health plan are eligible to join this multidisciplinary program. Participants will receive free quarterly appointments with the AdventHealth Diabetes & Endocrine Center and can possibly lower Tier 2/Preferred Brand costs for covered diabetes medicines. Packets about the voluntary ThriveDiabetes Care Program will be sent from AdventHealth. Once received, review all of the benefits and set a reminder to enroll beginning April 1. The enrollment period is limited to twice a year – April and October. Don’t miss your chance to take charge of your health. For questions regarding enrollment, contact AdventHealth at 407-303-2720.
Benefits Bulletin is designed to keep OCPS employees and their families informed about available benefit programs. This information is not intended to replace professional health care. See your health care professional for information relevant to your medical history.
From right: Neely Moss is motivated to work out at Crunch Lake Nona with her personal trainer.
April Healthy Hero Neely Moss, Kindergarten teacher from Lake Gem Elementary, has long been a believer in health and fitness. As a child, she took ballet classes. Now that she does not dance as much, she says that she’s been exploring other avenues of fitness and really enjoys weight training and weekly yoga. Brandon Hodges, Physical Education teacher at Lake Gem Elementary, nominated Moss and discussed the value of different yoga styles. “I believe this simple conversation with Moss has saved many teachers from dealing with [the stress of work],” he said. Moss credits the OCPS Fitness Challenge as a major motivating factor in sharing her journey with coworkers. “We have a community of people who share fitness as a common interest,” she said. “Regardless of individual motivations, we can support each other by sharing tips and tricks to make the experience more meaningful.” While Moss has been a valuable source of advice for her coworkers, she does have one piece of advice to share with OCPS employees starting or continuing their health journey: “Do it for yourself and celebrate the successes!,” she said. “Whether it's sharing it on social media or treating yourself to a cheat meal, don't forget to celebrate your achievements — big or small!" Orange Peal
|
19
445 W. Amelia St., Orlando, FL 32801 | 407.317.3200 www.ocps.net
