Pathways to Success: Jeffery Aguilar

By Charlotte Hayes

We have all had a teacher who went above and beyond to make an impact in our life. For hundreds of elementary school students in Hillsborough County, that teacher was Jeffery Aguilar. For more than 30 years, Aguilar was a mover and shaker in the field of Exceptional Student Education (ESE).

Aguilar’s journey began when he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1984 in Psychology from Florida State University. He then went on to earn his master’s in 1986 from the College of Education in Counseling and Human Systems. The lessons he learned through his educational programs set him up for success. With each new stop, he was presented with new opportunities and new insights to continue improving his practice. While his roles changed throughout his career, his vision to make a difference in the lives of students has remained steadfast.

Teaching students with special needs is no small feat, but Aguilar has never been one to shy away from challenging situations. Aguilar’s commitment to teach, lead and motive students and educators in Hillsborough County is inspiring. In fact, he was recognized for his exceptional teaching skills in 2016 when he was nominated for Hillsborough County Public School’s Excellence in Action award.

Another momentous occasion took place in 2016 for Aguilar: he married Vincent Pawlowski. Both gentlemen retired in 2020 and still reside in Tampa, Florida. In 2021, Robert and Margaret Pawlowski set up the Jeffery Aguilar Endowed Internship in Special Education to honor their son-in-law’s lifelong dedication and years of hard work as an ESE teacher.

For the 2022–23 academic year, the Jeffery Aguilar Endowed Internship in Special Education was awarded to Liz Vera, a current master’s student in the Special Education program. Originally from Pennsylvania, Vera came to FSU specifically for the Special Education Program. When asked why she chose FSU, Liz said:

Liz Vera

Our College of Education has one of the best programs in the United States. Some of the benefits of the program include certificates in ESOL, ASD, and reading, semesterly practicum placements, and the five-year master’s opportunity. Not only does the program have so many benefits, but the professors are fantastic. Many of the professors here are leaders in the special education field. They encourage and support all those that enter the program.”

– Liz Vera, Jeffrey Aguilar Endowed Internship in Special Education recipient

Attending FSU would not have been possible without scholarships like the Jeffery Aguilar Scholarship. Vera wrote that this scholarship “means everything to my education and my future.”

Outside of the classroom Vera is passionate about music. She was a member of the Marching Chiefs throughout her undergraduate career and credits her experience with the Marching Chiefs as how she “found [her] family at FSU before [her] program started, and how [she] learned many of [her] leadership skills.” She has goals to earn a doctorate in curriculum development. “I love learning and I love helping others learn,” she says. “It is truly my greatest passion in life. I am grateful for all scholarship donors that allow me to grow in this passion every day at FSU.”

The Jeffery Aguilar Endowed Internship in Special Education is a fitting tribute to an individual who spent so much of his life helping others bring out the best in themselves. Even in retirement, Aguilar can continue making a difference in the lives of individuals and the field of special education.