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Miracle maker
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uidance counselor Joan Paula has worked as at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School for over 16 years, but the 2018-2019 school year will be her last year working at MSD. Paula entered the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) five years ago in 2015. The DROP program, once entered, provides an educator five years of paid work before they must retire. “I’ve never taught students, but I’ve been a guidance counselor for 25 years,” Paula said. “I first started out working at
a middle school, and after about maybe 15 years at a middle school, I moved over into high school.” Some of Paula’s favorite memories from MSD are when she is able to watch her “miracle” students grow and progress through hardships in both their individuality and education throughout her years with them. “I have some students that I call my ‘miracle kids,’ in a sense, that have come a long way, I’ve seen the progress and I’ve enjoyed working with the same set of
Guidance counselor Joan Paula retires after 16 years at MSD students from ninth to eleventh grade,” Paula said. “It was even a good feeling today to see some of the same students that I assisted from ninth grade now become seniors as they walked across the stage at the cord ceremony.” When Paula retires, she plans on having a period of rest and relaxation immediately after her retirement. Following that, she would like to continue to have interactions with students, and look into becoming a college adviser. Story and photo by Jason Leavy
The show must go on
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and director Alexander Kaminsky has taught for 30 years, four of which have been spent at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He has decided to accept an offer as the director of band at the Vandercook College of Music in Chicago. “My focus would be to train the next generation of band directors, which I feel at this point in my career, it’s time for me to give back to the profession,” Kaminsky said.
Kaminsky’s career as band director at MSD includes a number of achievements, including two 5A state championships back to back, and three concert bands and two jazz bands, who have achieved the highest ratings in the state. Some of his favorite memories at MSD include the wind symphony’s midwest clinic performance and the moment concert band achieved the honor of straight superiors at the state music performance assessment. “Another one [memory] was at the
Psyched out
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P Psychology instructor Lisa Chauvin is retiring after teaching 35 years in Broward County, 27 of which have been at Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Chauvin graduated from Louisiana State University. Besides teaching, she participates in a number of school activities some of which have become fond memories for her. “Favorite memories from Douglas are the various Pig Bowls, I chaperoned Grad Bash, and I used to drive the activity bus,” Chauvin said.
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16 Feature • Staff Leaving MSD
first of the 5A championships when they announced second place and it wasn’t us. We knew we won that 5A state championship for the first time,” Kaminsky said. In light of the world we live in, Kaminsky emphasizes the importance of finding a passion that helps conceal the negative. For Kaminsky, his passion is making music to the highest possible level of excellence and always doing his best. Story by Rishita Malakapalli; photo by Nyan Clarke
AP Psychology teacher Lisa Chauvin retires from MSD after 35 years as a teacher in Broward County
Chauvin’s enthusiasm for psychology is reflected in her lessons which many students remember being informative yet engaging. While there was plenty of notetaking, there were also many instances in which she would play movies or conduct an experiment to help explain a topic. “AP Psychology taught me a lot about why humans behave the way we do, and I feel because of Ms. Chauvin’s unique teaching style, I will remember the topics we discussed for years to come,” senior Pinaki Upadhyay said.
soldiering on gt. John Navarra taught the JROTC program at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School for over 12 years. Recently, Navarra announced that 2019 will be his last year teaching at the school. In 2015, Navarra entered a government program known as DROP, the Deferred Retirement Option Program. Once entered, an educator will be paid for five years before they are compelled to retire.
Band director Alexander Kaminsky leaves MSD
Chauvin is retiring this year because her five years as a part of the DROP program have come to an end. “I have had many, many thousands of wonderful students during my career and I am ready to have new adventures in life,” Chauvin said. Chauvin’s long commitment to teaching, in addition to her passion for psychology and her participation in a number of school events has left a lasting impression on the MSD community. Story by Rishita Malakapalli; photo by Joyce Han
JROTC teacher Sgt. John Navarra retires from MSD after 12 years
“Your retirement pay goes into an account that draws interest, but you continue to work and receive your regular pay,” Navarra said. Navarra takes great pride in helping prepare his students for the real world. “Teaching Junior ROTC is my favorite memory of all employment I’ve ever had,” Navarra said. “I enjoy watching kids come in from eighth grade into ninth grade,
where they barely know what high school is, yet in four years, they’ve matured and are ready to go to college.” After he retires, Navarra plans on fixing, cleaning and doing chores around his house, along with scuba diving more regularly. He also hopes to spend more time with his grandchildren. Story by Jason Leavy; photo by Nadia Murillo