Orange Peal - May 2025 by Orange County Public Schools

Attracts National Attention RECOGNIZING OCPS Heroes

The Orange Peal is a publication by OCPS employees and for OCPS employees. It launched in April 1974 as a newsletter for all OCPS employees “from principals to custodians.” With a name encompassing the symbols of the orange and the school bell, the Orange Peal was intended for “the good news of this school system [to be] ‘rung out,’” - in other words, to peal.

EDITOR: Lauren Roth

DESIGNER: Kimberly Boulnois

CONTRIBUTORS: Lisa Bourne

Arianna Chunoo

Frank Weber

Samantha Weiss

ADVERTISING: Adrienne Noel

Rodney Green

Orlando Gifted Academy Shines as a Magnet School of Excellence

By Samantha Weiss

Walking into Orlando Gifted Academy is a breath of fresh air. The exterior is nothing fancy, but you don’t need that with the magic happening inside. You’ll find hallways splashed with murals, teachers with a touch of unconventional flair and a down-to-earth, friendly vibe set by Principal Sean Maguire.

And now, OGA has earned a Merit School of Excellence Award from Magnet Schools of America, securing its place among the nation’s top magnet schools. The award recognizes magnets that raise academic achievement, promote diversity, provide integrated curricula and instruction and create strong family and community partnerships.

So, what’s the secret sauce? Principal Maguire said the school, organized around gifted education, is able to focus on teacher retention and development, differentiated instruction and a commitment to research and collaboration.

The buzz around OGA is real. This year, they saw 300 applications for 144 spots, many from charter and private schools.

“We bring a little bit more flexibility and flair to meet the needs of some of our non-mainstream kiddos,” Principal Maguire shared. “We have created a safe space for neurodivergent students, [who] don’t necessarily fit into the traditional school structures, to excel.”

The school offers accelerated coursework like Algebra 2 Honors and challenging electives such as Odyssey of the Mind, FIRST Lego League Robotics, Future Business Leaders of America and Science Olympiad.

OGA’s philosophy centers on nurturing “innovative thinkers, compassionate leaders and lifelong learners.” And the proof is in the pudding – or in this case, the trophies and accolades! Student Vel Sethirayar finished in 9th place at the 2024 National Scripps Spelling Bee. And the school Odyssey of the Mind team has reached the World Finals for three years running.

Students have also earned championships in Battle of the Books, The Great History Challenge, Speech and Debate, Math Olympiad, Math Olympics, Elementary Chess, Mu Alpha Theta, and the finals in FIRST LEGO League Robotics.

OGA’s reputation extends beyond Florida. Principal Maguire said they received inquiries from a school in the Dominican Republic, and recently hosted college students from North Carolina.

“One of the student teachers found out about OGA in her research and told her professors, ‘this

is the place I’d like to see while we’re in Orlando.’ So we brought them in and just gave them the day. It was just fantastic.”

Besides academics, creating a strong sense of community is important. The more than 20 clubs include gardening, Dungeons & Dragons, Latin Dance and the Swiftie Society. The active PTSA organizes events like “Parliament in the Park,” bringing school events to the Fern Creek neighborhood.

This summer, OGA will move to Orange Technical College - East in Winter Park until a replacement is complete at their current location.

“Our students have such diverse interests and abilities. It is always enjoyable and rewarding to see them shine,” Maguire said.

OCPS Magnet Excellence

Orlando Gifted Academy is one of 41 magnet programs serving more than 7,000 students district-wide. These programs offer enriching and diverse educational choices for families. Each year, several win accolades from Magnet Schools of America:

2025

Merit School of Excellence: Orlando Gifted Academy

Merit School of Distinction: Boone High - Criminal Justice, Law and Finance Magnet; Dr. Phillips HighCenter for International Studies Magnet; Tildenville Elementary - Two-Way Dual Language Magnet; University High - International Baccalaureate Programme

2024

Merit School of Excellence: Dr. Phillips High - Visual and Performing Arts

Merit School of Distinction: Arbor Ridge 6-8 Option; Bay Meadows STEAM Career Academy; Boone High - Criminal Justice, Finance and Law Magnet; Dr. Phillips - Center for International Studies Magnet; Howard Academy of Arts; Hunter’s Creek Elementary- Two-Way Dual Language Magnet; Lakeview Middle School World Language Academy; Liberty Cambridge Middle School Academy; Orlando Gifted Academy; Roberto Clemente International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme; Tildenville Elementary Two-Way Dual Language Magnet; University High International Baccalaureate Programme

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Recognizing OCPS Heroes

See some real-life superheroes surprised with a Hero award

By Lisa Bourne

See some real-life superheroes surprised with a Hero award

I am a HERO

AlexaCzyzynski

OCPS is filled with more than 24,000 heroes. Each day, these heroes accomplish tasks and missions to ensure each student has a great day!

OCPS divisions have different ways to recognize superheroes:

For the past 8 years, Curriculum and Digital Learning has been celebrating teachers with their CDL Hero Teacher Program. “Our OCPS teachers are the true heroes of our district,” says Dr. James Russo, Senior Executive Director, Curriculum and Digital Learning. “Even when there is not a camera or someone else in the room, they go above and beyond for our students.”

Rob Bixler, Chief of Staff, began the Chief of Staff Hero Support Person Program last year. This program is designed to recognize school based classified (non-instructional) staff members who are nominated by their principal or assistant principal.

Each year school leaders are asked to share about a hero teacher and school-based classified staff member within their building. All nominated heroes are then recognized in the spring.

I am a HERO DarreylWilliams

Bixler and Russo recently visited Lake Silver Elementary School to surprise two heroes.

Teacher Alexa Czyzynski and Darreyl Williams, a member of the school’s support staff, each received a special lanyard identifying them as a Hero and a certificate with a personalized message from the individual that nominated them.

Bixler said the best part “is reading the personalized message each administrator writes recognizing their employee.” The Hero is always surprised and sometimes brought to tears listening to the kind words read from the certificate.

For example, Assistant Principal Rachel Pepper nominated Williams, noting that his “commitment to our school community extends far beyond his job description,” and that “his dedication profoundly impacts the overall morale and effectiveness of our school.”

Here are some other ways excellence is recognized within OCPS:

The Brightest Star Awards is the quarterly recognition program the Facilities Department created to honor their staff members who consistently exceed expectations in their roles. These individuals actively prioritize the well-being of students, colleagues, the community, and the district. Selection criteria for the award include improved safety measures, enhanced efficiency, and proactive initiative. All Brightest Star Award recipients are then considered for the annual Support Person of the Year award.

The Operations Division’s recognition program, WoW (Workforce of Winners), dates back 12 years. This program recognizes Operations Division employees for stellar performance on the job and in the community. Employees can be recognized for outstanding customer service, being a team player, positive attitude and professional representation of the district. Those that receive a WoW certificate are reviewed and used for the selection of the quarterly PRIDE (Praise and Recognition for Individuals Demonstrating Excellence) awards and the Annual Operations Division Employee of the Year award.

The Multilingual Services department recognizes a small group of school leaders, teachers and support staff each year during the Spirit of Excellence awards.

And every year, each school gets to nominate a Support Person of the Year and Teacher of the Year through the Stellar Awards. There are also Stellar awards for principals, assistant principals and administrators.

Priorities, Priorities

April 22 was Earth Day. It was also, and this is important, TUESDAY. Note what happened to this VPK teacher:

“I had an Earth Day logo on my smartboard. I let the scholars know it was Earth Day and that we were going to the school garden. A Pre-K scholar blurted out “Isn’t it TACO TUESDAY?” Thank goodness, tacos and saving the planet can coexist. Crisis averted.

Andrea B. Matlin, M. Ed. VPK teacher Little River Elementary

Submit your A Funny Thing Happened to orangepeal@ocps.net. If your submission is selected, you will receive an exclusive Orange Peal prize package.

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Let’s Keep Reading, OCPS!

By Lisa Bourne

The Let’s Read OCPS reading challenge ended April 30 with more than 39.4 million minutes of reading, far past the original goal of 20 million minutes. Congratulations to everyone who participated!

But don’t let the end of the challenge slow your reading.

Book lovers have many options when it comes to selecting a title or subject in May. There are many celebrations and observances, and here are just a few titles available on Sora to check out!

• Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage MonthKatie Woo Series

• Children’s Book WeekKnight Owl by Christopher Denise

• Jewish American Heritage MonthDear Mr. Dickens by Nancy Churnin

• National Foster Care MonthGirl from Nowhere by Tiffany Rosenhan

• National Pet WeekNot Norman: A Goldfish Story by Kelly Bennett

• National Armed Forces DayU.S. Armed Forces: U.S.Coast Guard by Allen Morey

If you are an instructional or administrative employee, you can access thousands of popular eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines for free with Sora! (OCPS hopes to add access for all other employees in the future).

It is easy to find the perfect book or article to read.

1 - Log into launch.ocps.net

2 - Open the Library Research Tools folder

3 - Open the Sora reading app

4 - Pick an eBook, audiobook or magazine and enjoy!

Continuing Education Team Helps District Leaders Excel

When Dr. Maria F. Vazquez first held employee town halls after becoming superintendent, she heard repeatedly that schools needed more support.

Dr. Ashlynn Ramirez, director of leadership development, is helping address that need newly assembled team of experienced former schoolbased administrators is focused on enhancing the skills of both emerging and veteran leaders across the district. The group is part of the Chief Schools Office, led by Dr. Kathryn Shuler.

Through professional learning sessions and collaborative coaching, the team focuses on areas of enrichment, facilitating more effective thought processes and enhancing collaboration between school leaders.

By Arianna Chunoo

“Everybody wants to grow in their role, their understanding, and application of skills,” says Dr. Ramirez, who was an assistant principal at Apopka High and served as principal at Union Park Elementary from 2019 to 2024. “This is about creating opportunities” to help school leaders succeed, she said.

To provide targeted direction, the team starts by asking district stakeholders: ‘How can we best support you and your teams?’

This data is used to create professional learning sessions that are offered year-round for all leaders in the district. Topics range from ‘Mastering difficult conversations with various personality types’ to ‘Analyzing student achievement data to drive decision making.’

“We are digging very deeply into the research-based work of how adults learn,” Ramirez said. “We’re passionate about making sure with every session we provide, attendees are walking away with something they can apply and put into action.”

Another facet of the Leadership Development team’s work is collaborative coaching for school leaders. An executive coach or senior administrator walks through schools with the principal or assistant principal and engages in non-evaluative side-by-side coaching. Professional development is also part of the process.

“No one understands the issues leaders face better than someone that has been in your position, ” Ramirez said. “The coaching we provide comes from a place of true understanding.”

One participant, Matthew Pritts, principal peer coach at Wedgefield School, said “the in-depth conversations and school visits encouraged thoughtful reflection and supported my growth as an educator, helping me to recognize areas of strength and opportunities for continued development.”

Ramirez said the work is rewarding. “We’re not just impacting one school, we’re supporting the whole district for years to come. That is the most beautiful opportunity.”

https://bit.ly/TopTalentProgram

Will You Be the Winner?

Email your answers for these three questions to orangepeal@ocps.net. One winner will be drawn from among the correct responses to win an Orange Peal prize package!

1. According to Dr. Ashlynn Ramirez, who best understands the issues school leaders face? __________________________

2. Educators from beyond Florida have reached out to learn from Orlando Gifted Academy. Where were they from?

3. Name two OCPS awards support personnel are eligible for:

Congratulations to the April

Best of Social Media

In each issue, the Orange Peal will recognize one top social media post on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). Want us to consider your school or department’s post? Send a link to orangepeal@ocps.net for consideration.

Arbor

Ridge K-8

Arbor Ridge K-8’s first-grade team orchestrated a hilarious April Fools’ Day prank, convincing students they’d be photographed by Google Earth’s satellite during their walk to lunch! The students’ reactions were priceless!

Audubon Park

Billboard alert! Audubon Park School’s second-graders are showcasing their art and poetry high above Orlando, collaborating with Palmer’s Garden & Goods for their POEMVILLE project. Be sure to look for their billboard on Corrine Drive!

Access and Opportunity

April Fools’ prank level: expert. The Access and Opportunity Department’s ‘Dr. Peeps’ takeover involved a giant inflatable bunny, strategic bunny print placement and a very confused (but amused!) Senior Executive Director. Well done!

Samantha Weiss

trivia winner: Yamilet Trujillo Elementary Orchestra Teacher Avalon, Castle Creek, Cypress Springs, Lawton Chiles, NorthLake Park, and Orange Center elementary schools

Submit your photos of what’s going on “Around OCPS” to orangepeal@ocps.net. Your school or department may be featured in a future issue!

Sidewalk Art Festival provides positive pathway

Student artists at Positive Pathways Transition Center were recently selected to participate in the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. The students at Positive Pathways don’t often get the opportunity to participate in local events the way other schools do. But visual arts teacher Logan Graves said their students still show up in the face of adversity to complete thoughtful, high-level art.

This was the first time PPTC was chosen for the festival, and several students won awards.

Now that’s a family business

We just had to share with you about the Waltz family, who have made OCPS and Sunrise Elementary their workplace home and a common mission. Brad and Ginger Waltz’s two daughters and son – Madison, Bailey and Blake – all attended Sunrise Elementary. Now all three former students are working within OCPS.

Thank you to the entire family for your love of OCPS and our students.

Pershing Multicultural Night

From left:

Brad Waltz teaches PE at Sunrise. Madison Waltz is a PE paraprofessional at Sunrise who is seeking an OCPS teaching position for the fall. Ginger Waltz is a curriculum resource teacher at Sunrise. Bailey Waltz is a one-on-one paraprofessional at Sunrise, seeking an OCPS teaching position for the fall. Blake Waltz is a PE teacher at Odyssey Middle.

Staff and students at Pershing School shared their cultures and learned about others at a special multicultural night event. The school was transformed into “Pershing International Airport” with fun TSA stops, and was filled with performances, student work and food from all over the world. Families shared that they learned so much and felt love from all around the world. It was a memorable celebration of cultural diversity, learning and unity while fostering understanding and acceptance of other cultures.

Counselors, Seniors Honored

The Orange County School Counselor Association (OCSCA) hosted the annual Student Services Recognition Ceremony and Breakfast at First Baptist Orlando in April. OCSCA is the professional organization for School Counselors in Orange County. The annual celebration recognizes leaders and innovators in the field of Student Services. Guests enjoyed breakfast and a performance by the Lake George Elementary Jammers. Please congratulate this year’s honorees, who were nominated by their colleagues at school. OCSCA was also proud to award three $500 scholarships to OCPS seniors at the event.

Best PHOTOS

By Frank Weber

He Shoots, He Scores!!

Fourth-grader Nick P. chose to portray Nick Anderson for the Black History Month Wax Museum at Moss Park Elementary. His research took him back to 1989 at the University of Illinois, when Nick Anderson became the Orlando Magic’s first-ever draft pick! Boy, was he surprised when #25 showed up to his school!!!

Arts Month Lunch and Listen

Students from Boone, Lake Nona and Ocoee high schools and Timber Springs Middle shared their talents as OCPS employees relaxed, listened and lunched in the courtyard of the Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center.

‘Ware’ could I find that?

The Warehousing and Distribution department offers free delivery, collection, and transportation of surplus items, textbooks, furniture, and equipment between schools. Schools can request items by emailing surplusoperations@ocps.net; requests typically take 3-5 days to fulfill. Contact the warehouse for specific items or ESE equipment needs.

It’s a gas!

Doctors visiting Orlando to attend the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia conference, in partnership with Nemours, taught Lake Nona High students medical skills like bleeding control, sonogram use, resuscitation, and intubation. Students also got to learn about Naloxone rescue, wellness, and allied health careers during sessions before the medical training.