Brandon/Winthrop
29 C E L E B R A T I N G
February 2020 Volume 15, Issue 2 Ph: 657-2418 1 8
Y E A R S
O F
P U B L I S H I N G
Brooker Elementary’s Miranda Harwood Wins Hillsborough Teacher Of The Year
By Amy Schechter
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The evening the When asked about Hillsborough Education what it felt like to be Foundation announced recognized for her her name as the overall efforts, the 14-year vetwinner of the School eran gushed about the District of Hillsborough home she’s found at County’s Excellence in Brooker Elementary, Education Teacher of whose staff nominated the Year award is still a her for the award: “I bit surreal for Miranda think the thing that Harwood. Speaking makes it the most spewith Harwood, it’s easy cial is the people who to see how, from nearly are with you every Brooker Elementary School’s 300 nominees, the day. We work with so Miranda Harwood was recently fourth grade math and many great teachers. named Hillsborough County’s Teacher of the Year. science teacher from There are six teachers Brooker Elementary was the clear choice. who have been at Brooker their entire “She is literally always there for you. career. They love it. They are my role No matter the time, what it is—be it fracmodels. For it to be my first year there tions or having a bad day—she will stop and them already see that in me was everything to make you feel like the most amazing.” In fact, she makes the daily important kid,” said Dylan Moore, a stucommute from Lakeland because it’s dent lucky enough to be in her class this where she knows she needs to be. year. In fact, Harwood was the first to call Harwood said, “If I could move my nieces to check in on Moore after a cheerleading and nephews to that area, I would. At accident briefly hospitalized her on Super Brooker, it really is a positive place to Bowl Sunday nonetheless. It’s just what work and a positive place for kids.” Harwood does. She goes above and When asked what’s next, Harwood beyond to care for and encourage her couldn’t see herself doing anything else. students. After briefly flirting with a pre-med major, We talked well after the school day Harwood followed what her heart had had ended because Harwood routinely known from the time she was 5 or 6 gives up her lunch and stays after school years old. She earned her bachelor’s in tutoring kids. Her Monday after-school elementary education and her master’s in Math Clubs are dedicated to high-perreading education from the University of forming students wishing to push themSouth Florida. She wants everyone to selves a bit further, but she dedicates her know the true reward found in teaching. “I Lunch Bunch and Wednesday/Thursday wish people would come into the classtutoring sessions to help struggling sturoom for just one day, for just one hour,” dents with their math skills. It’s rewarding she said. Her classroom is definitely a for her to see the change in her students, place where you will find magic happen many of which “come in with some preevery day. conceived notion of ‘I hate math’ and Brooker Elementary is located at 812 switch to loving it and loving school in Dewold Rd. in Brandon and can be general.” reached at 744-8184.
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Mary Rossano, 100-Years-Old Spreads Joy With Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwiches Brandon resident Mary Rossano knows that age is only a number and helping others has no age limit. In March, Rossano will mark a milestone, her 100th birthday, and she remains active by volunteering and keeping busy focusing on family and friends and the difference she is making in the community. Her friend and caretaker through Members and volunteers of Seniors Helping Nativity Seniors, Debra Caputo, Catholic’s recently posted a short Peanut Butter and Jelly video on Facebook of Ministry: Pam Rossano making Fattore, Debra peanut butter and jelly Caputo, Mary Rossano and sandwiches for Nativity Rita Catholic Church. Since Lichtenwalter. then, the response and outpouring of gratitude from others has been remarkable. “A few weeks ago, we had been talking about what her goals are for 2020,” said Caputo, “and Mary said that she wanted to be more involved in her church—Nativity Catholic.” During the conversation, Rossano and Caputo realized that being part of Nativity’s Peanut Butter and Jelly Ministry was a perfect fit. Now, Rossano makes sandwiches from her home and a member of the church picks them up and takes them to one of the ten outreach food banks in Hillsborough County. Nativity Church distributes more than 7,000 sandwiches a month and has donated 500,000 sandwiches over the last 14 years. “I love helping my church and I love helping people who are hungry,” said Rossano, “and it gives me something different to do.” Rossano’s goal is to make 120 sandwiches each month. Caputo will be buying three loaves of bread weekly to ensure that nothing is wasted and that the bread will be fresh each week. In
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order to help Rossano reach her goal, Caputo reached out to the community via Facebook for donations of peanut butter, squeeze bottles of grape jelly, ziplock baggies and white labels to adhere to the bags. “The labels are so that Mary can send uplifting messages on her sandwiches,” said Caputo. “So, people will know they are valued and the sandwiches were made with love.” The labels say things like, “You are loved” and “God is love.” “This is a win, win, win for everyone,” said Caputo. “Mary is able to contribute to her church by volunteering, the church is reaching out to the community and the hungry are being fed.” If anyone would like to donate to support Rossano in her efforts to make sandwiches for the ministry, please reach out to Debra Caputo at 215-317-6442.
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