For Immediate Release:   October 25, 2011

           

   Apollo Elementary Principal Presented with the 2011 Florida After School Alliance (FASA) Award of Excellence

VIERA, FLORIDA – Dr. Pamella O’Kell, principal of Apollo Elementary received the 2011 Award of Excellence in the Administrator category from the Florida After School Alliance. This award is presented annually to an administrator who has embraced and supported the after school program at his or her school.

FASA accepts nominations statewide for their annual Awards of Excellence, in seven different categories: Front Line; Supervisor – Single Site; Supervisor – Multi – Site; Administrator / Central Office / Agency; Advocacy; Volunteer and Public Official.

Three principals from Brevard Public elementary schools were nominated for the Administrator category by the site coordinator of his or her School Age Child Care (SACC) program. The nominees were: Dr. Pamella O’Kell of Apollo Elementary - nominated by Linda Brouette; Lynn Francisco , principal of Fairglen Elementary - nominated by Lindsey Brooker; Sue Murray, principal of Surfside Elementary - nominated by Lona Thompson. Additionally, Christa McAuliffe group leader, Alyce Saba, was nominated for the Front Line Staff category by SACC site coordinator Marianna Ruffo.

O’Kell was selected as the statewide winner in the Administrator category and presented with the 2011 FASA Award of Excellence on Friday, October 7, at the FASA Awards Luncheon, which was held at the Orlando World Center Marriott. O’Kell attended the luncheon with Linda Brouette, Apollo site coordinator; John Wigley, Director of Adult and Community Education and Joanne Swinkels, Program Development Coordinator, School Age Child Care.

In Brouette’s nomination letter she writes, “Dr. O’Kell gives encouragement and teaches us that each person can achieve much more when we have a goal, dream or vision. When the going gets tough she leads by example and shows others that with a strong will and perseverance even the most difficult tasks can be accomplished… She has an outstanding commitment to our program and I am very proud to be one of her employees.”

O’Kell began her career with BPS in 1996 as a first grade teacher at Imperial Estates Elementary.  In 1998 she accepted a position as a Title I teacher at South Lake Elementary and in February 2000 she was appointed as the assistant principal of South Lake.  She remained at South Lake as AP until July 2003 when she was appointed to her current position as principal of Apollo Elementary.

Last year Hilah Mercer, principal of Cambridge Elementary, was the 2010 Award of Excellence recipient. The selection of  O’Kell for the 2011 award makes it the second consecutive year that a principal from BPS has won state wide recognition for his or her dedication to the School Age Child Care program at their school.

For more information about the FASA award please contact Marilyn Simon, Assistant District Coordinator School Age Child Care at 321-633-1000 ext. 359.