Stellar Award Finalists

Jennifer Bennett
Agriscience Teacher, Wolf Lake Middle

Jennifer Bennett transforms agricultural education through hands-on learning and leadership focused on sustainability. An agriscience teacher at Wolf Lake Middle and a 27-year OCPS veteran, she guides diverse learners to exceptional achievement, securing pass rates over 70% on state Agriculture Education Services and Technology (AEST) industry certifications and driving significant ELA learning gains. Jennifer empowers students through Future Farmers of America (FFA) competitions and meaningful community service projects. According to Wolf Lake parent Jeff Dowell, Bennett “possesses a rare ability to bring science and agriculture to life.” Bennett fosters a schoolwide culture of environmental stewardship. She also spearheaded a schoolwide food-waste composting initiative, partnering with cafeteria staff and inspiring students to turn waste into valuable garden resources.

Michael Hart
Reading Specialist, Catalina Elementary

Michael Hart, Reading Specialist at Catalina Elementary and an eight-year OCPS veteran, helped drive Catalina’s historic progress. His efforts contributed to boosting 3rd-grade reading proficiency from 18% to 65% and the school earning its first-ever “A" rating. Hart’s approach exemplifies transformative instructional leadership and holistic, community-first advocacy. Guided by the Science of Reading, he designed targeted grouping structures, led intensive coaching cycles, and spearheaded data-driven incentive programs. One example is the Lexia Recognition System, which empowers students with their own data, allowing them to see their gains and celebrate them. Beyond academics, Hart puts people first — mentoring students through deep personal grief, guiding new teachers with Mentor-Mentee breakfasts and reflection sessions and empowering families through innovative literacy initiatives.

Adrianne Hasan
College and Career Specialist, Evans High

An eight-year OCPS veteran, Evans High School College and Career Specialist Adrianne Hasan is a transformative educator who forms deep connections with students. During her tenure as AP World History teacher, she dramatically increased exam pass rates from 1.4% to 26% through data-driven instruction. Now supporting all grades, Hasan drives remarkable post-secondary outcomes: last year alone, her efforts led to a 30% surge in FAFSA completion, $1.5 million in additional scholarships and a 45% increase in Super Scholars. Beyond academics, she sponsors National Honor Society, mentors vulnerable students and removes barriers to ensure every young person leaves Evans High empowered for future success. “She made me feel supported and reminded me that someone was always rooting for me,” student Nevaeh Bannis said.

Megan Hodges
Resource Teacher and Instructional Coach, Little River Elementary

A 10-year OCPS teaching veteran, Megan Hodges supports grades 3 to 5 by modeling lessons, creating targeted support structures and crafting innovative initiatives as a resource teacher and instructional coach at Little River. She developed a program for fourth- and fifth-graders to improve math fluency while waiting for the bus, rewarding regular attendees with snow cone parties. She also runs after-school math clubs. Her data-driven leadership was instrumental in helping Little River raise its school grade from a C to a B, boosting ELA proficiency rates to 56%, math proficiency rates to 60%, and increasing learning gains. Known for going above and beyond to build meaningful relationships with students, teachers and families, Hodges inspires those around her to reach their potential.

Marius Tesch
AP and Cambridge AICE History Teacher, Timber Creek High

Marius Tesch is a 13-year OCPS veteran who transforms European history into an engaging experience at Timber Creek High. Through differentiated instruction, historical simulations and a growth mindset, he consistently drives top-tier academic results. He has guided more than 500 AP students to pass the national exam and his students have achieved an 88% pass rate in Cambridge International History. At the district level, Marius serves as a Professional Learning Certification Program (PLCP) facilitator and as an OCPS Cambridge PLC lead. Beyond the classroom, he revitalized Timber Creek’s Model United Nations program, fostering civic leadership, empowering future public citizens and inspiring students to reach their highest potential. Principal Marc Wasko shared that observing Tesch’s class "reminds you of what education looks like at its highest level."

Betzabeth Reussow
Principal, Colonial High

Betzabeth Reussow champions collaborative transformation and community support as principal of Colonial High. Focusing on data-driven instruction and targeted interventions, she led graduation rates to 95% and college and career acceleration to a decade-high 75%. Reussow expanded wraparound services by partnering with the UCF Unlimited Potential Initiative, Elevate Orlando and Englewood Kidz Zone. Principal Leader Rolando Bailey said Reussow “is intentional in uniting the spirit and culture of both campuses” so students at the ninth-grade center feel fully integrated in the high school experience. She ensures every student is supported, connected, and empowered to succeed in college, careers and life.

Andrew Agudo 
Principal, Horizon West Middle

With 20 years in education, including nine as a principal, Andrew Agudo leads through visibility, collaboration, and a "people-first" mindset. Since taking the helm at Horizon West Middle, Agudo has fostered a safe, supportive culture while driving historic academic growth and earning a Florida School of Excellence designation. He champions diverse opportunities through arts, athletics, and extracurricular programs. Whether checking in daily with students, empowering staff through a collaborative OCPS Guiding Coalition, or partnering closely with families, Agudo leads by example. He models the school’s "Hornets Unite" spirit, ensuring every student feels valued, supported, and inspired to succeed.

Cruz Diaz
Principal, Rosemont Elementary

Serving Rosemont Elementary since 2021, Principal Cruz Diaz has guided a transformative turnaround, elevating Rosemont to an "A" rating, only the second in its history. Diaz’s student-centered approach reduced discipline referrals by 96% through initiatives like Rosemont Risers and youth athletics. Diaz coaches many students in after-school sports, believing the principal should serve alongside families in their community. He increased enrollment from 555 to 654 and achieved staff retention of more than 85%. Through personal mentorship, active partnerships and dedication, he inspires excellence, showing students that adversity does not define their future.

Shamica Chambers
Assistant Principal, Rock Lake Elementary

While serving as assistant principal at Rock Lake Elementary, Shamica Chambers also provides instructional leadership to Mollie Ray Elementary through the Master Principal Program. Guided by her "SPICE" philosophy—Safety, People First, Integrity, Collaboration, and Excellence—she oversees special education and programs for English-language learners. Her leadership around data-driven literacy boosted school performance from a "C" to an "A" while sustaining over 70% ELA proficiency. With more than 15 years in education, she builds strong family partnerships through Beaver Boost Academy and mentors via OCPS Girls with Ambition.

Holly Watts
Assistant Principal, Rolling Hills Elementary 

As assistant principal at Rolling Hills Elementary, Holly Watts exemplifies collaborative leadership and commitment to student success. Watts drives schoolwide improvement through proactive behavior frameworks and targeted academic interventions. She led a schoolwide intervention program in which students received targeted support from almost every adult on campus. This strategy achieved historic growth, boosting student ELA proficiency by 14 percentage points and math by 22 percentage points over two years, while cutting discipline referrals by more than 50%. A dedicated mentor to new administrators, Watts cultivates strong community partnerships where families feel supported, proving team-focused leadership empowers every child to thrive.

Rosie Williams
Assistant Principal, West Orange High 

Since joining West Orange High in 2022, Assistant Principal Rosie Williams has demonstrated collaborative leadership and focused on student achievement. Her work building instructional capacity played a central role in propelling the school to earn and maintain an “A” grade for three consecutive years. Under her guidance, Biology proficiency rose from 70% to 84% and U.S. History proficiency reached 85%. A district lead mentor for new assistant principals and a member of the District Guiding Coalition, Williams doubled parental involvement and ADDitions volunteers by actively engaging PTSO, SAC, and local businesses in schoolwide initiatives. Her compassionate leadership ensures every student feels valued and supported.

Kimberly Harrell
Senior Manager, Communications and Records, District Police

Kimberly Harrell brings 30 years of public safety dispatch experience, including nine with OCPS, where she leads the 24/7 emergency communications center. She drives key safety and technology improvements, including connecting the district’s dispatch system with automated AI notifications to send real-time incident alerts to school leaders. Beyond technology, Harrell focuses on team development through her Apex Program, a mentorship initiative created to support and guide staff. As Harrell said, "Leadership means listening to the people doing the work, building relationships, and never accepting 'the way we've always done it' as a reason not to improve."

Celeste Hunter
Senior Administrator, Division of Learning

As Senior Administrator for Middle & K-8 Schools, Celeste Hunter turns data into clear strategies that boost student achievement. She directly supports 12 middle schools and oversees data forecasting across 48 schools. Her mid-year performance model achieved 90% accuracy, helping increase A- and B-rated middle schools from 60% to 83%. By collaborating with curriculum and digital learning teams, she helped expand advanced coursework to nearly 8,500 students, driving acceleration rates to a five-year high. Additionally, her targeted interventions enabled two cadre schools to meet federal standards and exit school improvement status. She then shared best practices with schools districtwide.

Mandy Butterfield
Senior Director, Secondary Curriculum and Instruction

Mandy Butterfield, senior director of secondary curriculum and instruction, demonstrates collaborative, transformative leadership. Under her guidance, participation in Secondary Facilitated Planning Days tripled despite limited resources. She launched the district’s first Guiding Coalition, bringing diverse educators together to enhance Professional Learning Communities and instructional coherence, and created the Bridge Builder Awards. By integrating multi-departmental expertise, embedding literacy cross-content and fostering partnerships with higher education, Butterfield dismantles barriers, elevates educator voice and builds capacity. According to Dr. James Russo, senior executive director of curriculum and digital learning, “her approach has strengthened trust between schools and district leadership while increasing educator investment” in initiatives.