In a truly historic event, an estimated 10,000 BPS students were granted the opportunity to listen to inspirational messages from acclaimed authors Jon Gordon and Erik Weihenmayer. 

Jon Gordon addressed our 6th-grade students and shared the message of his book, “The Coffee Bean,” which is about overcoming obstacles in life and successfully navigating challenging situations. Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell recognized the importance of our students hearing the message of becoming resilient, positive individuals who can overcome challenges and change their environment instead of being changed by it.

The following day, Erik Weihenmayer engaged with our 9th-grade students, recounting his journey of overcoming blindness as a high school freshman to achieve extraordinary feats such as climbing Mt. Everest and kayaking in the whitewater rapids of the Grand Canyon. As a former teacher, Weihenmayer imparts lessons that can help anyone, including our students. Dr. Rendell wanted to give our freshman students this gift so that they may be inspired to overcome the barriers in their own lives.

The moments Gordon and Weihenmayer spent with our students could have a positive and long-lasting impact on them and we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to these extraordinary individuals for their time. A big thank you to the Florida Institute of Technology for being an excellent host and for livestreaming the events to our schools. Also, thank you to the Brevard Schools Foundation and the Space Coast Health Foundation for their support of this project.

The Brevard Schools Foundation hosted a night of recognition and celebration at its annual Applauding Brevard’s Champions (ABC) Awards Gala, on Thursday, February 1, at the Radisson at the Port in Cape Canaveral.

The gala showcased the excellence within Brevard Public Schools (BPS) by announcing the winners across various categories, including Administrators of the Year, Volunteers of the Year, Employee of the Year, and Teacher of the Year. Additional distinctions were given to Rookie Teacher of the Year (first-year teachers) and Emerging Teacher of the Year (second-year teachers). Notably, not only were the individual award recipients honored, but each Teacher of the Year selected by their respective schools also received special recognition.

The winners of Administrators of the Year, Employee of the Year, Rookie Teacher of the Year, and Emerging Teacher of the Year had been revealed at different points throughout the past year. However, during the gala, the Teacher of the Year and Volunteers of the Year were unveiled.

The prestigious title of Brevard Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year was awarded to Deborah Price, a distinguished 6th-grade teacher at Riviera Elementary. Ms. Price expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you to the Brevard County School Board, the Brevard Schools Foundation, and Dr. Rendell for the opportunity to represent the teachers of Brevard County… I would also like to give a special thank you to the administration, faculty, and students at Riviera Elementary. I am very blessed to teach and work with you all each day.”

Click here to see why Ms. Price loves teaching at BPS.

Ms. Price was one of six finalists honored at the gala, alongside Jeffrey Draves, a Social Studies Teacher at Viera High; Chef Michelle Noble, a Culinary Arts Teacher at Titusville High; Colleen Rockstraw, School Counselor at Southwest Middle; Alicia Street, an ESE Content Specialist for the School District; and Ashley Varela, 6th-grade Teacher at Endeavour Elementary.

In addition to recognizing exceptional educators, the event honored outstanding volunteers: Natalee Dutill of Heritage High (Youth Volunteer of the Year), Jacqueline Riemersma of Johnson Middle (Adult Volunteer of the Year), and Dianne Jackson of University Park Elementary (Senior Volunteer of the Year).

Several other esteemed award winners were celebrated, including Employee of the Year, Terri Bagby, After School Coordinator at Quest Elementary; Principal of the Year, Robert (Bobby) Pruett of Satellite High; Assistant Principal of the Year, Kellee McCluney of Saturn Elementary; Elementary Rookie Teacher of the Year, Joshua Katz of Croton Elementary; Middle School Rookie Teacher of the Year, Amanda Taylor of Southwest Middle; High School Rookie Teacher of the Year, Brooke Haid of Rockledge High; Elementary Emerging Teacher of the Year, Alexis Henriquez of Longleaf Elementary; Middle School Emerging Teacher of the Year, Rachel Moore of Stone Magnet Middle; and High School Emerging Teacher of the Year, Sophia Wixted of West Shore Jr./Sr. High.

Finalists for Employee of the Year were also celebrated, including Timothy Cannon of BPS Transportation; Valerie Lance, Bookkeeper at Edgewood Jr./Sr. High; Jessica Reed, Instructional Assistant at Kennedy Middle; Kelli Szymanski, Clerk at Discovery Elementary; and Ruth TeMaat, Instructional Assistant at Westside Elementary.

The ABC Awards was made possible by the generous support of all the event’s sponsors, with special recognition to Super Star sponsor Community Credit Union and Gold Star sponsor Northrop Grumman. Their commitment to education in Brevard County significantly contributes to its ongoing success. A special thanks to Space Coast Honda and Space Coast Daily for their outstanding contributions as well.

In an unprecedented achievement, Surfside Elementary School has clinched a coveted spot in the prestigious NASA TechRise Student Challenge, making history as the first group ever selected from Brevard Public Schools.

The NASA TechRise Student Challenge invited teams of talented 6th-12th grade students to explore the realms of science and technology by designing, building, and launching experiments into suborbital conditions.

Surfside's Gifted Students Program Teacher, Mrs. Manchur, challenged her 6th-grade students to team up and submit a proposal for this year’s challenge. It was then that students Axel Bourgoin, Jack Fisher, Ian Lacombe, and Zachary Watzek, answered the call.

On January 23, the team was invited to participate in a webinar with NASA scientists, where they were informed that they are one of the 60 winners of the challenge.

The students will receive $1,500 to build their experiment, a flight box to house it, and an assigned spot for their experiment on a suborbital rocket-powered lander. Additionally, NASA Future Engineer advisors will mentor the students, one hour per week, throughout the experiment build phase. This mentorship will provide the Surfside team with needed technical assistance and further ensure that the students have the necessary skills and resources to bring their experiment to fruition.

The experiment? An electromagnetic glove, aptly named the "Gravity Glove." The glove is designed to assist in an astronauts' ability to reach and hold tools in space by leveraging electromagnetic frequency coils. The glove will undergo rigorous testing aboard the lander; whose test flight will simulate lunar conditions, flying for about two minutes at an altitude of 80 feet over a Moon-like test field. Upon landing, the Gravity Glove will be mailed back to the team so that they can analyze the data and assess how the glove performed. This groundbreaking technology is a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of these young scientists.

“One of the hardest parts about the TechRise challenge for students is coming up with an idea for a real tool that NASA would want to use. Jack’s creativity set the whole team apart from groups I’ve had in the past. Jack had an idea for a gravity glove that was both unique and untried,” said Mrs. Manchur. “The idea and the initial sketch that he drew grabbed my attention immediately. I knew this was an idea that had great potential. It seemed both functional and workable. I told him and his group that this was the idea that they should work on. This idea had a real shot."

BPS invites the community to stay engaged and follow the captivating journey of the students as they delve into the intricacies of space exploration. Regular updates on the Gravity Glove and the upcoming test flight this summer will provide a glimpse into the dedication and innovation of these young scientists.

Surfside Principal, Mrs. Erenstoft, shared in the excitement noting, “I am thrilled to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our 6th-grade students for being selected as a national winner of the NASA TechRise Challenge. Their hard work, dedication, and passion for future engineering and space exploration set them apart. The teamwork they have shown, and this achievement inspires us all. I cannot wait to see them bring their creative design to fruition. These students have a bright future, and we are so proud of them.”

We are proud of their accomplishment, inspired by their innovation, and cannot wait to see their experiment come to fruition. Here at BPS, we encourage all schools to get involved and possibly submit an experiment for next year’s challenge. 

For more information on the NASA TechRise Challenge, click here.

The West Melbourne School for Science LEGO Robotics teams had tremendous performances at the 2024 Regional Tournament in Orlando on January 13. The Shooting Stars “Flying GOATs” and “Techno Coders” squads competed against 48 other teams and earned an invitation to the Innovations Project Expo at Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University on February 19 to demonstrate their robots. 

The Flying GOATs placed as one of the top robotics teams at the competition and won the Robot Design award. The Flying GOATs were also one of only 11 teams to earn an invitation to the 2024 Florida State Robotics Championship in Palm Beach from March 8-9. 

Furthermore, both teams were invited to the Orlando Magic STEM Night on January 19 where they demonstrated their robots in front of tens of thousands of people.

Congratulations to students Nora A., Vignesh C., Isabella G., Shivbhagat H., Nalmika K., Brady Q., Rania R., Sharanya V., Emma C., Suhanya B., Uriah T., Shravani V., Luke F., Emma C., Sathvik M., Arya Z., Prajnashri S., and Ava J.

The Shooting Stars are coached by Peter Fassman, Suneetha Srinivasa, Siddhartha Bhattacharyya, Julia Querry, and Luna Majumder.

This program is generously funded and supported by L3HARRIS and Florida Tech CAMID.

Congratulations and good luck at the state championship!

Today is Crossing Guard Appreciation Day! A heartfelt thank you to the dedicated individuals who ensure our students safely navigate their way to and from school each day. Click here to see how our schools showed their appreciation for these everyday heroes who make a difference at every crosswalk!

A special thanks to the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization for our partnership and their commitment to informing our community and honoring the individuals who help safely transport our students from home to school and back.

Barbara Sweeney is the Heart of Brevard!

The Heart of Brevard is a person who puts their heart and soul into teaching, inspiring, and supporting our children in whatever role they play in BPS.

If you know of a BPS staff member or community partner who is the “Heart of Brevard,” nominate them HERE!

Save the Date: Veterans Job Fair

Come see our BPS recruitment team on Wednesday, February 7, at CareerSource Brevard's Veterans Job Fair! The event is from 10:00am-1:00pm at the Tony Rosa Community Center in Palm Bay. It is a free event, open to the public. Sign up here to speed up your entrance.

HBCU Information Session & Fair

Save the date for our 3rd Annual HBCU Information Session & Fair, hosted on Wednesday, February 7, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm at Viera High School.

Since the 1800s, Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) have stood as pillars of education, providing invaluable post-secondary opportunities primarily for African Americans. These institutions have grown into esteemed centers of excellence, welcoming students from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities.

This event aims to promote college and career readiness, enhance access to education, and boost participation in accelerated programs for underrepresented students. The event promises more than just informational sessions. It’s a celebration of Black History Month. Experience captivating performances, coveted prizes, and the guidance of college recruiters eager to assist in academic aspirations. Uncover a wealth of scholarship information and more!

All Brevard County students in grades 9th-12th are invited to be a part of this experience. Whether you're a high school freshman or a senior on the brink of graduation, there's something for everyone.

Ready to secure your spot? Register today and don't miss the opportunity to be a part of one of Brevard County’s most anticipated events!

Career & Technical Education Expo

Join us at our upcoming Career & Technical Education Expo on Saturday, February 10 from 9:00am - 12:00pm at the Space Coast Convention Center.

The Career & Technical Education Expo is a unique opportunity to explore the diverse range of Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs available throughout Brevard Public Schools. There are program offerings in culinary, healthcare, automotive, engineering, aviation, maritime, and more.

This is a free event featuring hands-on activities and informative sessions that will provide students and parents a firsthand look at what each CTE program entails.

Don't miss out on the chance to embark on a journey of discovery that will shape the future for Brevard County's youth. Click here to RSVP.

Brevard Schools Foundation Scholarships

BPS seniors are invited to visit the Brevard Schools Foundation's Senior Scholarship Portal to apply for scholarships up to $5,000. These scholarships can be used at universities, colleges, and post-secondary institutions in Florida and throughout the country. The deadline for applications is March 17, 2024.

The application portal can be found here.