WATCH REPLAY: Hamilton-Brown, Morales Take Tops Honors at 9th Annual ABC Awards Gala at King Center

BIGGEST EDUCATIONAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: The 9th annual ABC (Applauding Brevard’s Champions) Awards Gala recognized some of Brevard County’s best educators Wednesday night at the King Center in Melbourne. The Red Carpet interviews, above and below, are hosted by Space Coast Daily’s Susanne Vaughn.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The 9th annual ABC (Applauding Brevard’s Champions) Awards Gala recognized some of Brevard County’s best educators Wednesday night at the King Center in Melbourne.

Each year, the Brevard Schools Foundation ABC Awards are the biggest educational event of the year.

Kathy Hamilton-Brown, a Pre-K through 6th-grade teacher at Endeavour Elementary in Cocoa, was named the 2020 Brevard County Teacher of the Year at Wednesday’s ABC Awards Gala, organized by the Brevard Schools Foundation.

“When you have a passion for teaching like me, it will shine through,” said Hamilton-Brown. “I love what I do and would not change it for the world.”

The 2020 Employee of the Year was Maria Morales, who serves as an office clerk at Palm Bay Elementary School.

“What I love about my job the most is the fact that I get to meet so many parents from so many different cultures,” said Morales.

“Sometimes when I speak with the families that came from other countries, it reminds me of myself when I first arrived from Cuba, it can be a scary thing. I love that I am now on the other side of the counter helping these families settle into our area.”

You can hear more from Hamilton-Brown and Morales in the Space Coast Daily’s video coverage of their acceptance speeches, which can be seen above.

In red carpet fashion, the event showcased the outstanding contributions of those who help strengthen the quality of public education in Brevard County including Teacher of the Year, Employee of the Year, Volunteers of the Year, Business Partners of Distinction, and Administrators of the Year.

The Red Carpet interviews were hosted by Space Coast Daily’s Susanne Vaughn.

This year, the event added two new categories to recognize educators who are in the early phase of their careers: Rookie Teacher of the Year and Emerging Teacher of the Year.

Honorees from each school and other guests were treated to a reception featuring A Taste of Brevard Public Schools Culinary Arts Programs and live entertainment on the main stage of the King Center.

Sponsorships support these special recognitions and provide a way to say thank you to those in service to our children.

During the gala, Brevard Public Schools recognized and revealed the winners of various categories including:

Administrators of the Year

• Heather Price, principal at Brevard Virtual School
• Sarah Robinson, assistance principal at Viera High School

Volunteers of the Year

• Ishaan Jathal at West Shore Jr./Sr. High School
• Arden Monroe-Obermeit at Freedom 7 Elementary
• Ronald Patchell at John F. Kennedy Middle School

Rookie Teachers of the Year

• Emery Carr at Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School
• Bianca Drawdy at Cambridge Elementary
• Victoria Olesnanick at Jackson Middle School

Emerging Teachers of the Year

• Alicia Fernandes at Riviera Elementary
• Molli Forbes at Space Coast Jr./Sr. High School
• Adrienne Leffard at Hoover Middle School

The finalists for Teacher of the Year were:

• Kathy Hamilton-Brown, Pre-K-6Teacher, Endeavour Elementary

• Laura Maggio, Media Specialist, Stone Magnet Middle School

• Lainey Newell, Literacy Coach, Columbia Elementary

• Sydney Willard, 6th Grade Teacher, Fairglen Elementary

• Erin Worcester, Media Specialist, Edgewood Jr./Sr. High

The finalists for Employee of the Year are:

• Amanda Benoit, Bookkeeper, Riviera Elementary

• Todd Brackett, Technology Associate, W.J. Creel Elementary

• Ann Marie Givens, Instructional Assistant (ESOL), Lockmar Elementary

• Maria Morales, Office Clerk, Palm Bay Elementary

• Ed Rac, Custodian, Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High

• Laura Saenz, Media Assistant, Rockledge High

Don’t miss the replay of the annual ABC awards on Space Coast Daily TV.

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