BPS Headlines from the Superintendent’s Desk: Celebrating Career and Technical Education, Black History Month

We are beyond thrilled to award Laura Negi, third-grade teacher at Sabal Elementary, as the 2025 Brevard Public Schools Teacher of the Year during the 14th Annual ABC (Applauding Brevard’s Champions) Awards Teacher of the Year Gala. Presented by Community Credit Union Florida and hosted by Brevard Schools Foundation, the event was held at the Radisson Resort at the Port, Cape Canaveral.

Laura’s remarkable journey in education began as a student in Brevard Public Schools at Sabal Elementary, Johnson Middle, and Eau Gallie High School. After serving in the Peace Corps in Mongolia and teaching in India, she returned to Sabal to inspire and uplift her community. “Laura’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of public education,” said Paige Trosset, Principal of Sabal Elementary. “Her commitment to our students and school community is truly unmatched.”

Laura’s classroom is a dynamic, joyful environment where every student is encouraged to reach their full potential. “My students are my family,” she explains. “This honor reflects the love and passion I bring to teaching and the incredible support from my Sabal community.”

Congratulations Laura, BPS is so proud of you!

Congratulations to the BPS nominees for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program!

• Maggie Shunnarah of Cocoa Beach High School
• Omkar Subramanian of Edgewood High School
• Beau Couture of West Shore High School
• Edrees Saleem of West Shore High School

This designation is a significant honor, received by only 6,406 in the US, marking a student as one of the most accomplished high school seniors in the nation. BPS has also recommended Ayla Gordon of Bayside High School as our CTE US Presidential Scholar.

Nominees are invited to submit application materials, including essays, transcripts, and recommendation letters, which are then reviewed by the Commission on Presidential Scholars. Finalists are typically announced in the spring, with up to 161 students ultimately earning the official designation.

Best of luck to these exceptional students!

Rhea Sinha, a junior at West Shore, has taken significant initiative to address critical needs in her school. Aligned with National Heart Month, her mission is to raise awareness about the importance of CPR and AED training and the dangers of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) affecting individuals of all ages.

As the managing editor of West Shore’s student-led newspaper, The Roar, Rhea published an article titled “Seconds to Save,” detailing her research on CPR training and AED accessibility. She conducted a survey of over 400 students, revealing alarming statistics: only 8% of her peers were CPR-certified, and 43% had never practiced CPR. Additionally, 70% of students were unaware of the locations of the three AEDs on campus.

While writing her story, Rhea connected with Shawn Sima, the Impact Director for “Who We Play For“, a local organization that conducts heart screenings for students across Brevard County. She reported that since its founding in 2014, the organization has screened over 250,000 students, saving more than 200 lives. In collaboration with the school board, “Who We Play For” has helped make Brevard County the first in the nation to require heart screenings for student-athletes and has ensured that at least one AED is available at every Florida High School Athletic Association-affiliated school.

Rhea’s powerful article earned a Best of SNO award, an accolade given to the top 15% of articles submitted by international student journalists. But her efforts did not stop there. On January 31, she partnered with Shawn Sima and WWPF to conduct CPR training for approximately 150 West Shore juniors. She also purchased AED signs to clearly indicate the locations of these life-saving devices on campus.

Rhea urges the Brevard County community to take action: “Knowing how to do CPR is one of the most important skills a person could learn, and I encourage everyone to get certified or at least learn. Until this summer, I had never realized how powerful and life-saving it is, and people often don’t realize this until a life is on the line. I’d also encourage families to have their child get a heart screening. Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any age, including children and non-athletes, and heart screenings are by far the best way to have that piece of mind. Every second counts when someone goes down. Awareness and education are the keys to making a difference.”

Thanks to Rhea’s passion and dedication, she is making a real impact in her community. With the support of students, educators, administrators, and organizations like “Who We Play For,” lives are being saved through increased awareness and education.

Brevard Public Schools offers an outstanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) program that equips students with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in today’s competitive workforce.

CTE provides a wide array of pathways in fields such as healthcare, information technology, engineering, and skilled trades. These programs blend academic instruction with hands-on training, ensuring students are not only prepared for college but also for immediate entry into high-demand careers. Through partnerships with local businesses, students gain real-world experience, internships, and job shadowing opportunities, enhancing their career prospects.

The benefits of CTE extend beyond the classroom, fostering a sense of purpose and direction for students as they explore different industries. In addition to acquiring technical skills, students develop essential soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, which are crucial for success in any profession. Brevard Public Schools’ commitment to CTE ensures that students are well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of the job market, positioning them for long-term career success. With state-of-the-art facilities, industry-certified instructors, and a focus on future-ready education, CTE at Brevard Public Schools is a powerful gateway to both immediate career opportunities and lifelong learning.

Including such paths as Healthcare, Information Technology, Engineering, Automotive Technology, Culinary Arts, Cosmetology, Business Management, Welding, Digital Media, Construction, Early Childhood Education, Agriculture, Manufacturing, and many more, there is something for every bright young student. Learn more about CTE from our website, and access a collection of videos exploring some of our amazing hands-on classrooms here.

A group of Bayside High School students recently earned their pre-apprenticeship certificates in manufacturing essentials after completing an eight-week, after-school program led by instructor Jean Paul Aliaga. This unique program, offered for the first time, combined online coursework with hands-on machining experience. The students, all part of the school’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Machining Program under Chris Eaves, earned their certifications through Eastern Florida College in partnership with the Space Coast Consortium. The goal was to address the growing skilled trades deficit by equipping students with in-demand skills for the manufacturing industry.

The program covered both theoretical and practical aspects of machining. Students completed an online component before moving on to hands-on training, which included learning CNC machining, lathe and milling operations, blueprint reading, welding, and quality control techniques. They worked in Bayside’s machine shop, gaining real-world experience and developing important problem-solving skills and teamwork.

This initiative is part of a broader effort to solve the skilled trades shortage and create a robust workforce ecosystem. The collaboration between Bayside High School, Eastern Florida College, and the Space Coast Consortium is a model for workforce development, helping students gain certifications that open doors to high-paying jobs in the manufacturing sector. Plans are already underway to expand this program in the future, offering more students the chance to enter this vital industry.

John F. Kennedy Middle School recently took its community on a spectacular journey through time with its annual Medieval Festival! This beloved tradition transformed the school into a living, breathing medieval world, where students showcased their creativity, knowledge, and performance skills.

Visitors embarked on a guided tour through history, encountering everything from thrilling live performances to the eerie Plague Cemetery. The adventure continued in Castle Kennedy, a fully interactive medieval village where guests explored the daily life, customs, and artistry of the Middle Ages.

For 26 years, this remarkable event has been led by Barbara Sweeney, a dedicated educator whose passion for history and hands-on learning has inspired generations of students. Alongside her fellow Cambridge program staff, she guided students through a lengthy learning module studying medieval life.

From Arthurian legends and alchemy to the creation of personalized coats of arms, students truly stepped into the past and used these experiences to create this remarkable festival.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make this night magical! From the breathtaking art and captivating performances to the delicious medieval fare and immersive experiences, it was an evening to remember.

To see a full gallery of photos, click here.

During the recent celebrations of Early Literacy Week, BPS had the distinct honor of welcoming Florida Division of Early Learning Chancellor, Cari Miller, to Sherwood Elementary School. During her visit, Chancellor Miller had the opportunity to engage with our youngest learners—our enthusiastic preschoolers! While our little ones may not fully understand the intricate role of an Early Learning Chancellor, they certainly embraced the chance to connect with her as she read aloud Dig, Dig, Digging by Margaret Mayo.

This wonderful visit was made possible thanks to our dedicated partners at the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County. Their ongoing support plays a vital role in fostering the growth of early childhood education in our community, ensuring that students have access to quality educational experiences from the very beginning.

We are deeply grateful for Chancellor Miller’s visit, which gave us a valuable opportunity to showcase the exceptional early learning programs in Brevard Public Schools. The interaction highlighted the importance of investing in early childhood education and the critical role it plays in setting the foundation for lifelong learning and success.