OFM_TopTeachers_0519_CENFinal_Pages 4 / 23 / 19 4 : 43 PM Page 2 the Jimmy Award for best performance by an actress in students who don’t speak English as a first language . To help 2017 . In Love’s theater classes , she puts an emphasis on his students succeed with science vocabulary , he developed building community and helping students develop empa - competitive games to engage the students such as flashcard thy , football and big idea basketball . Last year MacDonald was connection and understanding . Recently , Love has re - recognized with the Orange County Public Schools Hero ceived accolades that include winning Best Production at Teacher Award and believes authentic , quality relationships the South Eastern Theatre Conference in addition to getting with students , teachers and staff are vital to their success . an invitation to perform a main stage production at the Florida State Thespian Festival . Neil Harrison The First Academy Ginger Bryant Harrison teaches Advanced Placement Lake Highland Preparatory School ( AP ) Computer Science , Pre - Calculus , Bryant teaches British literature , Calculus and AP Physics and his class - Shakespeare courses and journal - room alone shows his passion for ism . She began the newspaper teaching as it is outfitted with dis - Twice - Told Tale at Lake Highland plays of physics toys , experimental and has consistently ranked first gadgets and educational technolo - place in the nation with American gy . His philosophy is to use gadgets Scholastic Press Association . She and “ toys ” to help students connect sponsors the literary magazine , physics to real life from catapults and planes that fly in endless which also has a first place ranking . circles to Bryant created the only student chapter of David Copper - an interactive whiteboard and electronic polling apps . field’s Project Magic in which students learn magic and share it as a form of rehabilitation for children in hospitals . Jeffery Redding Additionally , Bryant has been received the Crystal Apple West Orange High School and the President’s Cup for her teaching excellence . The director of choral activities and music education teacher is the re - cipient of the 2019 Grammy Music Joseph Malfara Educator award , which recognized Poinciana High School the lifelong impact Redding has had Malfara is an English III , honors , Ad - on his students . He has led his vanced Placement English language choral students through perfor - and composition teacher who chal - mances at several multi - level con - lenges his students to achieve success ferences in the American Choral Di - every day . Poinciana High has seen a rectors ’ Association competitions . West Orange choirs have significant change in SAT perfor - placed first at Heritage Festivals across the nation and re - mances due to Malfara’s tireless ef - ceived the Gold Award for best choir while Redding was forts to implement strategies for stu - honored as top director . dent success on the exam . He has also devised a mentorship group named Suit Up Society , which seeks to mentor young men who have grown up with - George Flores out a positive male role model and improve their lives aca - Montverde Academy demically , behaviorally and socially . Malfara continues to be This elementary school Spanish involved in a variety of school programs designed to help es - teacher has been teaching students tablish or improve intellectual and cultural richness in the ranging from preschool to fifth school community . Because of all he has done for his students grade for more than 15 years . To and the school , Malfara vary his instruction from ages 3 to was awarded the Osceola School Dis - 12 , he uses puppets , piñatas , inter - trict Teacher of the Year Award . active games and karaoke to make learning meaningful and fun for his Jennifer Connell students . Flores ’ colleagues refer to Bishop Moore Catholic High School him as the “ Mr . Rogers ” of the Spanish language . He is al - For 15 years Connell has always ex - ways learning as much as his students and trying to imple - pected the best from her students ment new strategies , learning tools and technology to en - with no short cuts allowed . She gage the young minds in a second language . coined this philosophy as “ The Con - nell Way ” with three pillars of a strong work ethic , a love of God and Nadine Love devotion to her faith . The Advanced Boone High School Placement Psychology teacher Boone’s drama teacher was the hopes her students leave her class understanding a little more 2018 Inspiring Teacher Awardee about their family , friends and society while simultaneously from Broadway’s The Jimmy learning to become strong leaders . Connell also oversees 500 Awards , which recognizes arts ex - students in her Leadership Team who are taught communica - cellence in teaching . Love was be - tion and life skills such as knowing how to properly greet peo - stowed the honor because of the ple and making eye contact . She also lends her time to several encouragement and inspiration she school clubs and gave one of her students who won planning committees at Bishop Moore . ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM may 2019 ORLANDO FAMILY 17