OFM_TopTeachers_0519_CENFinal_Pages 4 / 23 / 19 4 : 43 PM Page 1 Y Kelly Decker IT Dream Lake Elementary School N This second - grade teacher is U known for and takes pride in M transforming her classroom into a M dynamic and inclusive learning O environment . She also uses tech - C nology in the classroom from Skyping a park ranger in Alaska to having a Facebook group for fami - lies to help with homework and build the community . Decker is always putting her stu - dents first and has a clear passion and dedication to her craft . She has planned etiquette and life skills events for TOP the boys and girls at the elementary school . Decker has also been serving as a mentor to new teachers and is tak - ing a clinical educator course to assist student teachers in their internships . John Niven Lake Mary Preparatory School A social sciences teacher , Niven TEACHERS has put forth a tremendous effort to give his students the knowl - FIND OUT WHICH LOCAL EDUCATORS ARE MAKING THE edge and love he has for his sub - GRADE IN CLASSROOMS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA . ject matter . In 2018 his students showed a 100 % passing rate in By Lauren Kubiak Advanced Placement ( AP ) Seminar and a 96 % passing rate in AP U.S . History . He has shown his commit - e wanted to get a glimpse of Central Florida’s finest ment to student achievement by writing recommendation educators who know what it means to go above and letters and offering extra tutelage when needed and uses beyond for their students and make learning both W his humorous approach to keep students interested . exciting and engaging . So we reached out to the many schools in our area , both public and private , and asked them to Amy Swederski Freedom High School nominate teachers they felt not only set the bar high , but Swederski , a varying exceptionali - encouraged their students to repeatedly surpass it . ties educator , has a persistent drive to get her students to reach their Melissa Pappas Caela Paioff highest potential both in and out of Brookshire Elementary School the classroom . She is involved in Colonial High School Pappas is responsible for many clubs and activities including Paioff is the lead instructor in the one of the five intensive being the head tennis coach and Veterinary Animal Science and Ser - units district wide that the Exceptional Student Education vices Magnet Program , which is work with students with Content lead on the AVID Site meant to prepare students for em - severe behavioral , func - team . She also helps out with the Special Olympics and since ployment or advanced training in tional and academic she joined the organization’s coaching staff , the school has the veterinary and animal science needs . Last year , she become a Unified Champion school and has qualified for the field . She is also an advisor for the launched an initiative at Special Olympics basketball championship since 2014 and Colonial FFA chapter , a youth orga - the school during Autism received medals each year . Swederski strives to see a world nization that prepares members for Awareness Month , which educated individuals in where those with significant cognitive disabilities are in - leadership , personal growth and career success through the school community by promoting acceptance , cluded among individuals without disabilities whether it’s in agricultural education . Last year the Colonial FFA chapter love and understanding of those with autism and the lunch cafeteria , in school clubs or at prom . won the Gold Emblem Award , placed second in the nation special needs . As a result , students at Brookshire in the Environmental and Natural Resources Career Devel - Elementary began performing random acts of opment event and continues to be the highest award an Justin MacDonald kindness on their own by greeting and engaging Orange County FFA chapter has received in the national Shingle Creek Elementary School students with exceptionalities . Pappas is also the competition . Paioff is also an active member in the com - MacDonald joined Shingle Creek as recipient of the 2019 Teacher of the Year award munity and serves on the advisory council for the Universi - an instructional coach and in the for Orange County Public Schools for demonstrat - ty of Florida department few years since he of agricultural education and is a joined he has ing the capacity to inspire a love of learning for member for the Ag 21 Grant project and the national STEM been credited by his colleagues with students of different backgrounds and abilities . Engagement committee . But when it comes to teaching , a radical transformation of science Paioff believes it’s a redeeming profession knowing that instruction at the school . He also be - what she does makes a lasting impact in her students ’ gan training teachers to help close lives . the language achievement gaps for 16 ORLANDO FAMILY may 2019 ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM