2008 Dr. Carlo Rodriguez Champion of School Choice Award
Good Morning!
Chairman, Mr. T. Willard Fair
Commissioner, Dr. Eric J. Smith
Distinguished board members.
I am Katherine Israelson. As president of the Florida Public School Choice Consortium, it is my pleasure to welcome fellow consortium members, special friends, and family members of Dr. Carlo Rodriguez. I am honored to be here today to present the first Dr. Carlo Rodriguez Champion of School Choice Awards. Carlo was a teacher, administrator, executive director, colleague, mentor, child advocate, and a friend to all who knew him. Carlo passed away unexpectedly on Friday, June 22, 2007.
When we think of school choice in Florida, one comes to mind, Dr. Carlo Rodriguez. Carlo came to the United State from Cuba in 1987 and had a meteoric rise from learning English at Miami-Dade College to becoming a teacher then to an administrative post in the Miami-Dade school district. Carlo was the administrative director of the charter operations of the Miami-Dade Public Schools, and was also an administrator in bilingual and exceptional student education. He was a fighter for justice and the under-dog. He fought the tough, day-to-day struggle inside large, difficult school systems, working tirelessly to expand quality school choice options for all children.
In 2006, he assumed the leadership role as the Executive Director of Florida’s Department of Education’s Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice. He expanded his work beyond charter schools to also include scholarship programs, virtual schools, supplemental educational services, home schools and a range of additional choice options. Carlo also served on the National Board of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA). He was an advocate for all forms of school choice for parents and children.
He continued to further his work on school choice to develop a “grass roots” state organization of choice district professionals called the Florida Public School Choice Consortium. He created the organization in collaboration with Dr. Donnie Evans of Hillsborough School District and Ms. Connie Scotchel-Gross of Palm Beach County. In 2007, he was elected to the position of President-Elect of the Florida Public School Choice Consortium (FPSCC). His last project idea for the consortium was to create an award recognizing those who lead the charge for equitable school choice for parents and children in the state of Florida. Carlo wrote the criteria and the nomination process for the award, so it is fitting that the award is named in his honor.
Therefore, it is my distinct honor to present the Dr. Carlo Rodriguez Champion of School Choice Award. The award evaluation committee consisted of Dr. Judith Stein, Dr. Pancy Houghton, Yolando Mirrada-Hill, Connie Scotchel-Gross, Kathleen Harris and I. Upon receiving numerous nominations from various school districts and choice schools throughout the state, and after great consideration, we have chosen two outstanding individuals to be the first recipients of this prestigious award. Each recipient will receive a certificate, plague and a half-scholarship for master’s degree or doctoral degree study to Nova Southeastern University’s Fischler School of Education and Human Services. It is the request of the Consortium that the recipient dedicate a portion of his or her research and study to furthering the understanding of school choice options for Florida’s families and children.
The first recipient is Carla McMullin. Carla McMullin began working with the Polk County School Board in July of 1999 in the Office of Magnet, Choice and Charter Schools. Carla was instrumental in setting up the choice office, beginning as a Secretary to the Director. Carla was promoted to School Choice Specialist in 2002 as the school choice options grew in Polk County. Over the past 10 years, Carla played a key role in expanding the choice options available through the approval of 32 additional charter schools and the expansion of 6 magnet and choice schools. She was the coordination of the Choice Planning Grant in 1999-2003 and the Voluntary Public School Choice Grant Mentor/Mentee project in 2004-2007. Carla was also a key partner in writing the 2008 grant application for Inter district Agreements for Expanding School Choice through Voluntary Public School Choice Models. In 2006, Carla helped organize the Florida Association of Charter School Authorizers (FACSA). She assisted Carolyn Finch, Senior Director of School Choice in Polk County, with contacting all district authorizer representatives, disseminating membership information, coordinating and facilitating monthly statewide meetings with charter school authorizers in the state of Florida. Carla was voted to be a FACSA Board Member and is currently in her second year serving as Secretary. Her recent work with the Florida Public School Choice Consortium has only begun, but she has already helped this organization reach over 800 people in various public school choice options to share their mission and vision. Carla is someone who has definitely demonstrated exceptional commitment to establishing and expanding equitable school choice options for Florida’s children and parents and is most deserving of this award. Carla was nominated by Carolyn Finch.
The second recipient is Maryellen Elia. Maryellen began her career as a social studies teacher in the state of New York in 1970. In 1986, she relocated to the Tampa Bay area after accepting a position at Plant High School as a reading resource specialist. She was promoted to several key positions in the district over the next 20 years. In 1989, she was named the district’s secondary reading supervisor and served in this position for three years. With the advent of magnet schools, she became the district’s first magnet school supervisor in 1991. She was promoted in 1997 to the Director of Non-Traditional Programs where she managed all magnet schools, as well as ESOL, alternative schools, and drop-out prevention programs. Maryellen was appointed General Director of Secondary Education in 2002. On June 3, 2003, she became the district’s Chief Facilities Officer. Maryellen was appointed Superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools on July 1, 2005. During her first year of tenure, district schools earned more A grades than ever, more Bs, fewer Cs and Ds, and no Fs for traditional schools. The district also earned its first overall A grade from the state of Florida for student achievement. Hillsborough County Public Schools, school choice programs have operated under her guidance for 19 years. Under Maryellen, Hillsborough County Public Schools was granted Unitary Status in 2001, inter district agreements with six school districts were developed, the number of choice options increased dramatically, transportation plans were developed, parent outreach efforts were initially designed and implemented, marketing strategies were introduced, and closing the achievement gap with previously underserved populations was a major priority. Indeed, Maryellen has been an instrumental force in the Hillsborough County Public Schools, always striving to make a different in lives of students. Maryellen truly is a Champion of School Choice. Maryellen was nominated by Carla McMullin.
Would Carla McMullin and Maryellen Elia please come forward.
The Florida Public School Choice Consortium
Presents the
Dr. Carlo Rodriguez Champion of School Choice Award to ______________
For Improving and Expanding Equitable School Choice Options for Florida’s Families and their children.
June 17, 2008
At
The State Board of Education
A wise man once said…..we each will be remembered for 2 things. The life we lead and the legacy we leave behind. In the words of Carlo….”In everything we do, remember it’s all about the children”.
Thank you.