Marie Chmielewski selected as Employee of the Year

B R E V A R D
n o t e b o o k
December 11, 2006
First Glance
Watch the
Superintendent’s Forum
One of the newest initiatives in Brevard
Public Schools is the Jefferson Awards
for Public Service Leadership program.
The Jefferson Awards program is
designed to double volunteering and
community service by students in
America’s high schools. Learn more
about the Jefferson Awards from Tim
Coyle, National Director of Jefferson
Awards for Public Service; and Lynn
Clifton, Volunteer Coordinator for
Brevard Public Schools.
Marie Chmielewski selected as
Employee of the Year
This show will air through Saturday,
December 16 at these show times on
BPS-TV, Channel 9 on Bright House
Cable:
Program airing times:
Monday, December 11
6:30 pm
Wednesday, December 13
11:00 pm
Thursday, December 14
7:30 pm
Friday, December 15
8:30 pm
Saturday, December 16
2:00 pm and 10:30 pm
Bright House Networks
Channel 9
Brevard Public Schools
Customer Service Center
(321) 633-1000, ext. 500
www.brevard.k12.fl.us
Marie Chmielewski signs to the student body at the Kennedy Middle School reception following her selection as Brevard Public
Schools Employee of the Year. Looking on is her 8th grade student Demetrius World, his mother Gyndel World, and Principal
Richard Myers.
Marie Chmielewski was named 2007
Employee of the Year at last week’s breakfast
held at the Cocoa Beach Hilton. She was
selected as the winner from 93 Employee of
the Year nominees from schools throughout
the district.
With Brevard Public Schools for 22 years, Ms.
Chmielewski is the Educational Interpreter for
Kennedy Middle School, where she provides
educational interpreting for a 8th-grade
student who is deaf. She assists this student
with all his daily classes but her assistance to
her student doesn’t stop in the classroom. She
also helps him during after-school activities,
such as basketball and track, as well as in
social situations and casual conversations with
other students and faculty. She also started a
voluntary before-school sign language class
for interested students. As Principal Richard
Myers attests, “Marie has made a difference
not only in the life of her deaf student but in
the lives of all those who come in contact with
her.”
When Ms. Chmielewski returned to the
school following the breakfast ceremony, she
was surprised when the entire student body
greeted her and signed ‘congratulations’ to
her. When addressing the student body, Ms.
Chmielewski said “this honor is not just for
me. It is for everyone at Kennedy Middle
School. Without each of you, this award would
not have been possible.”
Deputy Superintendent Lee Berry introduces the six finalists
for 2007 Employee of the Year. They are, from left, Tawanda
Hull, Employment Specialist III, Office of Recruitment
& Retention; Sylvester Curry, Master Certified Head
Custodian, Oak Park Elementary School; Marie Chmielewski,
Educational Interpreter, Kennedy Middle School; Melanie
Anderson, Responsibility Room Facilitator/Parent Liaison;
Mila Elementary; Carolyn Krzyston, Master Certified Head
Custodian I, Atlantis Elementary; and Alida Rivera, Office
Clerk, Surfside Elementary.

ESF employees hold Jeans Day as
fundraiser for Candlelighters of Brevard
Employees working at the ESF Building donated money to participate in Jeans
Day on Thursday, December 7. Employees were allowed to wear jeans to work by
providing a donation to assist Candlelighters of Brevard Inc. At press time, more
than $1,500 has been collected for the charitable organization. Candlelighters is
a non-profit organization that offers emotional support and financial assistance
to children with cancer and their families. To provide a donation or obtain
more information, call Candlelighters at 728-5600 or log on to its website at
http://www.candlelightersofbrevard.org.
Customer Service Excellence training scheduled February 2
If you haven’t experienced a training session
led by Dori Bisbey in the Office of Educational
Leadership, you are in for a great surprise. On
Friday, Feb. 2, 2007, Bisbey will be holding a daylong
session called Customer Service Excellence
for school support staff.
Superintendent Dr. Richard DiPatri requests
that each school send at least one support staff
member to attend this training. “Last year we
conducted a customer service assessment at the
Dori Bisbey
Staff Development Specialist
schools. This session focuses on the specific areas where many schools were
rated as needing improvement. Dori delivers information on this topic in an
entertaining but meaningful way.”
The training session, which goes from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., will take
place in the Board Room at the ESF Facility in Viera. At the close of the
day, all participants will be ‘deputized’ as officially trained customer service
representatives.
The session includes discussion on the following:
• Results and recommendations from the 2006-2007 Customer Service
Assessment.
• Customer needs and wants.
• The Human Business Model and its effectiveness in creating customer
service excellence.
• The Six Parts of Behavior and how to use them for productive customer
interactions.
• The impact of a message when communicating with customers.
• Strategies for staying in “Reasoner” to avoid unproductive interactions.
To register for the course, use registration screen #LDR 46. For more
information about the session, contact Bisbey at bisbeyd@brevard.k12.fl.us.
District’s United Way donations
show 15% increase over last year
Brevard Public Schools employees exhibited
generosity by providing $270,536 donations
to United Way of Brevard. According to
the district’s United Way Coordinator
Marilyn Fashano, donations showed a 15%
increase over last year’s contributions. “This
represents the highest dollar amount increase
in giving within the county for United Way this
year,” she said.
“The district’s generosity to United Way of
Brevard is truly impressive,” said Superintendent
Dr. Richard DiPatri. “Our donations helped
United Way exceed its $6 million goal.”
The United Way of Brevard raised $6.1
million during this year’s annual fundraising
campaign. This money is used to fund more
than 90 programs in 48 agencies,
ranging from the Salvation
Army’s emergency shelters,
to the Brevard Alzheimer’s
Foundation, to meals for
the elderly, as well as a
home for orphaned girls.
Rolling Readers plans volunteer
celebration, training sessions
Mark your calendar on Thursday, January 25,
2007 for Rolling Reader’s 10th Annual Volunteer
Appreciation Celebration. According to Kathy
Teresi, Executive Director for Rolling Readers,
this ‘thank you’ party will provide awards,
delicious hors d’oeuvres and a chance to meet
other talented and generous Rolling Readers
volunteers from around the county. For more
information or to register for the event, call
Rolling Readers at 254-9976.
The organization welcomes new volunteers to
participate in any of its three types of programs
for children pre-K through 4th grade in
Title I schools. Volunteers must complete a onetime
training session that provides materials
and how-to tips. Read aloud training will be
held on January 16 from 9:30 to 11:30 and on
February 7 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Tutor/Mentor
training will be held on January 30 from 9:00
to 12:00 p.m. All training will take place at
the Rolling Readers office, 1948 Pineapple
Avenue in Melbourne. To learn more about
Rolling Readers programs, visit the website at
www.rollingreadersspacecoast.com.