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PRINCIPAL WINNER

Michaelle Valbrun-Pope has made it a point to turn North Side Elementary School into the educational “hub” of the community. That’s because she understands that students need to reinforce what they learn in school at home – and for many students, that home foundation needed some help.

Many of her students come from low income families and do not have the resources other children in the county have. So, she implemented the Books in Every Hand program where free books were given to every student so they could begin a library at home. In addition, knowing there was a high illiteracy rate among parents at the school, she began the North Side Elementary Family Literacy Program. This program runs four nights a week for students, parents and siblings of all ages to help boost literacy rates via basic skills classes, parenting seminars and GED activities.

By addressing not only her students’ needs in school, but at home as well, Ms. Pope has seen student achievement rise under her leadership. Now, more than 50 percent of her students are performing at Level 3 or higher on the reading portion of the FCAT. And there has been a 10 percent increase in the number of students at Level 3 in math.