BRIAN DASSLER NAMED BROWARD’S 2007 TEACHER OF THE YEAR

“There was an audible gasp from parents when I wrote my ten-digit cell phone number on the dry erase board during open house,” said Brian Dassler. Mr. Dassler believes that parents and families are key partners in the success of the students -- he even programs many parents’ numbers into his own cell phone. This is only one example of the teaching strategy that led him to be named Broward County Public Schools Teacher of the Year 2007.

Mr. Dassler was selected from among a group of twelve teachers who were finalists for the honor. The teachers were recognized at the District’s annual Teacher of the Year event held January 25, 2006 at the Broward County Convention Center.

Mr. Dassler joined the Stranahan High School faculty three years ago as an English and Introduction to Education teacher, but his history with Broward County Public Schools goes back much farther than three years. He is a product of the school district having served as his senior class president at Cooper City High School. A born leader, the Broward County Association of Student Councils chose him to serve as the Student Advisor to the School Board during his senior year. In that capacity, he was the students’ voice to the Board, Superintendent of Schools and the community during the 1996-97 academic year.

Teacher of the Year 2007 Brian Dassler

After graduation, Mr. Dassler went on to further his education at the University of Florida, where he earned a Bachelor’s in English and Master’s in English Education, but there was never any doubt that he would return to Broward County, “My family is here and my heart is here. I care very much about this place because it is my home,” he said. “I grew-up in South Florida and I feel like I have a stake here in being part of solutions and that I have something to contribute.

Now, as a Broward teacher, he continuously demonstrates his teaching philosophy: an unequivocal focus on student achievement, a sincere role for families in the education process, and classroom interaction and dialogue as a way of developing and refining communication and critical thinking skills.

Through participation in multiple business organizations, various local and state education programs, attendance at conferences, being a senior class sponsor and advisor to the National Honor Society, Mr. Dassler leads by example in encouraging students to take on leadership responsibilities and give back to others in the form of community service. Dassler said, “Just as I am able to deploy resources to assist my students, the future teachers in my care are developing the network and the skill set to do the same for their future students.”

“I came to know that education was where I’m supposed to be in kind of a heart and soul way during high school. The teachers I had there helped me clarify that for me. Amazing teachers like Maureen Lullo, Linda Davis, Ann Evans and Jan Cayere,” he said. Now it is Mr. Dassler’s turn to inspire students.

The finalists for Teacher of the Year 2007