PROVIDES OCPS STAFF WITH FREE MEDICAL SERVICES
Streams of natural light and framed landscape photos create a welcoming atmosphere in the waiting and exam rooms at the PeopleOne Health Center south of downtown Orlando.
The Orlando facility, located a few blocks from Orlando Health, opened Aug. 26 and had a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony in late September. It is one of two clinics – soon to be four – offering no-cost services to OCPS employees and their families.
The comforting environment reflects on the care and commitment PeopleOne Health Centers provide. The clinic’s offerings include same- and next-day appointments with doctors, registered dietitians and behavioral specialists, pharmacists and more.
OCPS is collaborating with healthcare providers PeopleOne Health and RosenCare to provide staff with no-cost medical services to keep our team healthier. Employees with a district medical plan are eligible, and so are their enrolled dependents.
“Members and their families get access to the highest-rated physical and mental care, both for prevention and treatment,” said Kimberly Eisenbise, a senior manager with OCPS Employee Wellness. “An average member can also save as much as $1,200 in out-of-pocket costs in the first year.”
PeopleOne Health physicians will see 16 patients a day, allowing members to develop a relationship with their doctors and receive more thorough care.
BY LEEONA LYONS
“PeopleOne Health is committed to spending time with our employees and not seeing 30 to 40 patients a day,” said Superintendent Maria F. Vazquez.
“At times, traditional medicine provides you with a limited amount of time to see patients,” said PeopleOne Health Center family physician Dr. Sandra Laurencin. “Here…you actually get extra time to see patients and have additional assistance.”
PeopleOne is already getting positive reviews, including from School Board Vice Chair and District 1 Representative Angie Gallo.
“Oftentimes, it’s hard to get an appointment with my primary-care physician and I end up at urgent care,” Gallo said. That means seeing a different physician every time. “It will be nice to build a healthcare relationship with the same physician at a PeopleOne Health Center.”
OCPS employees who are enrolled in one of the district’s medical plans are encouraged to register for their free PeopleOne Health membership.
OCPS’ Employee Wellness Program is working on a separate initiative for employees as well.
OCPS employees at various sites will have an opportunity to receive no-cost, on-site biometric screenings. This is a partnership between OCPS and Cigna. Some of these visits will be conducted on a van known as the Wellness Wagon. An assessment includes blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, body composition and coronary risk ratio screenings to help identify risks for developing various health conditions.
All employees are eligible for the biometric screenings, regardless of insurance coverage. Dependents are not included. Watch for a screening near you.
Coming Soon:
Orlando Dr. Phillips - opens Nov. 27
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A Funny Thing Happened You Can’t Say That!
“In the fifth week of school, we were introducing the letter ‘F’ in my Voluntary Prekindergarten class. We went through our normal routine: singing two songs emphasizing the letter of the day, completing our visual circle map, and then our independent ABC journal. A scholar asked a question and I emphasized a word beginning with /f/: “First we will clean up, and then we will go to lunch. FIRST begins with /f/, another letter F word!”
A scholar yelled out “My mom told my brother not to say any F words!”
Andrea
B. Matlin
VPK teacher
Little River Elementary
On X @StageToEngage
Who are the Finalists for OCPS AP and Principal of the Year?
Learn more about a few of the district’s most admired school administrators. These six have been chosen from among hundreds of their peers as the district finalists for Assistant Principal of the Year and Principal of the Year.
Assistant Principal of the Year Finalist
TAYLER BOYER
Colonial HS Ninth-Grade Center
The perseverance and positive attitude of a blind student she taught inspired her growth mindset.
Years in education: 12
Years with OCPS: 13, including internship
Alma mater: University of Central Florida (4 degrees!)
Hometown: Lake Mary
Favorite school tradition: Homecoming Spirit Week
As a kid, what did you want to be? I wanted to be a pediatrician. I always knew I loved kids and wanted to help people! Just a different type of “doctor” now.
Finish this sentence: I know my school is successful when… students come back to visit and tell me how much they miss it!
Assistant Principal of the Year Finalist
ESTHER KUSNER
Discovery Middle
A high school senior with a challenging home life showed her the value of empathy and the importance of connecting with students.
Years in education: 18
Years with OCPS: 18
Alma mater: University of Central Florida
Hometown: Born in Puerto Rico, raised in Lakeland Favorite school tradition: End-of-Year Celebrations with our Level Up Party and our Night of Excellence ceremonies
As a kid, what did you want to be? A lawyer
One fun fact about you: I attended a performing arts middle school and our chorus sang at the opening of Animal Kingdom.
Assistant Principal of the Year Finalist
JANET MARTIN
Dommerich Elementary
(Acting Principal starting Jan. 2025)
A little girl with extensive physical and other disabilities opened her eyes to the potential and capabilities of all students.
Years in education: 21
Years with OCPS: 17
Alma mater: CUNY Queens College, CUNY Brooklyn College and National Louis University.
Hometown: Kingston, Jamaica, but lived in Queens, NY for 25 years
Favorite school tradition: Our Dommerich school community Veterans Parade, an opportunity to celebrate our staff, families, and community members who are Veterans.
Your happy place: My happy place is Faith Assembly. There you will find me singing, worshiping, teaching a John Maxwell leadership class, serving in the Care or Reach Teams, or just interacting with women.
As a kid, what did you want to be? At age 6, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I lived in a tenement property and gathered everyone’s brooms and taught the brooms. When I grew up an older brother thought I would do better in healthcare. But after 15 years as a dietitian and a quality manager, I was recruited to teach.
Principal of the Year Finalist
BRANDI GURLEY
Orange County Virtual School
A first-grader struggling with literacy taught her that it’s not just about the ABCs – patience, compassion and a personal connection are just as important to learning.
Years in education: 24
Years with OCPS: 24
Alma mater: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU)
Hometown: Fairborn, Ohio
Favorite school tradition: The “Do Something Club” empowers students to engage in community service initiatives, even in a virtual environment. Through collaborative projects, members build essential character and tolerance but also develop skills that will serve them well beyond graduation.
As a kid, what did you want to be? I always wanted to be an educator to make a difference in the lives of children while inspiring a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.
One fun fact about you: I attended college on a volleyball scholarship and was a volleyball coach in OCPS in the early years of my career.
Principal of the Year Finalist
MYRLENE JACKSON-KIMBLE
Washington Shores Elementary/ Tangelo Park Elementary
She learned about creative teaching strategies and not lowering expectations from a student who couldn’t read well but could draw, orate and correctly answer questions.
Years in education: 30
Years with OCPS: 30
Alma mater: University of Central Florida and Nova Southeastern University
Hometown: Perry (North Florida Big Bend Area)
Favorite school tradition: Reading Celebration/ Block Party
One fun fact about you: I absolutely love riding four-wheelers!
Finish this sentence: I know my school is successful when… students are taking ownership of their learning and collaborating to support each other.
Principal of the Year Finalist LISA SUGGS
Vista Pointe Elementary
A student who took control of her first kindergarten class (and crawled out the bathroom window!) taught her about the importance of consistent routines and procedures, high expectations for all and relationships with kids.
Years in education: 35
Years with OCPS: 35
Alma mater: University of Central Florida
Hometown: Orlando
Favorite school tradition: On the last day before Winter Break and the last day of the year, our entire staff does dismissal duty at the car loop. We play music, dance and wave to our Panthers and parents.
One fun fact about you: I started preschool at Colonial High School in the early 70s and graduated from Colonial. It’s great to be a Grenadier!
Finish this sentence: I know my school is successful when….I need to be out or off campus and nobody misses me. I know our systems are intact, and everyone just does what they do!
District Administrator of the Year Honorees
This year, the Stellar Awards include a new category recognizing professionals who are not eligible for other district awards. The first ten District Administrator of the Year honorees were nominated by their OCPS division chiefs and will be celebrated alongside nearly 500 other honorees during the Stellar Awards Friday, January 17, 2025.
COMMUNICATIONS
VICTOR WEST, Senior Manager, Video Services
DIVISION OF LEARNING, CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICE
REBECCA HUNT, Director, Advanced Studies
DIVISION OF LEARNING, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OFFICE
MINDI SMITH, Principal Leader, Elementary Schools Office
FACILITIES
CARLOS MAFFUZ, Director, Custodial Services
FISCAL SERVICES
TYLER SHOW, Business Analyst, Office of Management & Budget
GENERAL COUNSEL/AUDIT/EXECUTIVE SERVICES EXECUTIVE SERVICES
CINDY VALENTIN, Administrator, District General Council
CHIEF OF STAFF
JESSIE OUTING, Assistant Director, Employment Services
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
LUIS FIGUEROA O’NEILL, Assistant Director, IT Infrastructure
OPERATIONS
LOUBERT “LOU” ALEXIS, Director, Office of Emergency Management
RESEARCH, MEASUREMENT AND STRATEGY
DR. XIAOGENG SUN, Director, Research
FINALISTS
ORANGE TECHNICAL COLLEGE WEST CAMPUS SHOWS
OFF NEW TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Reprint courtesy of Annabelle Sikes, Orange Observer
Scott Weidl’s eyes were filled with pride as he watched the first students walk on to the new Orange Technical College – West Campus in Ocoee for their first day of school in August.
Although Weidl believes all OTC campuses have their own charm, OTC – West has always had his heart.
“I’ve had the good fortune to work at this campus for many years,” said Weidl, who has worked at OTC’s West Campus for 18 years. “While it’s bittersweet to close out a very successful chapter at our old campus that has meant so much to so many, I’m excited to build upon our rich history by starting a new, exciting chapter at our new location.”
OTC – West, previously located at 955 E. Story Road in Winter Garden, broke ground on the new campus in February 2023.
The $42.3 million college, at 2010 Ocoee-Apopka Road in Ocoee, boasts 115,604 square feet in five buildings including administration offices; classrooms with 1,110 student stations; construction labs and yard; a full-service salon; hybrid lab; cafe; campus store; and event space.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of the new Orange Technical College – West Campus,” said Rosa Grant, executive leader of Career and Technical Education. “This milestone represents a significant expansion and improvement in our facilities and a tremendous opportunity to enhance our apprenticeship programs and skilled-trades education.”
The college offers architecture and construction and human service programs. Career pathways include air conditioning/ refrigeration; building construction; carpentry; electrical; heating; plumbing; ventilation; welding; advanced esthetics; cosmetology; facials; and nails.
Cosmetology student Jacqueline Garcia’s favorite part about the new campus is the school’s salon.
“It is very beautiful and mimics what it’s like to work in a salon with many stations, including a nail salon and facial spa,” she said.
Additional offerings include the Build Your Future program, which is a college experience for adults with disabilities with career and workforce readiness training programs.
The West Campus is the first OCPS school to have buildings with student-ID access, and was designed for Green Globes sustainable building standards for effectively regulating temperature, moisture and air quality and maximizing daylight with solar panels.
Although School Counselor Lisa Munyon only has been with OTC – West for about a year, she had the opportunity to work at both the old and new campuses.
“I’m looking forward to watching OTC – West grow alongside the West Orange community and having people learn about the many educational opportunities we offer at our campus,” she said.
Celebrate Orange Technical College – West Campus’ grand-opening during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, Nov. 8 from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Florida’s First Orthopedic Hospital.
Bioskills Lab
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Advanced Rehab Center with
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Smart Room Technology
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Walk-in Clinic
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Advanced Imaging and Faster MRIs
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Specialized Surgery Suites
Technologically advanced operating rooms designed specifically for orthopedic and spine surgery, prioritizing safety and efficiency.
Send the answers to these three questions to orangepeal@ocps.net. One winner will be drawn from among the correct responses to win an Orange Peal prize package. What are three of the offerings or career pathways offered at the new OTC - West Campus?
Best of QUIZ
Will You Be the Winner?
Name the Stellar Awards finalist who attended preschool at Colonial High:
Congratulations to October trivia winner: Helen Adler, Districtwide Utilities Energy Advisor Environmental Compliance and Sustainability, John T. Morris Facilities Complex
Social Media
In each issue, the Orange Peal will recognize one top social media post on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). Want us to consider your school or department’s post? Send a link to orangepeal@ocps.net for consideration.
Union Park Middle
We all know our custodians are the very best! To show them some love, Union Park Middle School gave them the royal treatment on Custodian Appreciation Day. While they enjoyed a well-deserved lunch, the principal, assistant principal and two students traded places and tackled the cafeteria cleaning duties!
Oak Hill Elementary
Who is Oak Hill Elementary’s new principal? The students had some hilarious guesses! From the friendly door holder to the bubbly teacher with the awesome dunks, they had some pretty creative ideas. And don’t even get us started on the age guesses! This post will make you smile!
Rolling Hills Elementary
Rolling Hills Elementary took Rock Your School to the next level! Each day, students were transported to a different decade to amp up education! The highlight? A classroom dance party to the classic “Tutti Frutti!” It was a blast from the past they won’t forget!
RETIREMENT NOVEMBER WORKSHOPS
Upcoming Virtual Retirement Services Department Workshops via Webex and Zoom:
November 2024
Nov. 13, 5-6:30 p.m.: Using the FRS to Plan Your Retirement
Nov. 13, 5-6:30 p.m.: Estate Planning for Busy People!
Nov. 20, 5-6:30 p.m.: Real World Retirement Planning Your Three-Legged Stool!
Stepping In to Help the Community
OCPS staff jumped into action and assisted Lake Buena Vista High School
Principal Maricarmen Aponte and her team when the school became an Orange County shelter during Hurricane Milton in October.
High Schools Office Senior Administrator Le Nguyen, Lake Buena Vista High School
Principal Maricarmen Aponte, Legacy Middle School
Principal Jason Jimenez and East River High School
Principal Becky Watson
Legacy Middle School
Principal Jason Jimenez and Lake Buena Vista High School Principal Maricarmen Aponte
Submit recent photos of what’s happening in your school or department to orangepeal@ocps.net to be considered for the next issue of the Orange Peal
Best PHOTOS
Touchdown, Edgewater High School!
EA Sports recently announced the inclusion of Orlando’s Edgewater High School in its highly anticipated EA Sports College Football 25 video game.
It’s Not Easy Being Green, But OCPS Can Help
The Green Schools Recognition Program honors and rewards schools for their efforts to conserve energy and water, reduce waste, improve health and well-being, and enhance school grounds with gardens and outdoor learning areas. The winning schools incorporate sustainability in the curriculum and partner with the community.
Dance Like No One’s Watching!
The Meadow Woods ES manatee participated in an OCPS mascot dance contest at Pershing School to celebrate Lights on Afterschool, a nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their impact on children.
I Scream, You Scream, for READING!
Pick, Read & Roll with the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center celebrates the most-improved fifth-grade readers and inspires fourth-graders to read.
Is
it
Made with Real Coco?
K9 Coco’s mom, the wife of handler Sgt. Brian Howarth, made special Coco cookies for the School Board meeting. Coco (and Howarth) were being recognized by Vice Chair and District 1 Representative Angie Gallo for their service.
The Orange Peal is a publication by OCPS employees and for OCPS employees.It launched in April 1974 as a newsletter for all OCPS employees “from principals to custodians.” With a name encompassing the symbols of the orange and the school bell, the Orange Peal was intended for “the good news of this school system [to be] ‘rung out,’” - in other words, to peal.
Editor: Lauren Roth | Designer: Kimberly Boulnois
Contributors: Sandra Carr | Leeona Lyons | Frank Weber | Samantha Weiss