BEF Honors BCPS MVPs With a Glam Slam Ceremony

from Our City Hollywood • January 2022

TAKE PRIDE MyHollywood Pride LGBTQ+ Kicks off on Jan 22

INSPIRING INDIVIDUAL BEF Honors BCPS MVPs

With a Glam Slam Ceremony By Beverly Perkins

Anationally renowned punkpop band, a south Florida cable industry leader, a Pembroke Pines elected official, a doctor who is also an author, a professor, and an entrepreneur, along with many other prominent graduates of Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) who are celebrated champions in education, were honored by Broward Education Foundation (BEF) during a festive celebration at Nova High School’s state-ofthe-art baseball field in Davie during the Publix Super Markets Charities “2021 Hall of Fame Awards” presented by Memorial Healthcare System.

One of these distinguished alumni included Broward County School Board member and educator and South Broward High School graduate, class of 1984, Debra Hixon. The longtime Hollywood resident was the recipient of the Office Depot “Education Achievement Award” for her dedication to a career in public education.

“We are continuously inspired by the caliber of our Hall of Fame honorees and this year’s class is indeed an all-star team,” said Broward Education Foundation Board Chair Tim Curtin. “Their leadership, passion and commitment to education and community are exceptional.”

Hixon grew up attending Hollywood Hills Elementary, Olsen Middle, and graduated from South Broward High School (SBHS) and credits Mrs. Gloria McIntosh (Ms. Mac), her 10th grade biology teacher, with making an indelible, positive influence on her life.

“Ms. Mac was an engaging teacher who was tough, fair and supportive and with an honest, realistic, and refreshing perspective. She inspired me to become an environmental advocate and her influence molded me into the popular science teacher I became. She is the standard that all science teachers should be measured by,” stated the award-winning educator.

Hixons’ list of accomplishments and community involvement are endless, but her primary goal and motivation are to keep schools safe, expand mental health support for students and staff, provide teachers and support staff with adequate pay and the resources they need to help students succeed, and build open and positive relationships between schools and communities. She is also president of the Chris Hixon Athletic Scholarship Foundation, dedicated to the memory of her husband, the Stoneman Douglas High School athletic director.

Reminiscent of California’s Hollywood Walk of Fame, Broward’s distinguished alumni will also be honored with a large engraved granite star on the BrightStar Credit Union “Walk of Fame” permanently located at the Broward County Public Schools district office, 600 S.E. Third Ave. in Fort Lauderdale.

Debra Hixon with Alex Price