Brillant Falls Short of State Teacher Title
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50 CENTS 113TH YEAR • SATURDAY EDITION July 14, 2012 The city of St. Cloud is not raising property taxes. See Correction, page A-2. OOSCEOLASCEOLA NNEWSEWS-G-GAZETTEAZETTE www.aroundosceola.com • www.holaosceola.com School news Brillant falls short of state teacher title 75 percent By Fallan Patterson to come back to work and I’m happy that Staff Writer I’m there,” she said, adding her fellow of St. Cloud High School reading and col- finalists all have goals toward improving lege readiness teacher Nanci Brillant was a education. “In a group of five of us, we’re runner-up Thursday in the 2013 Macy’s/ all unique individuals and will continue to elementary, Florida Department of Education Teacher work together.” of the Year at a reception at Universal The other runners-up were Jeffrey middle, K-8 CityWalk’s Hard Rock Live. Pribble, of Escambia High School in Alexandre Lopes, a pre-kindergarten Escambia County, Megan Crombie, of schools get teacher of special needs students from Riversink Elementary School in Wakulla Carol City Elementary School in Miami- County and Dawn Voyer, of Cypress Dade County, took home the title, which Lake Middle School in Lee County. A’s, B’s includes $10,000 from the Macy’s Foun- This year’s five finalists were chosen dation, a trip to this year’s Macy’s Thanks- from more than 180,000 public school By Ken Jackson giving Day Parade and a year traveling the teachers throughout the state by a Depart- Staff Writer state to address the needs of education. ment of Education-appointed selection committee representing teachers, princi- In light of recent Osceola Brillant was one of five finalists from pals, parents and the business community. County School Board squab- across the state who were chosen on the “I’m extremely proud of everything bles, a bit of good education basis of an outstanding ability to teach and communicate knowledge of the subject that Nanci has done,” said St. Cloud High news surfaced. School Principal Nate Fancher. “The fac- Seventy-five percent of taught, professional development, philoso- phy of teaching, and outstanding school ulty, staff and parents of St. Cloud know Osceola County’s 40 elemen- what a difference she’s made and more tary, middle, and K-8 public and community service. News-Gazette Photo/Fallan Patterson Nervous most of the night, Brillant graduates have graduated because of her schools received A or B grades hard work.” 2013 Macy’s/Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year finalist when the grades were released quickly came to terms after the announce- Nanci Brillant posed with St. Cloud High School principal Nate Fancher at ment that she’ll be able to spent next year Named Osceola County School Dis- by the state today. making a difference to her students rather trict 2013 Gaylord Palms Teacher of the Thursday’s reception at the Hard Rock Live at Universal’s CityWalk. Brillant Fourteen schools (35 per- than being on sabbatical. Year in March, Brillant gave up working was one of five finalist but lost out to a pre-kindergarten special needs teacher cent), including a charter “I am glad to be staying at home. I get See Teacher, page A-5 from Miami-Dade County. school, received A’s. Another 16 schools received B’s. There were only two D schools and no school in the district scored Page family wants nursing an F. More than half (52 percent) New bakery takes the cake of the schools maintained or in- home patients’ criminal creased their grade. The Florida Comprehensive history disclosed to others Assessment Test exam is still the main basis for the school grades, By Fallan Patterson determine the best placement for but due to the new middle school Staff Writer their loved ones. accountability formula, bonus When confessed killer Steven “When you don’t know some- points became available. For H. Bronson had his first degree thing, you’re not accountable,” example, 88 percent of Osceola murder charge dropped and was Cheryl Hickman, Page’s cousin, middle and combination K-8 released from the Osceola County said from her home in Kentucky. schools received acceleration bo- Jail in June to be placed in a St. “Legislators and nursing home nus points for successful comple- Petersburg nursing home, his vic- administrators are responsible to tion of their high school algebra tim’s family knew justice was go- protect the public.” I courses. ing to have to be served another Kay Myers, one of Page’s sis- Other formula changes im- way. ters, cited expert opinions that pacted the results, such as newly Using social media and word- in the year 2025, experts have implemented higher academic of-mouth, the family hopes to warned there will be 40 percent standards, new assessments that garner support for legislation increase – known as the “Silver measure students’ progress to- that would require nursing home Tsunami” – in number of nurs- ing home patients, mainly due to ward meeting those standards, patients’ criminal histories to be Alzheimer Disease. Due to this and higher achievement levels disclosed to other patients and their families. An online petition influx, Myers is more concerned for subjects such as reading and than ever about the aging popula- math. These new standards is available at www.change.org. Norma’s Nursing Home Law tion. and metrics used to determine “Every nursing home resident school grades this year. is designed to honor St. Cloud housewife Norma Thomas Page, deserves a safe place to live. They Melba Luciano, recently ap- News-Gazette Photo/Andrew Sullivan 28, who Bronson confessed to should not be forced by the courts pointed as the district’s new su- Diandre Huggins, owner and operator of the recently opened Yummy Mummy killing in June 21, 1979 after to share their home with violent perintendent, said the positive Cupcakes in St. Cloud, is ready to put her culinary training to work, serving up DNA linked him in 2010 to the criminals, especially confessed news was a direct result of the murderers,” she said. “As Baby an array of sweet treats daily from her storefront. crime. Due to a series of strokes hard work shared by teachers in 2003, Bronson was found in- Boomers near retirement age, and students alike. competent to stand trial by several America is experiencing a nursing “In light of the many changes, By Peter Covino cupcake shop in Osceo- York City, is a relative home shortage. Nursing homes la County — Yummy newcomer to the cupcake mental health professionals and I am extremely proud of these Lifestyles Editor should not have to take on added Mummy Cupcakes in St. business. She had various successfully petitioned the Fifth results,” she said in a press re- Some people truly are responsibility of caring for violent Cloud. jobs in New York City District Court of Appeal to release lease Wednesday. “We will con- cupcake crazy. criminals.” Diandre Huggins is the including working at the him on his own recognizance last tinue to stay focused on academ- If you don’t believe month. Hickman cited a 2004 Jack- it, just head on over to lady behind the cupcake United Nations. She also ic rigor in light of the increased Before Bronson’s placement sonville case where a new resident the monthly Food Truck magic at the shop, where has a degree in biology. expectations for our students so in the Baywood Nursing Center with more than 50 prior convic- bazaar in downtown Kis- 13 different kinds of cup- But with two young in St. Petersburg, Page’s three tions raped a comatose 77-year- that every child is provided the simmee and wait in line cakes every day will hope- children and the hustle and sisters and a cousin decided to old woman inside the nursing best education possible.” at the cupcake truck that fully prove to be a lucky bustle of New York City, raise awareness and support for home. Neither the staff nor the Results for the county’s high shows up regularly for the number for the new busi- she was looking for some- state legislation that would require patient’s family had been made schools, which still await the re- food truck events. ness. thing else. criminal background checks to aware of his record. lease of the second half of their Well if you love cup- Huggins, a native of So after moving to be conducted on incoming nurs- “If you were going to bring school grades, and the district’s cakes, the wait isn’t nearly Trinidad, and St. Cloud See Cupcakes, page A-3 ing home patients. The informa- renters into your home with you, overall letter grade will be re- as long for the newest area resident via New leased at a later date. tion would then be disclosed to patients and their families to help See Family, page A-5 Inside Community Lifestyles Sports Classifieds .......... C-1 For the lat- Lifestyles Editor St. Cloud’s Community ......... B-4 Legals ................. C-3 est activities, Peter Covino reviews Trevor Foshey Local news .......... A-2 events and the Blu-ray ver- is male tennis Lifestyles ............ B-1 classes, sion of “Born on the player of the Obituary .............. B-6 Opinion ................ A-4 see ... Fourth of July.” year Sports .................. A-7 Page B-4 Page B-1 Page A-7 For more info call Thursday, July 19, 2012 • 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm 407-847-3174 Kissimmee Civic Center • 201 East Dakin Avenue • Downtown Kissimmee Page A2, NEWS-GAZETTE • Online All The Time • www.aroundosceola.com • Saturday, July 14, 2012 What happened to WESH? Pastor accused of molestation wanted for fraud By Peter Covino ke-Barre Pa.