Meet Your Secondary Presenters

Jennifer Abbott

Jennifer Abbott is a passionate educator whose impact extends beyond the classroom by actively supporting STEM education and high school science curriculum. With over a decade of teaching experience, Jennifer has been shaping young minds in St. Lucie County since 2012. She collaborates with fellow educators to enhance the learning experience for students and is a strong advocate for STEM education by actively supporting STEM fairs, which encourages students to explore scientific concepts beyond the classroom. She holds a bachelor’s degree in middle grade science education, a master’s degree in education leadership, and is currently certified in grades 5-9 general science, 6-12 biology, K-12 computer science, and 6-12 earth and space science. Jennifer’s passion for science education continues to inspire her to work to provide new STEM experiences for students and teachers.

  • Vocabulary in the 6-8 Science Classroom
  • Vocabulary in the 9-12 Science Classroom

Ashley Ankrom

Ashley Ankrom is a Math Coach at Manatee Academy. Ms. Ankrom has been a teacher in St Lucie County for 10 years with four of those years being a coach. Ms. Ankrom has a 12-year-old son and lives in Fort Pierce. Ms. Ankrom has lived in Fort Pierce/SLC for over 20 years and is a product of St Lucie Public Schools. Ashley enjoys spending her free time with her son and at the beach or by the pool.

  • Math Explorers: Creating Thinking Classrooms

Margie Almeida

Margie Almeida is a seasoned educator with a Master’s degree in Instruction and Curriculum from Kean University. With over 29 years of experience in the education field, Margie has dedicated her career to fostering a love of learning in her students. She is a mother of three and enjoys reading and spending quality time with her family. Margie has a rich background as a bilingual teacher in Portuguese and Spanish, and she proudly carries on the legacy of her mother and aunt, who both taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Portugal. Fun facts about Margie: she loves exploring new literary genres and has a passion for cultural heritage.

  • Safari Adventures: Navigating the Terrain of Analyzing vs. Identifying
  • Safari Adventures: Exploring the Wild World of Rhetoric
  • Where Words Grow Wild: A Jungle Poetry Experience
  • Journey through the Jungle: Effective Small Group Strategies for Secondary Students

Jason Barela

Jason Barela is a Health Education Consultant for the Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie County.  He has been with FDOH St. Lucie since May of 2021 and is responsible for launching a Diabetes Prevention Program in the county, as well as overseeing the Healthy St. Lucie Coalition’s Billion Steps Challenge, and implementing other projects focused on preventing chronic diseases and conditions. Jason has worked in the Health Promotion field for the past 24 years..  He earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion and Education from the University of Cincinnati in 1999.  Jason is originally from Ohio and moved to Florida in 2000 and has resided on the Treasure Coast since 2004.  He is a former Certified Athletic Trainer and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.  Jason’s previous career experiences includes operating in professional baseball and being a Health and Science educator in local schools. Most recently, he operated a local Health Studio and prior to that, he served as the first Fitness Supervisor for the City of Port St. Lucie (Civic Center).  Jason is an avid runner, and cyclist, and spends much of his free time with his three children.

  • School Garden

Dr. Belinda Benner-Ordonez

Belinda holds an Ed. D. in Leadership, specializing in professional learning for veteran teachers, with a focus on technology self-efficacy and well-being. With 23 years of experience teaching English, History, and Japanese across Australia, Florida, and Japan, she has had the opportunity to lead impactful initiatives such as English curriculum redesign, Project-Based Learning, IB mentoring, a graduation coach mentoring model, and a High-Five staff celebration program. Passionate about differentiated, engaging professional learning, she designs systems that prioritize best practices in andragogy and educator well-being. Her current projects include RISE 1 & 2, PL on Demand, EduChats, #SLPSTalks, Straight Chalk: A Podcast for Busy Educators, New Teacher Learning Quest program, alongside immersive Learning Expeditions with teacher-leaders. Through her work, Belinda fosters a thriving community where educators feel empowered to grow, innovate, and lead with confidence.

  • Cooperative Learning, Collective Growth

Beth Bonvie

Beth Bonvie has been the Science Curriculum Developer for St. Lucie Public Schools since 2012. Originally from Connecticut, she studied at Lesley College and taught middle school science for seven years in Hartford. In 2006, she moved to Vero Beach, Florida, and continued teaching at Dan McCarty Middle School, where she held various leadership roles. Inspired by these experiences, she earned a master’s degree in educational leadership. Beth is passionate about science education, has a 26-year career in the field, and enjoys sharing her enthusiasm with students and teachers. She has been married to her husband Rob for 24 years, and they have a son, Connor, who is a freshman at UCF. In her spare time, Beth enjoys reading, cooking healthy food, and spending time with her family.

  • 6-8 Make Science Stick: Active Learning Strategies for Student Engagement
  • 9-12 Make Science Stick: Active Learning Strategies for Student Engagement

Lucy Bravo

Lucy Bravo is the Education Association of St. Lucie’s Organizing & Member Advocacy Specialist. She has served in many roles for the Association over more than 15 years.  During this time, Lucy has become a certified instructor of many courses including First Aid/CPR and True Colors®.  She also coordinates our Member Organizers,  represents members, and manages the union’s social media platforms. Lucy is involved in the community by serving on the SLC Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and as an Ambassador.   She is married with 3 very active children. Thanks to attending classes and now as a True Colors® Facilitator, she has better knowledge of assisting others in understanding and appreciating the different personalities around us.

  • True Colors: Keys to Classroom Success

Jacklyn Cebelak

Cebelak, Jacklyn

  • Health Science (CTE)

Brandon Comeau

Brandon has dedicated 11 years to teaching, all of which have been at the same institution. Prior to embarking on a teaching career, he was a custom painter with a diverse portfolio, having painted nearly everything except a train. In addition to professional endeavors, Brandon and his wife have been committed foster parents for the past 8 years. They currently care for 8 children, including 2 biological, 3 adopted, and 3 foster children.

  • Journey to Excellence: Progressing through the Safari with Geo Pegboards
  • Journey to Excellence: Progressing through the Safari with Algebra Tiles

Mark Dionisio

Dionisio, Mark

  • Health Champions

Jewel Edwards

Jewel Edwards is a 7-8 Social Studies teacher at the Creative Arts Academy of St. Lucie. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and recently earned her master’s degree in 2024. A fun fact about Jewel is that she loves reading and baking!

  • Exploring Task-Based Planning in the Wild (for Middle School Social Studies Teachers)

Kate Ems

Kate has been an educator with St. Lucie Public Schools since 2007 and a dedicated member of the Curriculum Department for the past 11 years. Holding degrees in Secondary Social Science Education and Educational Leadership, Kate specializes in 6-12 social studies and is committed to fostering the growth of fellow educators. With a passion for student-led learning, Kate continually seeks innovative ways to empower teachers in shifting the focus where students take more charge of their educational journey.

  • Aggressive Monitoring in the Social Studies Classroom 6-12
  • Exploring Task-Based Planning in the Wild (for High School Social Studies Teachers)

Zulay Garcia

Zulay Garcia is an enthusiastic educator with over 21 years of teaching experience. She holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership and currently works as her district’s K-5 Science and Social Studies Curriculum Developer. Born in Puerto Rico, Zulay uses her background as a second language learner to enrich her ESOL: Applied Linguistics course. She is passionate about integrating technology into education and has earned the Microsoft Innovator Educator Expert certification. Zulay is a loving mother of two teenagers and has been happily married for 23 years. Zulay is bilingual, got married at 17, has read over 1,150 books in the last decade, and has met several MLB players despite not watching baseball.

  • Canvas Expedition: Beyond the Basics
  • Embark on a Canvas Safari: Discover the New Layout

Julia Genkinger

Julia Genkinger is a 5th year English teacher in Saint Lucie County with expertise in 9th/10th grade ELA and AICE General Paper. She is a lifelong resident of Saint Lucie County, a Treasure Coast High School graduate, and a University of South Florida Honors College alumnus. Julia is currently obtaining her master’s degree in educational leadership at Florida State University. She will begin working at Legacy HS next year as a teacher and cheerleading coach.

  • Writers of the Wild: Leading the Pack in AICE General Paper
  • Embarking on Your First Safari Through AICE General Paper
  • Climbing through Canvas

Dr. Holly Esquia Gerlach

Dr. Holly Esquia Gerlach has dedicated her career to serving and working in various educational settings across the United States. Prior to joining LEGO® Education, she had a successful career in education in different capacities including a teacher, literacy specialist, school-based administrator, and district administrator. Serving presently as a Solution Architect, Holly is committed to supporting and connecting stakeholders to find practical and innovative educational solutions. When she is not working, Holly enjoys spending time on the beach in sunny Florida, where she lives with her 11-year-old daughter, Ava, who dreams of becoming an architect one day.

  • Lego 6-8
  • Lego 9-12

Dana Miller

Dana Miller has been an educator in St. Lucie Public Schools for 24 years, with 2 years prior experience in NJ. She has taught all grade levels K-8, been a literacy coach, ELA Curriculum specialist, Instructional Partner with the School Renewal Team, and is currently an Instructional Specialist with Talent Development supporting Academic Coaches and Interventionists throughout the district. She has been married for 5 wonderful years, has a 15-year-old stepson who is a Sophomore at Central High School, and fills her home and property with 2 dogs, 2 barn cats, a turkey, chickens, and a 4-H pig for part of the year! In her spare time, Dana watches her son in competitive volleyball, travels often to visit family in NJ or with friends to new and fun places, and spends time boating or hosting board game nights. She looks forward to moving full speed ahead with building coaching momentum.

  • Instructional Playbook

Julie Moore

With 22 years of experience in education, Julie Moore is a nationally board-certified educator holding a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She specializes in engagement strategies and differentiation, ensuring that every student receives personalized and effective learning experiences. As a dedicated professional and a parent of three, Julie is passionate about fostering a love for learning both in the classroom and at home. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with family, and exploring new ideas to continually enhance her teaching practices.

  • Fostering a Growth Mindset in Students
  • Safari Stomp: Energizing Classroom Learning Through Movement

Wendy Munao

Wendy Munao has dedicated 22 years to St. Lucie Public Schools. Of those, she has served as a school media specialist, district liaison, and District Media Specialist for a decade, with expertise in curating and overseeing diverse collections, including digital resource databases. Prior to her role in library media services in St. Lucie County, she taught elementary classes across different grades. Presently, Wendy holds the position of District Media Specialist, collaborating with all St. Lucie County media centers and specialists.

  • Building Reports in Resource & Library Manager
  • Creating Reading Challenges for Students in Beanstack
  • Gale & World Book Basics- Research, Citation, & Choice Boards

Natasha Nicholas

Natasha Nicholas is the Mathematics Instructional Coach at Forest Grove Middle School. She is married and has three children, 12, 10 and 2. She has her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, and will begin her PhD in Educational Leadership this fall at FAU. Ms. Nicholas loves to bake, and has recently opened up a bakery that caters to individual orders as well as events!

  • Exploring the Wild: Effective Small Groups in MS Math

Kim Perry

Kimberly Perry is a dedicated education professional with over 15 years of experience. She spent 11 years as an elementary and middle school teacher. For the past 4 years, Kimberly has been with Discovery Education, where she plays a crucial role in supporting teachers and districts to ensure successful implementations of educational programs and resources.

  • Back-to-School with Discovery Education
  • Accommodations for students using Discovery Education

Rebecca Petrie

Rebecca Petrie is the Education Association of St. Lucie’s CTA Vice-President. She has been a teacher in St. Lucie for 23 years with 17 years of elementary classroom experience. Prior to that, she attended grades K-12 here in the district and graduated from Indian River Community College and Florida Atlantic University. In her role as the CTA Vice-President, Rebecca represents members and serves on several union, district, and state committees. Rebecca is proud to be a certified True Colors® facilitator helping her colleagues across the district to create a community where all people are appreciated for their unique qualities.

  • True Colors

Jacob Power

Jacob Power is an Instructional Specialist with the Office of Teaching and Learning. A product of St. Lucie Public Schools and a proud alumni of the University of Florida, he is in his 11th year in education and has been a classroom teacher as well as an instructional coach. He is passionate about supporting teachers in finding new ways to craft engaging learning experiences for students without needing to burn the midnight oil creating endless materials. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the local libraries and bookstores with his wife and son, finding hidden gem restaurants and drinking a well-made cup of Cuban coffee.

  • How to Create and Design a Professional Learning
  • Desmos for Interactivity
  • Making Small Group Instruction Work With the Modern Classroom

Suzy Power

Suzy is a behavior specialist in the Student Services department. She has previously worked as a school assessment coordinator, a dean, and a social studies teacher in St Lucie County and served as a Teach for America corps member in southern Louisiana. She has a passion for data and supporting students and teachers. When she isn’t at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son, reading, or hiking.

  • Data Tracking for Behavior Management

Caroline Redding

Caroline Redding has worked in St. Lucie Public Schools for 15 years as a teacher, a mentor, coach, and trainer. She earned her bachelor in elementary education from Florida Atlantic University, and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Florida. Both of her children are SLC born and raised, attending and graduating from St. Lucie Public schools. In her spare time, she enjoys board games, swimming, and reading, as well as learning the art of paper curling.

  • Create and Capture: Adventures in Ready to Use Motivation Systems

Alyssa Saldarriaga

Alyssa Saldarriaga is a South Florida native who is passionate about protecting the diverse ecosystems that exist here, and empowering others to do so. As the Everglades Literacy Regional Coordinator for the Treasure Coast, Alyssa works closely with schools and teachers within her regional districts to bridge the gap between Everglades Literacy and our next generation of leaders.

  • Shift Your School’s Environmental Stewardship Culture: Interdisciplinary Everglades Curriculum and 6-12 Champions Program

Robert Santoro

Santoro, Robert

  • Safari Stack Adventure: Unleashing the Power of Cup Stacking in Physical Education

Jamie Spooner

Spooner, Jamie

  • Safari Adventures: Exploring the Wild World of Rhetoric
  • Where Words Grow Wild: A Jungle Poetry Experience
  • Journey through the Jungle: Effective Small Group Strategies for Secondary Students
  • Safari Adventures: Navigating the Terrain of Analyzing vs. Identifying

Trevor Sparacio

Dr. Trevor Sparacio is a passionate educator at Lincoln Park Academy, where he teaches 7th Grade Civics and serves as the Middle School Social Studies Department Chair. He has recently earned his doctorate in educational leadership and curriculum design. Dr. Trevor Sparacio has over ten years of teaching experience. He is a proud advocate for students on the Autism Spectrum and believes every child deserves a champion. Dr. Trevor Sparacio is a trivia enthusiast, a karaoke night regular at Kava Kat, and draws daily inspiration from his mom, his 4th-grade teacher, Mrs. Nancy Ruisi, and his mentor and professor Dr. Kathy Weigel.

  • Safari Journals: Mastering Cornell Note-Taking in the Social Studies Classroom

Angelia Thomas

Angelia is an Instructional Specialist with the Talent Development department within the Office of Teaching & Learning. She has been in education in various roles since 2005. As a former elementary and middle school teacher, she uses the skills as a STEM Advocate, and ELA/English 6-12 to support the design and implementation of professional learning. Angelia enjoys working in the trenches to support new and experience SLPS educators. Passionate about being alive, she loves to garden, bake, hug trees, read, attend concerts, listen to live instrumentation.

  • Safari Surveillance: Aggressive Monitoring Strategies for the Classroom

Wendy Turner

Turner, Wendy

  • Wilderness Wonders: TPR for ELL Excellence

Sally VanDereedt

Sally VanDereedt, M.A. Ed., is an Instructional Technology Specialist with the Talent Development Department. As a Certified Microsoft Associate and Excel Expert, Sally introduces and supports cutting edge technology tools for use by district leaders and teachers. Breaking down our powerful technology into usable tools is her goal. In her role with Talent Development, she designs and delivers professional learning opportunities for all St. Lucie County staff and often presents at national technology conferences.

 

  • Excel
  • OneDrive/Mail/Calendar
  • Translation Tools

Janice Wintermyer

Janice Wintermyer is a Canva Learning Consultant and former educator who spent 15 years in the classroom as an ELA teacher and an Instructional Coach for Technology. She loves helping teachers discover how to meaningfully integrate educational technology tools into their classrooms. Janice is passionate about empowering students to shift from being consumers to becoming creators and showing teachers how they can develop lessons and projects that foster creativity and engagement while still focusing on desired learning outcomes and connecting to standards.

  • Ignite your imagination with Canva in the Classroom
  • Transform traditional assignments & capture student learning with Canva
  • Design, Engage, Assess: Using Canva for meaningful assessments