Florida Teacher Honored With BRI-Sponsored Award
<p>Breyana Stilts, a social studies teacher from Middleburg High School in Florida, is passionate about ensuring all students have the opportunity to succeed.</p>
<p>Stilts works with students of various backgrounds, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, students who are designated as “gifted,” and those who are categorized as homeless or in foster care.</p>
<p>Stilts’ ability to reach all students, no matter their situation, led to her receiving the 2023 Warren Tracy Award at the recent Florida Council for the Social Studies Conference.</p>
<p>The award, which is sponsored by the Bill of Rights Institute, “recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of social studies teachers new to the field of education; who engage students in meaningful lessons to increase student awareness; who are involved with school and community activities; and who are leaders on behalf of education,” according to the council’s website.</p>
<p>Joe Schmidt, Director of Programs at the Bill of Rights Institute, was on hand to present the award to Stilts.</p>
<p>Chris Spinale, President of the Florida Council for the Social Studies, said Stilts sought to develop a high-impact teaching plan centered on a belief in life-long learning.</p>
<p>“Her year-long teaching goal was to approach and implement education in a holistic and experiential method,” he said. “Her rationale for this goal was based on her belief in ensuring the inclusion of relevant classroom learning aligned with state standards. Implementing this approach guaranteed her goal of broadening student awareness of potential career and educational paths available to them upon graduation.”</p>
<p>Middleburg High Principal Martin Aftuck wrote a letter of support to FCSS for Stilts and said “she plans and executes engaging, standards-based lessons with real-world application. She has a passion for her students, especially her seniors, finding their career pathways and ways in the world.”</p>