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President: C. Melanie Green, '93, is currently employed as a Behavior Management Teacher at Centennial Middle School. Melanie created and oversees the implementation of Project H.E.A.L., a remedial reading program designed to promote literacy in at-risk middle school students. She serves on several education advisory boards for the State of Florida concerned with student and parent advocacy, teacher recruitment and retention, and professionalism in education. In 1994, she was named Dade County Public School's Sallie Mae Beginning Teacher of the Year and also won the State of Florida Council of Exceptional Children's title, "Rookie Teacher of the Year."
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Vice President: Laurie Kaplan, '94, '96, is employed as a kindergarten TESOL teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD). Prior to that she taught at Van E. Blanton Elementary School. She currently teaches a META course at MSD and is a member of the school-based management team there. Ms. Kaplan is involved in Phi Delta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa and volunteers with the Miami City Ballet. She is currently working on a second Masters in TESOL which will be awarded in December. For the past four years, Laurie has been a Lab Instructor for the College of Education. In her spare time, Laurie is an avid Panther fan.
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Secretary: Yvonne Hernandez, '95, teaches Pre-K handicapped children at Poinciana Park Elementary in Liberty City. She is working toward a Masters degree in Pre-K primary education. In addition, she is seeking certification in gifted education. In her spare time, she loves reading, the beach, shopping and the Panthers.
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Treasurer: Lawrence Orihuela, '87, has been teaching for eight years at Miami Springs Elementary School. He was selected as Dade County Math Teacher of the Year and is the Dade County Mathematics liaison for the State Department of Education. He has been recognized several times by the Governor's Commission on Education for his classroom teaching skills and ability to work with a diverse student population. Last year he was a finalist for Dade County Teacher of the Year. Though not a resident of Miami Springs, Larry carries his commitment to his students outside the classroom where he is involved with the building of a children's park.
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