Education Week

"Shape Your Future” Kick-Off Lunch*

Date: Monday, March 30 | 12:00- 1:50 pm
Location: Markland House

Hosted By: Dr. Cheryl McCarthy

Join a dynamic panel of educators, administrators, and education leaders as they explore this year’s theme and emerging trends in the field. Gain valuable insights on building a successful career and take part in a Q&A session for personalized guidance and inspiration.

Please Note: Due to limited space, this event is only open to Flagler College Education majors - Junior and Senior Interns only. All other Education majors may attend on a space-available basis.

*Catered Event

Welcome: President Delaney and Dean Cremona

Meet Our Presenters: 

• Dr. Brennan Asplen, Superintendent
• Parker Raimann
• Dawn Sapp
• Jay Willets
• Christopher Stone
• Bethany Groves
• Rebecca Whaley
• Tracie Snow
• Cathy Hutchins

Dr. Asplen has served as the Superintendent of Schools for St. Johns County since July 2025, and as Deputy Superintendent of Operations since 2023.    From 2020-2023, he was the Superintendent of Sarasota County School District.  Prior to that, he served in St. Johns County from 2006-2020 as the Deputy Superintendent for Academic and Student Services, Associate Superintendent of Human Resources, and Principal of Bartram Trail High School.  During the first 18 years of his career (1988-2006), Dr. Asplen served in Seminole County as a math teacher, baseball coach, dean, middle/high school assistant principal and middle school principal of two middle schools.

He earned his Doctorate Degree of Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida in 2019.  He is a member of various professional and community organizations including Kiwanis of St. Augustine and St. Augustine Rotary clubs. 

As a proud graduate of Flagler College, Parker Raimann has spent the past 13 years working in the St. Johns County School District in a variety of roles, including as an ESE teacher, testing coordinator, registrar, and assistant principal. These experiences gave him a broad perspective on supporting both students and school staff. He currently serves as a Director in Human Resources, where he focuses on helping recruit and support educators and employees across the district. He earned his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of North Florida. Outside of work, he is married (also working in our school district!) with two children, which continues to ground his perspective on education and community.

Dawn Sapp, Deputy Superintendent for Academics, has served for 35 years in the St. Johns County School District.  Her team includes Career & Technical Education (CTE), Exceptional Student Education (ESE), English Language Learners (ELL), Early Childhood Education, Instructional Resources, Media Services, Elementary Services, Secondary Services, and Professional Learning. Dawn began her career as a middle school drop-out prevention teacher at Sebastian Middle School.  She was awarded the SJCSD AP of the Year while serving at SAHS and served as principal at Bartram Trail High School.  For the past ten years, Dawn has served as a member of the Superintendent’s leadership team.

Jay Willets has dedicated more than 20 years to the district, serving in a variety of leadership roles across elementary, middle, and high school levels. He brings a comprehensive perspective to education, having led schools at each stage of a student’s academic journey, including opening Tocoi Creek High School in 2020. His experience reflects a consistent focus on school development, staff leadership, and student success. He currently serves as the Regional Superintendent for Secondary and Alternative Schools, where he supports and oversees our Principals at these levels. 

Bethany Groves is a proud Kentucky wildcat who has been living in Florida gator country for the last 20 years.  With more than 30 years’ experience in four different states, Bethany brings a wealth of knowledge to her work as a Title 1 school administrator. Bethany is in her 9th year as the principal of Webster Elementary School in St. Augustine, Fl and her 19th year as an administrator overall.  Upon first arriving at Webster, the school was a struggling school, even receiving a “D” rating from the state, and the community partnership school was in its infancy.  Throughout the last nine years, Bethany has led Webster with her staff to their very first “A” in the school’s 70 year history. Bethany and her school have won many awards including Rising Star for Florida, Character Counts Model School, PBIS Award School, and currently, they are a finalist for Community Partnership School of the year for Florida.  Bethany’s strengths include data analysis for targeted school improvement, relationship development, and a strong understanding of school systems that connect with community work for students’ and neighborhood’s success.  She has served as Principal of the Year St. Johns County, helped write Florida’s new Educational Leadership Certification Exam with the Department of Education and recently completed her Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Liberty University.  She is currently a Principal Coach in Boston and Florida as she seeks to continue to support strong leadership and creative problem solving to meet the needs of students and elevate communities through educational opportunities.

Chris Stone serves as the Senior Director for Children’s Home Society of Florida, overseeing the strategic expansion of the Community Partnership Schools model throughout the Greater Northeast region. With over 20 years of experience in child welfare and social services, Mr. Stone is a dedicated advocate for systemic improvements that provide holistic solutions for children and families. His leadership background includes serving on the St. Johns Continuum of Care, local boards and acting as the McKinney Vento Liaison for the St. Johns County School District, where he coordinated support for all schools within the district. Currently, he drives regional growth and cross-sector collaboration through his service on seven Executive Cabinets. Mr. Stone holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Flagler College.

Rebecca Whaley is the Assistant Principal at R.B. Hunt Elementary School and graduated from Flagler College. While attending Flagler, she was a member of the Flagler College volleyball team.  She completed her internship and associate teaching experience at Osceola Elementary School.

Rebecca then spent seven years teaching fourth grade at Palencia Elementary School.  After earning her master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of North Florida in 2019, she transitioned into school administration, serving as Assistant Principal at PVPV/Rawlings Elementary School for four years, helped open Lakeside Academy, and currently at R.B. Hunt Elementary School. She is committed to building positive relationships with students, staff, and families.

Tracie has dedicated over 30 years to the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB), where she currently proudly serves students, staff, families, and alumni as President. Throughout her career, she has provided leadership in instruction, compliance, and exceptional education services for preschool through grade 12 students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deafblind. Starting as a high school special needs teacher, Tracie advanced through roles such as reading specialist, curriculum director, and administrator. Her commitment to FSDB is deeply personal, with her husband also working at the school and both of her sons as proud FSDB graduates.

Cathy Hutchins has been an educator serving nearly 39 years in the St. Johns County School District and currently serves as Regional Superintendent for Elementary and K–8 schools. Throughout her career, she has supported students, teachers, and school leaders through a wide range of roles, including primary classroom teacher, Model School Facilitator, Assistant Principal, Principal, and Associate Superintendent for Human Resources.

Cathy has served in both Title I and non-Title I schools and has had the unique honor of opening Timberlin Creek Elementary School, as well as two early childhood learning centers serving children ages 2–4. These innovative centers allowed teachers and staff to bring their children to school, strengthening family connections and supporting the district workforce.

Her leadership philosophy is grounded in a steadfast commitment to “students first,” strong relationship-building, instructional growth, and shared accountability with parents and the community. Cathy is committed to ensuring that every student is supported and challenged to achieve their fullest potential.
 

She holds two master’s degrees—one in Teaching the Visually Impaired and Blind and another in Educational Leadership. Cathy’s leadership style emphasizes collaboration, trust, and continuous improvement, always aligning efforts with the ultimate goal of improving student outcomes.

Leadership Practices and Principles for Teachers

Date: Monday, March 30 | 2:00- 2:50 pm
Location: Student Center, Room 214

Hosted By: Dr. Tiffany Ohlson

Come and gain valuable insights on building leadership skills, confidence, and positive relationships with colleagues and students. You will participate in engaging activities to foster collaboration and communication.

*This is a co-curricular event and is open to all Flagler College students.

Meet Our Presenter: Matthew Ohlson

Matthew Ohlson is the Executive Director and Endowed Professor at the UNF Taylor Leadership Institute. He has received numerous accolades, including the UNF Gender Equity Award, HR.com LEAD Award, FCAN Innovator Award, American Graduate Champion Award (PBS), Work of Heart Leadership Award (United Way), Service to Youth Award (Jefferson Awards for Public Service), Visionary Award (EdTech Digest), and the United Healthcare Foundation Heroes Award (UnitedHealthcare). Lastly, he is the author of three books and more than 20 articles on leadership development.
 

Lights, Pen, Action: Your Publishing Journey Starts Here

Date: Tuesday, March 31 | 9:30 - 10:45 am
Location: Virginia Room

Have a story idea that has been living rent-free in your head? Join published authors as they share how to transform classroom experiences, personal passions, and creative ideas into compelling books for children, teens, or adult readers. This high-energy session explores the building blocks of strong storytelling, including creating memorable characters, shaping meaningful themes, and discovering the true heart of your story. You will also gain a practical overview of traditional publishing pathways and clear next steps to help you move confidently from first draft to published book. Signed books will be available for purchase.

Meet Our Presenters: Timothy & Karinna Karsten, John Miglis, and Dr. Meridith Strout

Karinna Karsten is a founder and co-CEO of Global Galactics and a serial entrepreneur who turns research into human-centered innovation. A recognized voice in emotional wellness, she has worked with global executives, celebrities, and major media platforms.

Timothy Karsten is a founder and co-CEO of Global Galactics. A longtime advisor to leaders and mission-driven organizations, he brings decades of experience in strategic guidance, wealth stewardship, and ecosystem design.

John Miglis began writing fiction as a graduate student in Creative Writing at the University of Florida, where he studied with Harry Crews and was taught by Nelson Algren. His first novel, Not a Bad Man (1978), a critically praised story of political ambition and betrayal in a small town, launched his career.

While living in Amsterdam, research into the vandalism of The Night Watch inspired his second novel, Masterwork (1980), which The New York Times named one of the year’s best books. After returning to Florida and teaching at the University of Florida, he published Killing Eyes (1984), which appeared on several bestseller lists.

Miglis won Best Drama in the Florida Screenwriting Competition and went on to a two-decade career as a screenwriter, writing more than thirty films, television movies, pilots, and episodic scripts, including Keep the Change (winner of the Western Writers of America Silver Spur Award) and Rise and Walk: The Dennis Byrd Story (a Humanitas Prize nominee).
He later returned to fiction. His recent novel, Americano, marks his return to long-form storytelling, and he is currently at work on additional novels.

Meridith Taylor Strout, Ph.D. is an educator, early-literacy specialist, entrepreneur, and children’s book author with extensive experience supporting young learners as they develop foundational reading and communication skills. She has taught at both elementary and collegiate levels, with her work focused on using engaging, research-based strategies that foster literacy growth, confidence, and active participation in learning.

She is the author of The More the Merrier, an interactive children’s book that combines storytelling, music, and hands-on instruments to promote kindness, inclusion, and joyful literacy experiences. Through classroom partnerships and literacy-focused outreach, she continues to advocate for learning environments where all children feel encouraged and empowered.
 

Global Galactics

The Sequel: Lunch with Our Authors

Date: Tuesday, March 31 | 11:00 am - 12:15 pm
Location: President's Dining Room & Roped-off area outside of President's Dining Room

Every great story has a second chapter, and this is yours. Join us for an intimate lunch where you will sit down with the published authors from our morning session and continue the conversation. This is your opportunity to ask the questions that do not fit neatly into a workshop. How do you handle rejection? What does your writing routine really look like? How did you know your story was ready? Whether you are full of questions or simply taking it all in, this relaxed and open conversation is where inspiration meets honest conversation. Come hungry for good food and even better stories.

Due to limited space, this event is by invitation only. If you have a meal plan and are nearby, please feel free to stop by and say hello to our esteemed authors. We will also have 60 St. Johns County Teacher Academy students from the local high school in attendance, and we would love you to help welcome them as they will likely have many questions for you about college life.

From Ideas to Impact: The Elevator Pitch

Date: Tuesday, March 31 | 12:30 pm - 1:45 pm
Location: Virginia Room

Participants will practice developing a short, accessible elevator pitch that explains an educational idea, philosophy, or project in a way that is easy to understand and meaningful.

Meet Our Presenters:

• Nelly Leon, Talent Acquisition Manager
• Archana Manipuri, Talent Acquisition Manager
• Brian Gifford, Principal - Treaty Oaks Preparatory Academy
• Cassidy MacDonald, 1st Grade Teacher, Treaty Oaks Preparatory Academy and Flagler College Alumna

LinkedIn Workshop - Hosted by the Career Development Center

Date: Tuesday, March 31 | 2:00 - 3:00 pm
Location: Jay's Place

Your professional online presence matters! In this hands-on workshop, learn how to build and optimize a compelling LinkedIn profile that highlights your skills and experiences. Discover networking strategies to connect with educators, school leaders, and hiring managers.

*This is a co-curricular event and is open to all Flagler College students.

Meet Our Presenter:

• Emily Palacios, Career Success Coach

Register Here

From Flagler College Graduates to Flagler College Professors

Date: Wednesday, April 1 | 10:00 - 10:50 am
Location: Virginia Room

Hosted By: Jennifer Catalano

Join Dr. Carl Williams and Dr. Michella Basas as they share their experiences as Flagler College students and reflect on the paths that led them back to campus as professors in the education department. Hear their stories of growth, mentorship, and the inspiration behind returning to serve the next generation of educators.

*This is a co-curricular event and is open to all Flagler College students.

Meet Our Presenters: Dr. Carl Williams, Dr. Michella Basas, and Dr. Jonathan Higgins

Dr. Carl Williams is the author of three books on educating students who are deaf and hard of hearing and a dedicated advocate for these learners. A Flagler College graduate with dual certification in Deaf Education and Secondary English Education, he began his career at the Florida School for the Deaf & the Blind. He later earned advanced degrees from the University of North Florida and, since 1988, has served as a professor in Flagler College’s Education Department, bringing practical insight and a focus on effective classroom practice to the preparation of future teachers.

Dr. Michella Basas is an Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Teaching at Flagler College. She attended Flagler College as a Deaf Education/ Elementary Education Major from 1997 to 2000. Dr. Basas has over 26 years of experience in the field of Education and owes much of her success to her Flagler Professors (some of whom are now colleagues!). 

She is grateful for the opportunity to return to Flagler and support students (and faculty) in their pursuit of excellence in pedagogy. When Dr. Basas is not at Flagler, she spends her time managing a small family farm with her husband and 10-year-old son (who has his sights set on Flagler! Go Saints!). 

Dr. Jonathan Higgins is an accomplished educator and instructional leader with over 18 years of experience in curriculum design, program coordination, and secondary education. He holds an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Florida, where his research explored faculty perspectives on cultivating professional teacher culture in new public high schools.

Throughout his career, Dr. Higgins has led major academic programs, including Cambridge AICE and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, overseeing curriculum development, accreditation processes, teacher training, and stakeholder engagement. He currently serves as an Assistant Principal at Beachside High School, while also teaching as an adjunct instructor at Flagler College.
 

Celebration of Learning: Junior Internship Inquiry Presentations*

Date: Wednesday, April 1 | 1:00 - 1:50 pm
Location: Virginia Room

Hosted By: Professor Wildalynn Thomas & Dr. Edwige Bryant

Students share insights, questions, and discoveries from their junior-year internship inquiries.

*This event is open to all provisional Education students, Education Majors, and Education Minors.

Meet Our Presenters:

• Elsie Bond
• Sydney Bournes-Harper
• Jaclynn Kohler
• Brianna Lawhorn
• Matthew Mclean
• AlleyGene Webb
• Elizabeth Wilson
• Kiki Wine

*Catered event

Teaching Beyond Borders: Germany Cohort Presentations & Visiting German professors, Matthias Erhardt, and Maike Madera

Date: Wednesday, April 1 | 2:00 - 2:50 pm
Location: Virginia Room

Interns will share insights from their transformative three-week mini-internship in Bad Neustadt, Germany and Panama. They will reflect on both expected and unexpected areas of personal and professional growth, highlighting connections to their classroom practice and their own development as educators.

Our visiting professors will discuss the structure of the German educational system, including students with special needs.

*This is a co-curricular event and is open to all Flagler College students.

Meet Our Presenters: Dr. Matthias Erhardt,  Prof. Maike Madera, Dr. Maria Eisenmann, Brooke Buckley, Destiny Durand, and Daisy Pflaum.

Matthias Erhardt, Dr. phil., born 1968. Studied English, German and Educational Sciences at the University of Würzburg. He passed the 1st and 2nd state examinations for the teaching profession at the Gymnasium and did a Doctorate in school pedagogy in 2006 on a topic related to educational theory of the Gymnasium as a special kind of school. After working for several years as a teacher at Bavarian Gymnasium, since 2003 he has been a member of staff at the Chair of School Pedagogy at the University of Würzburg. In 2008, he moved to a lifetrack position at the chair and has worked there as a senior lecturer since 2010.

He did a substitute for a professorship for school pedagogy at the University of Paderborn in the winter semester 2014/2015. Since April 2017 he has also been responsible for the management of the Professional School of Education at the University of Würzburg. In 2022 he left the chair of school pedagogy and concentrates on the management of the Professional School of Education of the University of Würzburg. Main areas of work are questions about the conception and structure of the Gymnasium as well as research about teacher education and training.

Maike Madera (born 1981) studied German, Italian, and Educational Sciences at the University of Bonn, Germany, and Roma Tre University, Italy, from 2000 to 2006, completing her First State Examination in 2006. From 2006 to 2008, she worked as a research associate at the Chair of German Linguistics with a focus on Low German at the University of Kiel, Germany, where she conducted research on language change in Low German. She subsequently worked as a research associate at the Lower Franconian Dialect Institute at the University of Würzburg, Germany, from 2008 to 2010. From 2010 to 2017, she taught German as a Second Language in language courses for immigrants in Würzburg, Germany. Since 2017, she has been working at the Professional School of Education (PSE) at University of Würzburg, initially in study management and since 2018 in the field of internationalization as Erasmus+ coordinator. Since 2025, she has also been serving as project coordinator of the DAAD-funded project Global Teacher Education+.

Maria Eisenmann is Professor of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) at the University of Würzburg, Germany. Her research focuses on the integration of VR and AI in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), global and intercultural learning, digital media literacy, as well as literature and differentiation in foreign language teaching. She has published extensively on VR-based, sustainability-oriented learning environments and has coordinated several externally funded research projects, including CoTeach and DiSo-SGW. A frequent contributor to international journals and edited volumes, she engages with topics such as digital transformation, teacher education, and innovative pedagogies.

Teaching for Tomorrow: Why Education for Sustainable Development Matters, Dr. Maria Eisenmann, University of Wurzburg

Date: Wednesday, April 1 | 3:00 - 3:30 pm
Location: Virginia Room

Hosted By: Dr. Cheryl McCarthy

Today’s youth face a world shaped by climate disruption, biodiversity loss, and deepening social inequalities. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) helps them understand these challenges, think critically about global interconnections, and develop the agency needed to shape a more just and sustainable future. This plenary reflects on the growing importance of ESD and its role in preparing the next generation for a rapidly changing world.

*This is a co-curricular event and is open to all Flagler College students.

Meet Our Presenters: Dr. Maria Eisenmann

Beyond the Classroom: Ecological Systems That Shape the New Teacher Experience

Date: Wednesday, April 1 | 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Location: Virginia Room

Hosted By: Tiffany Kemp

*This is a co-curricular event and is open to all Flagler College students.

A first-year teacher’s experience is influenced by far more than the students in their classroom - it is shaped by colleagues, administrators, families, community partners, state mandates, societal expectations, and their own internal beliefs. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, this session invites teacher candidates to examine the broader ecosystem they will enter and to understand how each interconnected layer will shape their daily practice and professional identity. 

Tiffany Kemp is a proud graduate of Flagler College, where she earned her degree in Secondary Education and English. She holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from University of West Florida and is currently a doctoral candidate at University of North Dakota, pursuing an Ed.D. in Teacher Education. Her dissertation work aligns directly with this presentation.
 

Celebration of Learning: Literacy Teacher Work Sample Presentations

Date: Wednesday, April 1 | 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Location: Virginia Room

Facilitators: Dr. Tiffany Ohlson  and Professor Wildalynn Thomas

Interns share insights and discoveries from their Literacy Teacher Work Sample projects.

*This is a co-curricular event and is open to all Flagler College students.

Meet Our Presenters: Flagler College Interns

• Ella Arvidson
• Anna Brown
• Brooke Buckley
• Autumn Deitrick
• Destiny Durand
• Regan Green
• Anthony Hartley
• Darby Laubach
• Aimee LaVrar
• Phillippa Lovatt
• Grace Marcussen
• Lee Odell
• Daisy Pflaum
• Sophie Silver
• Hope Siner
• Isabella Stahr
• Melissa Stephens
• Max Tandron
• Adrianna Vezzi
• Gracey Waterman
• Aubrey Whigham
• Sarah Wolfe

Thinking About Graduate School? A Conversation for Future Educators

Date: Thursday, April 2 | 9:30 - 10:45 am
Location: Virginia Room

Facilitator: Dr. Jennifer Catalano

Are you considering a master’s degree after graduation? Should you pursue it right away or wonder if it’s better to wait? Join us for an informative session that unpacks the benefits, challenges, and opportunities of graduate school in education. Discover how an advanced degree can shape your career path, earning potential, and areas of specialization, and gain real insights from faculty and current and former graduate students.

*This is a co-curricular event and is open to all Flagler College students.

Meet Our Presenters: Amy Borie, Tiffany Kemp, Megan O'Grady, and Kiley Suggs

Amy Borie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Florida and completed post-baccalaureate coursework in reading education before accepting a teaching opportunity in Orange County. While teaching in Orlando, she was selected for the Lockheed Martin K–8 Math and Science Master’s Cohort at the University of Central Florida. She completed her Master’s in Educational Leadership at the University of North Florida. Throughout her career, she has served as a classroom teacher and in various teacher leadership roles. She currently serves as a Program Specialist in Human Resources for the St. Johns County School District, where she supports the teacher evaluation system and new teacher development.

Tiffany Kemp serves as an instructional coach and adjunct professor, bringing classroom experience from both middle and high school settings - including teaching aboard a U.S. military base in Iwakuni, Japan. She is also a former lead instructor for the initial St. Johns Academy of Future Teachers. All of these roles combined, reflect her deep commitment to developing the next generation of educators.

Megan O'Grady graduated from UNF with her bachelor’s degree in Deaf Education in the fall of 2020. Starting in January of 2021, she taught ASL at Bartram Trail High School for about four years before taking a year off to get her masters. 

Megan is currently working on getting her master’s degree in Deaf Education at Flagler College as well as coaching girls lacrosse at the high school level.

Kiley Suggs graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education K-6 and Deaf Education K-12 from Flagler College in 2024. She is currently completing her master’s in Deaf Education through the Flagler Fast Track program. 

She works full time in St. Johns County School District as an itinerant teacher of the deaf working with students in grades K-8th, and part time as an interpreter in the community. 

Money Matters for Future Teachers

Date: Thursday, April 2 | 11:00 - 12:15 pm
Location: Virginia Room

Hosted By: Dr. Edwidge Bryant

Learn the basics of personal finance and investing, with practical strategies for building financial stability on a teacher’s salary. The goal is to help future educators feel confident managing their money so they can focus on teaching, not juggling multiple jobs.

*This is a co-curricular event and is open to all Flagler College students.

Meet Our Presenter: Dr. Carline Crevecoeur

Dr. Carline Crevecoeur is a retired, board-certified OB/GYN and has earned a Master’s degree in Education (Curriculum and Instruction) from the University of Pittsburgh. She also serves as the Finance Director of Haiti’s World Cup Steering Committee in Philadelphia. 

Lastly, Dr. Crevecoeur is the author of Pressure Makes Diamonds, an inspiring memoir that details her journey of raising and homeschooling her five children.

Lunch N Learn Resume/Cover Letter Workshop - Hosted by the Career Development Center

Date: Thursday, April 2 | 12:30 - 1:30 pm
Location: Jay's Place

Hosted By: Dr. Sandy Davis

Join us for a complimentary lunch and a relaxed and supportive session where you’ll learn how to create a strong resume and cover letter that highlight your strengths and experiences. Bring your questions and your resume drafts—we’re here to help you shine as you prepare for future opportunities.

*This event is open to all provisional Education students, Education Majors, and Education Minors.

Meet Our Presenters: 

• Kevin Leary
• Becky Murphy
• Tyler Wood
• The Career Development Center

Stories from the Field: Alumni Voices and a Celebration Dinner for Our Future Educators

Date: Thursday, April 2 | 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Location: Hospitality Suite

Hosted By: Dr. Edwidge Bryant and Dr. Sandy Davis

Join us for a special evening honoring our pre-service teachers. Celebrate your hard work, dedication, and the impact you will make in the field of education. Enjoy an evening of recognition, encouragement, and community with fellow students and faculty.

You will also have the opportunity to connect with Education Department alumni who will be on campus to share their career journeys, insights, and advice. This is a wonderful chance to ask questions, learn from real world experiences, and expand your professional network.

*This event is open to all provisional Educations students, Education Majors, and Education Minors.

Meet Our Presenters: Alexis Griffin, Abby Holmes, and Ellie Kurtz

Lexi Griffin is a proud alumna of Flagler College. She graduated summa cum laude in May of last year and has since returned to Flagler to pursue her Master’s in Deaf Education. During her undergraduate years, she was a member of the Honors Program, captain of the Dance Team, and completed double minors in American Sign Language and Psychology. 

Lexi now teaches English in the Deaf High School at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. She also teaches after school dance classes for Deaf and Blind elementary and middle school students—and is grateful every day to be living her dream.

Abby Holmes graduated from Flagler College in 2019 and began her teaching career at South Woods Elementary School in Hastings, Florida. She has spent the past seven years teaching 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade and currently teaches in a departmentalized role focused on reading and writing—two subjects she is especially passionate about. Outside the classroom, she has served as an assistant basketball coach at South Woods.  She is grateful for the opportunity to return to Flagler and share her experiences with current education students as they prepare to enter the field.

Ellie Kurtz graduated in the Fall of 2021 from Flagler College and started subbing at St. Augustine High School, where she developed strong relationships that led to a full-time teaching position the following year. Now in her fourth year, she teaches both standard/support sophomore English and AICE General Paper, as well as courses in the first-year Teaching Academy. She was honored in 2024–2025 to be named St. Augustine High School’s Rookie Teacher of the Year.

Mindfulness Techniques for the Classroom

Date: Friday, April 3 | 10:00 - 10:50 am
Location: Virginia Room

Hosted By: Professor Wildalynn Thomas

Simple, age-appropriate practices that teachers can use with students—and for themselves—to reduce stress and improve focus.

*This is a co-curricular event and is open to all Flagler College students and the general public.

Meet Our Presenter: Colleen LaHatte

Colleen LaHatte currently serves SJCSD students in her role as the Reading Interventionist for grades third through fifth at John A. Crookshank Elementary School. She has been nominated twice as Teacher of the Year by her colleagues at various schools. She is a two-time recipient of the SEL in Action: Social and Emotional Learning Innovator Award for Teachers, awarded by NoVo Foundation, in partnership with Education First and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Colleen has been serving in the field of education for eighteen years. She impacts students by facilitating garden groups in their school garden, The Oasis: Where Mindfulness Blooms. In her garden groups, she strives to foster an environment where students feel safe, seen, and celebrated. Students engage in mindful moments, and interact with nature through weeding, planting, watering, or harvesting crops.
 

Your Story, Your Way: Meet Our Self-Published Authors

Date: Friday, April 3 | 11:00 - 11:50 am
Location: Virginia Room

Hosted By: Dr. Edwidge Bryant & Dr. Sandy Davis

Who says you need a traditional publisher to get your story into the world? Join us for an inspiring conversation with authors who took the leap and did it on their own terms. Hear the real stories behind their books — the late nights, the learning curves, the moments they almost gave up, and the incredible feeling of holding their finished book for the first time. Browse their work, get your copy signed, and leave with the confidence that your story is worth telling, too.

*This is a co-curricular event and is open to all Flagler College students and the general public.

Meet Our Presenters: 

• Susan Brady
• Dr. Carline Crevecoeur
• Delaney Rose

Susan Brady’s love of writing began in childhood as she listened to my mother tell stories. She assumed everyone made up stories the way she did. Growing up, she created homemade books using folded and stapled typing paper. At the time, it seemed impossible for someone to publish a real book without the support of a traditional publisher. That changed when she attended Flagler College. In Dr. Davis’s Methods of Language Arts class, she created and illustrated her first bound book. Holding something she had written and illustrated herself felt transformative.

As a former teacher, she especially enjoyed writing in rhyme. Many of those poems are now included in her book St Augustine, All In One Book of Fun.
 

Dr. Carline Crevecoeur is the author of Pressure Makes Diamonds, an inspiring memoir describing her journey raising and homeschooling her five children. 

A Haitian-American retired board-certified OB/GYN, Dr. Crevecoeur offers a unique perspective in her book, blending the roles of private school teacher and stay-at-home mother as she helped her kids achieve at the highest level.

Delaney Rose is always holding a book in her hands or talking about how much she loves sharks and The Rookie. She loves to write the stories in her head that have been there since she was just ten years old, as well as playing Dungeons and Dragons with her family and friends. And she goes to Universal Orlando at least three times a year because it’s basically a second home to her now.

Epilogue: Lunch with Our Self-Published Authors

Date: Friday, April 3 | 12:00 - 12:50 pm
Location: President's Dining Room

Hosted By: Dr. Edwidge Bryant & Dr. Sandy Davis

Every good book deserves a great ending, and this is ours. Join us for a relaxed lunch with our self-published authors as we close out an incredible morning of storytelling, inspiration, and creativity. This is your chance to linger a little longer, ask the questions still turning over in your mind, and connect with authors who chose to bet on themselves and never looked back. Whether you are curious about the self-publishing process, looking for encouragement to start your own project, or simply want to enjoy good conversation over a good meal, there is a seat at this table for you. The session may be ending, but for many of you, the real story is just beginning.

*This event is open to all provisional Education students, Education Majors, and Education Minors. Seating is limited so registration is required.

Survival Starts with Awareness #JustSay-Know

Date: Friday, April 3 | 1:00 - 1:50 pm
Location: Virginia Room

Hosted By: Dr. Sandy Davis

The stakes are real, and this is information every college student should have. Fentanyl and counterfeit pills have become one of the most urgent issues affecting young adults today. Understanding the facts can protect you and the people around you.

This powerful session delivers clear, accurate, and practical information about fentanyl, counterfeit pills, and opioid misuse. There are no scare tactics, just honest conversation and real-world knowledge. You will leave with tools you can use, ways to start meaningful conversations with friends, and greater confidence in how to respond in risky situations.
What makes Lilli’s Light different from other substance awareness presentations is its combination of DEA-approved facts and deeply personal stories of loss from our own experience. The information is grounded in truth, and the stories make it real.

Every attendee will receive a box of Narcan!

*This is a co-curricular event and is open to all Flagler College students and the general public.

Meet Our Presenter: Wendy Parrish

Wendy Parrish founded Lilli’s Light after the heartbreaking loss of her 18-year-old niece, Lilli, who unknowingly ingested a lethal amount of fentanyl just two months after graduating from high school. Determined that Lilli’s death would not be in vain, Wendy turned profound grief into purpose by creating a mission-driven organization dedicated to educating families and students about the dangers of fentanyl, counterfeit prescription pills, and the opioid epidemic, while promoting the life-saving importance of Naloxone and empowering young people to “live lit from within.”

Professionally, Wendy serves as the Director of College Operations and Executive Administrator to the Dean in the Linda Berry Stein College of Arts and Sciences at Jacksonville University. Her daily work with students strengthens her commitment to prevention and awareness. Wendy speaks openly about the human side of this crisis, driven by one unwavering goal: to save other families from living this nightmare.
 

Supporting Students' Emotional Well-Being

Date: Friday, April 3 | 2:00 - 2:50 pm
Location: Virginia Room

Hosted By: Professor Wildalynn Thomas

Recognizing signs of stress, anxiety, or withdrawal in children and adolescents, and understanding how teachers can respond with care while staying within their role.

*This is a co-curricular event and is open to all Flagler College students and the general public.

Meet Our Presenter: Tricia Weeks

Patricia Weeks is a Middle School Counselor with Flagler County Schools, serving students and families for over 16 years, including six years in the elementary EBD cluster. She also trains Youth Mental Health First Aid, supporting district compliance with Florida’s youth mental health training mandate to ensure 80% of district personnel are prepared to meet the needs of students regarding youth mental health awareness and response. Since 2024, she has served as an Adjunct Instructor at Flagler College, teaching History of Psychology and Counseling in the School Setting and mentoring future counselors.

As a Portuguese American and military child, she is deeply committed to serving diverse communities.

 
Teach in Style: Smart Wardrobe Choices for Future Educators

Date: Friday, April 3 | 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Location: Virginia Room

Hosted By: Dr. Edwidge Bryant, Yeilanie Ayala, Austin Barnes, Olivia Delatorre, Sydney Bournes-Harper, Mac Klocko, Taylor Lieberman, Mackenzie Smith

This fashion show highlights practical, classroom-ready outfits for pre-service teachers, with tips for building a professional wardrobe thoughtfully and sustainably. Several articles of clothing will be raffled. Representatives from St. John's Town Center and the St. Augustine Premium Outlets will be present to showcase a few of their outfits.

*This event is open to all Flagler students and faculty.