March is Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month. Let’s celebrate women by posting comments about women’s contributions and women’s issues. We want to hear your opinions. We’ll begin by introducing some women from our community who embody achievement and success. We think you will agree that their stories are fascinating and inpsiring.
Ann Elizabeth Killets is the eldest child in a family of four children. She quickly learned responsibility. Decision-making and role-modeling were and still remain an essential part of her life. Her mother managed a florist business and therefore the family responsibilities fell to her at a young age. In later years, as a young adult she found her siblings living with her. She gave direction and provided a model in their lives. She received her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Troy State University in Troy, Alabama.
After graduation Magna Cum Laude from Troy State University she entered the teaching profession. She taught most grade levels in Alabama and Florida and initiated new programs for school-wide coverage. She received many honors including, “Teacher of the Year” both in Alabama and later here in Palm Beach County.
She has worked quietly and often behind the scenes with five different Superintendents in Palm Beach County, and grew to understand the opportunities and challenges of leading the ninth largest school district in the country. Ms. Killets strives for excellence and has always focused on accountability.
As Chief Academic Officer, she strives to raise the bar and move Palm Beach County students to further develop their academic opportunities. Many leaders were trained under her tutelage. This has been the mission of Ann Killets, and it has been widely recognized.
As a true and dedicated educator Ms. Killets understands the gift of time. Each day she reaches out to impact the lives of many. Ms. Killets has accepted a challenge in her life and believes as John Maxwell stated: “True success comes only when every generation continues to develop the next generation.” Her life’s dream is to do just that.
Mrs. Lisl (Alice) Bogart. Lisl ( pronounced lee’sul) is a Survivor of the Teresenstadt Concentration Camp in what is now known as the Czech Republic. It was known as Czechoslovakia under the Nazi regime. The young teenager was imprisoned with her parents and brother. When the Holocaust and World War II ended, Lisl was the only member of her family who was still alive. This ardent human rights advocate believes that by telling her story children will know about the Holocaust and the great tragedy it created in the world. Her intent is that people never experience the horrors of the Holocaust; so she tells her story throughout South Florida and the rest of the country. She has even been honored with the keys to the city of Tarpon Springs, Florida. Lisl is vital to the success of a traveling District program thata is called “Daniel’s Story.” In the LEAH ( League for Educational Awareness of the Holocaust) funded program, Lisl prepares 5th grade Saferty Patrol members for their trip to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washignton, D.C. by telling them the composite story of “Daniel” followed by her own story. In so many ways, Lisl is an integral part of the Palm Beach County community and strives to help young women and men understand human behavior in its best and worst forms.
Another of our distinguished honorees is Susan Bucher who has just recently been elected as the Supervisor of Elections of Palm Beach County. Susan is known as a woman who stands up for what she believes in and is a strong citizen advocate. She is the first Mexican-American to serve in the Florida legislature. Susan Bucher believes that education is the key factor to success and wants to help young women achieve success. In a recent interview, Susan said that young girls should “reach for the stars and to never stop learning.”
Maria Vallejo is another one of our distinguished honorees. She is the Provost of Palm Beach Community College. Ms. Vallejo believes that woman can dream and achieve those dreams. She was brought up in a traditional Latino home in which the roles of men and women were clearly understood. Maria has strived to be the very best she can be and achieve her goals by overcoming some of the obstacles that women must struggle with. Young women must dream and not let their dreams be deterred.
Dr. Maria M. Vallejo assumed the top position at Palm Beach Community College’s Lake Worth Campus September 7, 1999, where she is now the Chief Executive Officer for the largest and longest established campus. The 114-acre complex at Lake Worth offers associate degree programs, professional certificates, apprenticeship programs and courses for lifelong learning and career enhancement. It has served the central Palm Beach County area for over 75 years.
Dr Vallejo with over 30 years experience in higher education, has served as Vice President at both Nassau Community College and Rockland Community College in New York. She also brings experiences from private and public four- year colleges and universities.
Dr. Vallejo received her Ph.D. in bilingual curriculum development/higher education from New York University. She earned two master’s degrees from Columbia University and her bachelor’s degree from Hampshire College. She has extensive community outreach experience including the March of Dimes, City of WPB Education Advisory Committee, and sits on the Quantum Foundation Board of Directors. Dr Vallejo is active with The Women, Palms West, and Hispanic Chambers of Commerce as well as a member of the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches; where she forges partnerships that bring more scholarship opportunities to women and students of color. She has partnered with Palms West Hospital in the areas of Diversity and Community Outreach. She sits on the Board of ASPIRA of Palm Beach and has provided assistance with student conferences, summer camp, and higher education opportunities for ASPIRA students. Dr Vallejo has also been involved with the United Way as a campaign chairman for PBCC; and on The Diversity Venture Fund Advisory Committee. She has partnered with the Florida Resource Center for Women, in grant writing and educational programming. She has presented and hosted numerous Education Days for the different county leadership programs. A passionate educator and an energetic servant leader, Dr. Vallejo’s personal mission is “to facilitate collaboration among diverse groups, so we may all reach our full potential”.
For the past six years Dr. Vallejo has been granting scholarships for low socioeconomic minority youth from the ASPIRA program. It is through her effort that many of these disadvantaged youth have been able to continue their dreams and go on to higher education. Through her leadership at the Community College, Dr. Vallejo had a great impact over the LEAP (Leadership Enhancement and Advancement Program) the goal of this program is to empower staff at the college to develop their leadership skills through mentoring and make a contribution to the community and institution. As a past director of LEAP, she has ensured that graduates continued their leadership roles by creating a training program for Diversity; starting a Chapter of Women in Community College; and use the web to enhance and advance the students access and retention on campus. Some of the Boards they have become active on are PACE Center for Girls, Center Cultural Latino Americano, and City of West Palm Beach Education Advisory Committee. Dr. Vallejo believes in “passing the baton”. Understanding the importance of helping young people, Dr. Vallejo began programs at both Heritage and Diamond View Elementary Schools. The Community College adopted the schools and created a committee to look at needs and how the campus can assist them. Some of the outreach for example includes tutoring, school supply collection, tickets to the theater, scholarships for Summer Youth College, Teacher Appreciation Week, and a READ IN program. (This program consists of faculty and staff and students from PBCC to go to the schools and read to the children.). She has coordinated and hosted the Hispanic Career Day on Campus for the school district for the past 4 years, bringing an average of 400-500 high schools students onto the campus. Her tireless efforts have resulted in the college receiving the Silver Award, and this year the Gold Award for Public Sector contribution by the Palm Beach County School District. Not one to ignore the needs of our aging population, Dr, Vallejo has hosted the first Hispanic Volunteer Training for the Area Agency on Aging, and has now forged a partnership to provide educational opportunities customized to the needs of this population.
Dr. Vallejo is a politely assertive educator, leader and activist, who has given countless volunteer hours to non-profits when she is not mentoring her own faculty and staff or looking out for the educational growth and development of our children. She is a mother, wife, mentor, colleague, leader, friend, and all around wonderful person who does not understand the meaning of the phrase, “it cannot be done”. She is resourceful and dynamic and has the ability to bring people to the table to dialogue and get the work done.
Community Service
Board of Directors, Quantum Foundation, 2001-present; Grants Sub-Committee Chair
Board of Directors, ASPIRA Palm Beach, 2001-present
Member of Women’s, Palms West, Hispanic Chambers of Commerce
United Way, Diversity Venture Fund Advisory Committee, 2003
Executive Women of the Palm Beaches (Program Committee), Take Our Daughters to Work, Career Fair
March of Dimes, Women of Distinction Selection Committee, 2001 – 2005.
Palm Beach County Partnership for Aging, 2000–present
City of West Palm Beach Educational Advisory Committee, Mayoral appointee, 2000 – 2004
Leadership Palms West, 2007
List of Nominee’s Most Recent Local Awards
Giraffe Award, Women’s Chamber of Palm Beach County, 2007
Valor Award, American Diabetes Association, 2005
Louise E. Buie Founders Award, NAACP – February 9, 2005
Dr. Antonia Pantoja Lifetime Achievement Award, ASPIRA Palm Beach, 2004
Women of Distinction Award, March of Dimes, 2003
Mrs. Ruth Pompey is also one of our honorees. She was one of the foremost African-American teachers in the School District of Palm Beach County. Mrs. Pompey has remained a key citizen activist in the Delray Beach area. She too believes that young women must get an education. Reading has always been a very important part of her life and Mrs. Pompey believes that this is a way to achieve dreams.
Aurora Francois is the first Haitian-American principal in the School District of Palm Beach County. Her school is Barton Elementary in West Palm Beach. She has achieved much and is a graduate of the Palm Beach County School System. Ms. Francois loves being a principal and believes she is so lucky to live here in the United States where “dreams can come true.” Aurora Francois immigrated to the United States in the 1980s and faced adversity when she first came here. A strong believer in educating about diversity is one of her missions and like all our honorees believes that women can achieve whatever they want if they stick to their dreams.
On June 6, 2007, South Area Superintendent, Carole R. Shetler, officially announced the appointment of Dr. Aurora François as the new principal of Barton Elementary School at the District annual Leadership Summit.
In a school system with more than 12,000 Haitians and Haitian Americans among 170,000 students, Dr. François will be the first of many Haitian educators to reach this level at the school centers.
Married and mother of two children, Dr. François is an experienced educator with a passion for children and a belief in success and academic achievement for all. She has a Bachelor Degree in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University, a Masters Degree in TESOL (Teacher of English as a Second Language) from Nova University, a Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Barry University, and completed her Doctorate Degree in Global Educational Leadership from Lynn University. Her first year teaching was in the Glades before spending ten years in the ESOL program at Lake Worth High School. She was an assistant principal at Atlantic Community High School for the past three years. Her involvement in community activities related to education goes beyond her regular teaching responsibilities. She is an authentic voice for the language minority students for whom she always advocates.
“It is important that the diversity in our student population is reflected in our administrative ranks,” said Superintendent Dr. Art Johnson as he informed that the district has its first Haitian-American principal.
About four hundred Haitian-Americans work for the School District of Palm Beach County. There are about 75 teachers, more than 100 Community Language Facilitators assisting the schools with translation and interpreting, other various staff, but very few administrators.
Dr. François is one of the veterans. She asserts with great conviction: “My faith, discipline, positive attitude, and eagerness for learning carried me throughout my educational endeavors. I encourage everyone to pursue his or her educational dream since the acquired knowledge and wisdom truly broaden one’s life perspectives.”
Uncategorized | Comment (1)