Tiffany Davis won Teacher of the Year 2015 for American High School and Dennis A. Campos won Rookie Teacher of the Year for the Patriots.
The two teachers provided a biography of themselves on the education and teaching backgrounds and other achievements.
After graduating from Miami Norland Senior High School, Davis attended the University of Florida. She graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Engineering and a minor in Mathematics. In November 2001, she started working at FPL.
After two years, the only part of her job that she enjoyed was training the supervisors of various departments on the new systems and some data analysis. It was then that she realized that she was running away from her true calling – education. She began working at American High School in August 2003 and has enjoyed every moment.
From 2003 to 2008, she taught Intensive Math, Algebra 1, Geometry Honors and Precalculus Honors. She also has been the sponsor and co-sponsor for Mu Alpha Theta since 2004 and National Honor Society since 2010.
In the summer of 2008, she was named the Test Chair where her primary duty is to organize and maintain the security of assessments for the school.
She also keep students informed of the tests that they need to pass for graduation, and provide them with all of their options to best meet their goals.
“American has become another family to me. I love building relationships with my colleagues and the students, and I hope to be able to do so for many years to come,” she said.
Dennis Campos received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Bethune Cookman College, was selected as Most Outstanding Band Player in 2009 and received the Department of Music’s Outstanding Achievement Award in 2010 and 2011.
During his undergraduate years, he performed with the Symphonic Band, Brass Quintet, Trumpet Choir, The Marching Wildcats, where he served as a trumpet section leader, and the Music Outreach Program. This program takes selected B-CU students into the public school system to showcase their talents and emphasize the importance of music in the schools.
His professional affiliations include the Florida Music Educators Association, National Band Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, National Association for Music Education, and Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education. He is also an active member of the Miami Wind Symphony.
Campos has been able to accomplish much since he first arrived at American. He succeeded in getting 12 instruments donated to the band program by the District Supervisor of Miami-Dade County. He was awarded $2,000 in donations toward his band class for every instrument equipment so that every student in the class is able to learn and play an instrument.
On his first Marching Music Performance Assessment as the Band Director, the band received an overall rating of “Excellent.”
Campos’ music philosophy is that he believes every student should receive a musical education, and that every student who wishes to perform deserves the opportunity. He strongly believes no student should be turned down for not being good enough. The main goal is to always aim for an open mind, maintain a positive attitude, and, of course, to inspire his students through his teaching.
Campos’ future goals for the music program are to retain and grow the band, as well as to teach comprehensive music courses such as AP Music Theory, Guitar Class, Jazz Ensemble, and Music History.