The Miami Lakes town council honored teachers and paraprofessionals from Bob Graham Education Center during its April 8 municipal meeting.
“This is our portion of our [Autism Spectrum Disorder] staff,” said Principal Yecenia Martinez. “We have an amazing team of specialized teachers. Our program has grown … it’s thanks to these teachers.”
She said registration in the school’s ASD program has more than doubled and credited the staffs’ efforts.
Special Needs Advisory Board Chair Vivian Levy presented a proclamation to the educators, and to mark April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day in the town.
From left, back row: Teachers Alexandra Socorro, Diana Cardenas, Lissette Lanza, Tonibriana Brown and Yareli Dominguez; Paraprofessional Yelitssa Gomez; Teacher Erika Hurtado; Paraprofessionals Ana Osorio, Leslie Rivero, Lourdes Suarez-Gonzalez, Martha Delgado and Kolbe Perez; Teacher Ana Mestre; Paraprofessionals Yleana Coba-Ortiz, Martin Baltodano, Melanie Cadet-Hernandez, Madelaine Pena, Greylis Abreu, Yoandra Morales, Miriana Sandoval and Miriam Baez. Front row: Councilman Ray Garcia; Vice Mayor Tony Fernandez; Asst. Principal Elizabeth Hernandez; Principal Yecenia Martinez; Vivian Levy, chair, Special Needs Advisory Board; Jesenia Orellana, vice chair, Special Needs Advisory Board; Mayor Manny Cid and Council members Josh Dieguez and Luis Collazo. Photo by Tico Casamayor.