Carrie P. Meek Outstanding Education Leadership Achievement Awards

Visiting Professor Bobby Jones, Ph.D. to Serve as Keynote at Fourth Annual Ceremony

Nova Southeastern University’s Black Heritage Council will celebrate Black History Month with a salute to the woman known as the prominent voice in the Haitian American community and to the man referred to by his peers as the turnaround principal in Broward County.

The Fourth Annual Carrie P. Meek Outstanding Education Leadership Achievements Awards will honor Gepsie Metellus, director of the Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center, and Ramon Dawkins, principal of Sunland Park Elementary School. The event will take place on Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center, 3100 Ray Ferrero Boulevard.

The prestigious evening affair, hosted by the Black Heritage Council of the Fischler School of Education and Human Services, was established in honor of former Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek’s work as a lifelong educator and public servant. The event draws hundreds of educators, government officials and community leaders from Dade and Broward counties each year for an evening of entertainment and recognition honoring the lives of individuals whose work have positively impacted the African American community.

This year, Bobby Jones, Ph.D., renowned gospel artist will deliver the keynote address. Jones, who has been credited with revolutionizing the gospel music industry with a myriad of awards and recognitions of his achievements, is the host and executive producer of Bobby Jones Gospel and producer of Video Gospel on the cable network Black Entertainment Television (BET).

About the honorees:

• Honoree Metellus, began her professional career at Miami-Dade County Public Schools – first as a foreign language teacher, and later as a teacher on special assignment in the Office of Multi-Cultural Programs. In her 10 years as an educator, Metellus developed the deep dedication to public school excellence that burns so bright today. As director of the Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center she aims to dispel the misconceptions about the Haitian and Haitian/American community in South Florida while promoting education and entrepreneurship to the community. She dedicates her time to more than 6,000 people annually, offering free financial guidance, management skills training and community outreach. She devotes her time to the center building its reputation as a vital support resource and envisions the community evolving into a thriving, civically active local presence within the next decade.
• Honoree Dawkins, who is not one to turn his back on a challenge particularly when it involves young minds, is a recognized leader in the Broward County Public Schools system and nationwide. Currently serving as principal at Sunland Park Elementary in Fort Lauderdale, Dawkins has made a personal and professional commitment to help children succeed, despite adversities. Fondly known by his peers as the county’s “Turn-Around Principal,” Dawkins has transformed low-performing schools in Broward to among the most admired in the state consistently. In just one year, Larkdale Elementary in Lauderhill went from an “F” institution to points shy of a coveted “B” rating. He has successfully performed this feat on several occasions and shares his proven strategies with educators nationwide.

For more information about the awards ceremony and the department of Community Education and Diversity Affairs at NSU, please log on to http://www.schoolofed.nova.edu/oceda/

Media Contact:
Lourdes Rodriguez-Barrera, NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5309 Office, 954-445-1287 Mobile, rodrlour@nsu.nova.edu

Dr. Delores M. Smiley, Dean, Office of Community Education and Diversity Affairs, Fischler School of Education and Human Services
smiley@nsu.nova.edu