Select a School District Home Translate Menu District News and Events Home District Spotlights and Awards News and Events Home Community District News and Events District Spotlights and Awards School District Awards MCSD EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT –Maria Martinez, Executive School Secretary – Gerald Adams Elementary Maria is a busy lady at school, so we asked her about her favorite downtime things. She tells us she loves visiting with family and friends – spending time with grandbabies, traveling, relaxing at the beach, and playing dominoes! There’s nothing like sharing a good meal with family and friends, so we asked her about her favorite foods and she says some good Cuban food and delicious Italian food. Yum! We also learned that her favorite hobby is working on DIY projects. Maria has been a part of the MCSD/GAE family for many years, so we asked her what she likes about working at MCSD. She tells us, “I’m all about teamwork. I find that when I need assistance from any District employee from any department, everyone is very willing and very helpful.” PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR – DENISE SANTIAGO Denise Santiago has been named Monroe County School District’s Principal of the Year. She gracefully spearheads initiatives at Horace O’Bryant School to promote a climate of positivity for all stakeholders in one of the toughest years for education. Her colleagues state she is like an educational ninja, swatting problems with solutions every day and has advice, an answer, or a solution to any problem that may arise. With pep in her step, she maintains a forward-thinking approach to utilizing data and focusing on achievement that creates an environment for continuous learning and reaching high goals. Mrs. Santiago embraces her role as the Buccaneer fearless leader. Her dedication to HOB spans nearly a lifetime and her tenacity, perseverance and deep connection to the school community are some of her greatest attributes. ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR – NICOLE SMITH Nicole Smith, from Horace O’Bryant School, is the Monroe County School District Assistant Principal of the Year. Her colleagues state she goes above and beyond to provide strong leadership, offer solutions and be a resource to students and staff. She has developed a very positive and visible rapport with the kids, is firm when needed, and possesses a soft and compassionate heart. She provides feedback and guidance to all who ask for it with an appreciation for one's strengths and suggestions for an alternative approach or perspective. As a resource to teachers and students, she has been instrumental in providing a smooth transition through all of the changes this year. In this challenging year, she has risen to the occasion to help the school year run successfully. MANAGER OF THE YEAR – DOUG PRYOR Doug Pryor has been selected as the Monroe County School District Manager of the Year for his integrity, professionalism and attention to details. As Facilities Planner he has a huge responsibility to manage cost, timelines, vendors, contracts, stakeholder’s needs and wants. He works across departments, with state regulators and outside contractors to build trusted and effective lines of communication. He has a commitment to look for collaborative solutions and utilizes his leadership skills to bring people together to problem solve. With Mr. Pryor at the helm, the district has completed many projects on budget and on time including Switlik School Renovation, the Maintenance and Transportations facility, Key West High School Backyard, Upper Keys Annex, Key Largo School Gym renovation and Transportation Internal Services Facility on Stock Island. He is the consummate professional and his leadership and management of these critical and highly visible projects has been flawless. Mr. Pryor is a tremendous asset to this school district and our community and is very deserving of the recognition provided by this prestigious award. COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR – TAMMY ORCUTT The Monroe County School District Counselor of the Year is Mrs. Tammy Orcutt from Gerald Adams Elementary. Her colleagues refer to Tammy as a dynamic team player who approaches every task with a smile and a ton of energy. Her door is always open to support staff and students alike. During this time, she has provided social-emotional learning lessons, read-aloud and taught preventive strategies and coping skills to students as they navigated this unprecedented time in their lives. She sends inspirational messages weekly to the staff and students and praises a job well done. This is our time to praise Tammy for her unconditional love for the staff and students at Gerald Adams, she is a true gem that makes a difference every day. Address 241 Trumbo Road, Key West, FL 33040 U.S.A. Phone 305-293-1400 Footer Link One | Footer Link Two | Footer Link Three | Site Map Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. Questions or Feedback? Terms of Use Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated) Copyright © 2002-2021 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved.