Speakers

Peter Licata
Superintendent of Broward County Public Schools

In July 2023, Dr. Peter B. Licata was selected as Superintendent of Schools of Broward County Public Schools (BCPS), the sixth largest school district in the nation, following a national search for a transformational leader, conducted by an independent firm, McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C. The search incorporated public surveys, focus groups and input from stakeholders, opportunities for community members to share opinions through public comments at School Board meetings, and interviews with stakeholder groups.

By joining BCPS, Dr. Licata has come full circle, returning to the school district he attended as a first-grade student at McNab Elementary School in Pompano Beach. He replaced Interim Superintendent, Dr. Earlean C. Smiley, and inherited a District with more than 250,000 K-12 students and 110,000 adult learners across 240 traditional schools, centers, Technical Colleges and 90 charters.

Dr. Licata began his nearly 30-year career in education as a teacher and basketball coach for the School District of Palm Beach County and has continued to advance his leadership career – most recently holding the position of South Region Superintendent. In this role, he oversaw 60 schools, 65,000 students, more than 5,000 teachers and four instructional superintendents. Previously, he was the Assistant Superintendent of Choice and Innovation and oversaw all aspects of the Departments of Choice, Adult and Community Education, Virtual Education, Home Education, Alternative Education, and Charter Schools. His experience includes 15 years of teaching and leading at the middle and high school levels, and 14 years at the district-leadership level as Director of Secondary Curriculum and Assistant Superintendent, before becoming a regional superintendent and now Superintendent of Schools for BCPS.

Dr. Licata earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Miami, a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Barry University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Global Leadership from Lynn University, with a focus on Preparing Students for the 21st Century Workforce. He spent 10 years as an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University, where he taught courses preparing future school administrators.

He and his wife enjoy golf, cooking, and spending time with their four children and three grandchildren.

Adrianna Swearingen
2024 Florida Teacher of the Year

Adrianna Swearingen, a media specialist at Northside Elementary School in Bay County, was selected as the 2024 Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year from nearly 185,000 Florida public school teachers. Mrs. Swearingen will serve as the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education, elevating and celebrating the teaching profession by promoting the contributions of Florida educators.

While serving as an educator for the past seven years, Adrianna has focused on developing her students into the next generation of leaders. She facilitates student-run morning broadcasts and pioneers the Accelerated Reader Program, cultivating an environment of confidence in her students. When not in the classroom, she volunteers her time to the Northside Elementary Technology Club, Lego Club, and Yearbook Committee.

Transitioning from a classroom teacher to a media specialist in 2021, Mrs. Swearingen was a key factor in Northside Elementary’s overall school grade increasing by 12 percentage points, English Language Arts (ELA) learning gains rising 21 percentage points, and learning gains for the lowest quartile of students in ELA growing a whopping 41 percentage points.

Haley Shurack
2024 Broward County Teacher of the Year

Haley Shurack is the 2024 Broward County Teacher of the Year. She received her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Florida Gulf Coast University and her master’s degree in early childhood special education from the University of Miami (UM), where she trained in the UM Debbie School Auditory/Oral program for students who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH). Haley has over a decade of experience in education, beginning her journey in West Broward High School’s Early Learning Lab, where she assisted with preschool-age students and earned her Child Development Associate (CDA). Over the years, she has worked as an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) paraprofessional, religious schoolteacher, youth group coordinator, VPK teacher, and Pre-K DHH teacher. Most recently, she is a DHH Itinerant Teacher for Broward County Public Schools, specializing in Early Intervention. Haley believes that all children learn best through play, and that building positive relationships with students and their families is a key component of effective instruction.

Don Clerveaux
2024 MDCPS Francisco R. Walker Teacher of the Year

Don Clerveaux was born in Miami, Florida, to Michaelle and Ismail Clerveaux. His parents moved to the United States in the late 60s and early 70s from Port Au Prince Haiti.

Mr. Clerveaux has been interested in science since he can remember. He would watch nature programs on PBS since his family did not have cable TV. Jack Horkheimer and Sir David Attenborough polished his interests in organisms, habitats, and the cosmos. His vast understanding of the natural world comes from the prior knowledge he found while being entertained by National Geographics and other programs he found on channel two. He now watches nature programming and visits state parks with his family. His wife, Carmen, and three children (Genevieve, Dominic, and Corrine) enjoy the tranquil and informative moments spent in the natural world.

Mr. Clerveaux coaches high school football, track, and field, and assists with strength and conditioning at Hialeah Gardens Senior High School. He teaches the athletes under his tutelage to appreciate and trust the process that will subsequently take care of the product (the product being success during competition). He enjoys watching the young people he coaches develop into stronger, more confident versions of themselves.

Mr. Clerveaux assists with the chess club and was one of the chaperones on the recent trip to nationals in Maryland. He loves strategic games and puzzles. He believes that the strategy behind chess can help students solve problems and build their educational stamina.

Mr. Clerveaux volunteers at his church to help the young people in his congregation and the local community. He cuts hair during the annual bookbag drive, where local students can receive school supplies, and get their hair done. He coaches the church basketball team, is the social activities director, athletic director, and helps the children’s ministry department. He and his children started the “Nature Project Initiative” where young people learn about science processes, nature, and how to preserve our world. He helped run the annual “Church Olympics” where many South Florida churches competed in track and field, soccer, volleyball, and basketball.

Mr. Clerveaux loves to learn and encourages his students to make education one of their life-long habits. He likes the “hands-on” method and likes learning new things. He infuses technology into his teaching practices and helps colleagues become more familiar with resources such as Schoology and EduSmart. He believes that innovations should be used to make our lives and the world better.

Mr. Clerveaux believes that the children he teaches must find answers to the world’s problems. He tells them that “they are the generation that will save the world”. He feels that they (his students) teach him just as much as he teaches them. He remembers the difficulties he had in school. He was diagnosed with ADHD and encourages his exceptional students to make their exceptionality their superpower! He teaches his students to appreciate differences and to celebrate each other’s distinctions.

Mr. Clerveaux appreciates the “Values Matters” initiative in Miami-Dade County Public Schools because this helps our students to be holistic. He says the world is all we have, and we need to take care of it and each other.