LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Sherry Bees was nominated by Kendra Palumbo, the parent of a student.

“Good morning; have a great day."

These are six words that seem so basic at their core, but mean the world to students when said with a heartwarming smile and feeling that comes from the truest place of the soul. A warm smile, a hug for any student, greeting every student at the door to start off a day filled with happiness and mindful moments. Making a difference to children who will someday be the future leaders, the future of all that exists in the world around us. This describes Mrs. Bees, principal of Florida Atlantic University's AD Henderson University School.

Mrs. Bees is an administrative leader who enacts change for the betterment of the community as a whole. She sees the desire to learn and to grow, and fosters and develops it within everyone she works with. She is a reflective leader who examines what the next potential goal or achievement can be. Her constant ability to support and promote all of those around her to achieve the best they can be shows what a true leader is. She models how to be the best in one’s self, whether you're a student, teacher, or parent in her school. She breaks the standard view of the archetype of what a principal should be and excels far beyond it.

How do you summarize the beneficial difference of an educator of 26 years that has changed and impacted so many lives for the positive? How do you present the way they have made this difference in the lives of students in a short essay? It's simple: ask the students. Here are some excerpt quotes from a wide range of students impacted by the generosity of spirit given by Mrs. Bees:

“The dictionary definition of a principal is simply ‘the person in charge of a school,’ but Mrs. Bees represents the pinnacle of what a principal should be: compassionate, down to earth, and a loving soul who I am honored to have gotten to know so well during my high school experience. I never expected to have a legitimate connection with a school principal who is so loving and down to earth like Mrs. Bees."

“I’ve never had a principal like Mrs. Bees. She makes the effort to get to know all of her students and constantly attempts to make the environment one in which students will thrive in.”

“I am so grateful for the relationship I have with Mrs. Bees. She checks up on me even after I graduated and have started school elsewhere. Mrs. Bees is always bringing out the best version of her students by just being compassionate and just by being the best version of herself!”

“Principals are all in charge of providing a structured education system for students, but very few go above and beyond like Mrs. Bees does to leave a lasting impression on her kids that we will hold onto the rest of our lives.”

“Few principals invest their time into developing meaningful relationships with their students. Mrs. Bees makes it her duty to know her students beyond their academic life to personally and effectively guide them to success.”

“Mrs. Bees leads by example, and is everything a student could and should look up to in a role model. She makes it her job to be there for us at all our major competitions and events to support us, and lends a hand whenever we need help or encouragement. It's increasingly common for principals to be so busy they become little more than a name to their students, but Mrs. Bees is the rare exception.”

“On the days I would come to the main school, the first thing I would see is Mrs. Bees’ smiling face welcoming everyone, telling them to have a great day. While a lot of principals are seen as distant figures who reign over their students, Mrs. Bees is the exact opposite. She determines what is best for her students by integrating herself into the school’s community and talking to kids, laughing with them, and even traveling with them. There is no better example of a principal who leads by example than Mrs. Bees.”

“Few school principals exhibit the same level of care that Mrs. Bees has for her students. Her down to earth attitude makes her easy to talk to and a pleasure to be around. For these reasons, Mrs. Bees is more of a friend to me than a school principal.”

Mrs. Bees is a positive, encouraging educator with an optimistic conviction that quality education and educators greatly enhance student success and happiness. In recent years, as President Elect of the Florida Association of School Administrators, she spoke with determination to the State Congress in Tallahassee to protect education funding, advocate for students with special needs, and champion social-emotional learning for students. Watching the governor of Florida sign a bill enforcing insurance coverage for students with autism was a victory and one milestone in her journey to advocate for children statewide. She achieved another milestone in her journey to improve education and achieve academic excellence when her school earned the distinction of a 2018 National Blue Ribbon School for exemplary teaching and learning, as well as the 2019 Green Ribbon School District award and the 2019 Florida Healthy School District Silver Award. The combination of these three seemingly separate awards, as well as her advocacy in the state, creates an environment that allows for a positive impact on the students and the community as a whole.

Throughout her experience, Mrs. Bees has applied and integrated the concept that it is critically important for effective leadership to cultivate a dynamic community of practice and nurturing a culture of excellence in learning and innovation for students, teachers, support staff, and parents.

Mrs. Bees has been involved in education for 26 years. She began in teaching in 1993 and continued to serve in school-based instructional leadership as an administrator in Broward County Public Schools for 16 years. She has served in her current role since 2016. She was nominated by the Superintendent of Florida Atlantic University Laboratory Schools in 2017, and was selected into the inaugural class of the Dr. Brian Dassler Leadership Academy, sponsored by the Florida Department of Education in partnership with the University of Washington’s Center for Educational Leadership. Resulting from this work, she has been extended an invitation to become a Facilitator-in-Training (FIT) for the 2018 Academy.

Mrs. Bees believes that to create an atmosphere of success, compassion, and mindfulness, you must always be present and engaged, first and foremost. Leadership by example fosters an environment that is positive, inclusive, and engaging. Students, teachers, and support staff strive harder when they respect the person in charge, and this comes from being present and engaged in all situations. Her second strategy to her effective leadership is to embrace a life-long learning growth mindset approach. She strives to recognize and implement evidence-based practices that yield improvements to instructional practices, curriculum designs, early college models, and social-emotional growth of her students.

In her school, she embodies a philosophy of igniting the future by building a culture of innovation. This is exemplified by creating a vibrant, research-based learning community of young scholars, educators, leaders, and parents. She leads a group of dedicated, talented educators and incredible students, making it a unique educational environment. Her school's integration into the university allows for expanded opportunities to design, execute, and evaluate strategies for increasing student engagement in the college preparatory process, particularly within the K-8 setting, while providing concrete pathways for high-school students to graduate with a high school diploma and a bachelor’s degree simultaneously. Her passion for innovation, as well as her contagious excitement around the program and collaborative partnerships, extend far beyond the brick and mortar of her school. In 2017 and 2018, she was visited by education representatives from the Official Ministries of Education and Research from the Netherlands, Austria, China and Egypt. This truly attests to the quality of her school and the programs she leads.

Mrs. Bees continually strives for innovation at every grade level. She embraces and encourages research and investigation into educational theories. In an effort to harness her school's partnership with the university, a targeted effort was undertaken in 2016 to expand research initiatives for teachers and students. At the upper levels, teachers, students, and university faculty engage in research together—correlational, semi-experimental and experimental. Faculty help students identify and solve real-world problems through disciplined collaborative research. ADHUS/FAU High serves as a research site for FAU’s colleges and departments, as well as public and private sector research institutions such as SCRIPPS and Max Planck. Because of this strong foundation in educational research, ADHUS/FAU High, in collaboration with FAU’s College of Education, was awarded the 2017 Javits grant for talented and gifted students from the U.S. Department of Education. The goal of the grant is to increase the number of gifted and talented students from underrepresented groups and to improve services to meet the unique social and emotional needs of an increasingly diverse, gifted student population.

Mrs. Bees’ leadership in supporting outstanding curricula is at the heart of student success. Science, mathematics, and literacy curricula are planned with a vertical approach in mind. Starting in kindergarten, she focuses on preparing students for the content they will need for the eighth-grade state assessments. Digital Citizenship curriculum is introduced in STEAM beginning in kindergarten and strengthened throughout each grade level and subject area. Due to a district-wide focus on digital access, readiness, and integration—in particular, ensuring teachers receive professional learning on teaching digital citizenship and integrating technology into the curricula—her school was awarded the status of a Google Reference District in 2017. They were one of only 109 recognized in the world, and the only school in Florida to achieve this distinction. Additionally, in recognition of quality academics and innovative programs, ADHUS and FAU High School received a $1 million gift from Daniel Cane, CEO and co-founder of Modernizing Medicine, and his wife, Debra Cane. The gift establishes The Cane Institute for Advanced Technologies at Henderson/FAU High, which will serve as the school’s epicenter for research, education, and technology transfer.

The breadth of this unique high-profile K-12 model requires deliberate planning for effective communication. Beginning in 2016, Mrs. Bees introduced a weekly newsletter for staff and a monthly newsletter for parents and the community. These newsletters, coupled with a strong presence on social media, have improved and strengthened communication with her students and their parents, faculty, the university, and the greater community. These initiatives encourage greater feedback from students, parents, teachers, university faculty, and the community. From such feedback, she has taken steps to amend policies, clearly communicate procedures, and improve processes of school operations. It has also led to enriched academic pathways and choices for students in K-12 by increasing the number of electives for elementary and middle school students and providing enhanced tutoring services for students in middle school.

As a direct result of ongoing two-way communication, she has implemented successful enrichment programs such as Pathway clubs. Pathway clubs allow for unique cascade-learning and near-peer mentoring opportunities. For example, the high school SeaPerch club members are mentored by university faculty from the College of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering in collaboration with teachers. The high school students mentor middle school SeaPerch club members who, in turn, mentor the elementary school students. This has led to recognition at the international level for innovative engineering and design, as well as awards for science and undergraduate research projects by middle and high school students. A joint effort by school leadership, faculty, and parents has resulted in First Place in the 2018 Green Award for Palm Beach and Martin Counties and national and state recognitions in healthy and green schools. These initiatives and honors are a direct result of Mrs. Bees' willingness to listen—really listen—to her staff, students, parents, and the community. In a recent newsletter, Mrs. Bees’ stated, “I continually strive to do what is best for my students, and through this approach, our school community has grown as a team.”

John F Kennedy once said, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” Mrs. Bees embodies this statement in all that she does. She leads and learns from those around her, and she inspires them to do the same. Her positive spirit, constant drive, and view of the whole picture of an academic environment encourages students academically, emotionally, and socially. In an ever-changing school environment, Mrs. Bees has been a driving force to see change that will impact not only her students and staff, but her community as well. She's a leader who not only inspires change, but is also willing to take in other opinions and ideas to have them show her how they see change and how it can impact the greater good. Under her leadership, she has shown that she is willing to do what will create the greatest change and the most positive outcome as the quintessential leader, spear-heading an applied program of an integrated curriculum with a continuous flow through leveled developmental programs. These programs allow for a smooth transition between grades as students’ progress. Within this model, she has created a cohesive program where teachers utilize professional collaboration to increase the productivity and sharing of ideas and programs. Through her promotion of increased collaboration among staff, she has motivated and created a work environment of inclusiveness and teamwork, which fosters a greater sense of community throughout the school. Her school is K-12, which Mrs. Bees navigates with great ease, managing to find the motivational factors for all levels and allowing for both mentoring between grade levels and encouragement of graduates to come back and volunteer to mentor those still in the school. The multi-leveled approach for older students engaging with younger students allows for continuity between grade levels for rising students. The utilization of graduated high schoolers mentoring the younger rising students has brought a sense of inclusion and allowed for student-centered outreach.

As a result of this concept, her school also sees many members of the community engaging with students in meaningful and productive ways. Whether it be the Governor of Florida, business partners, engineers, doctors, or educators from other institutions, her school encourages and promotes the integration of their wealth of knowledge to find ways to make meaningful change through their involvement. Through this integration, Mrs. Bees has implemented new hardline replication documentation, so that success with the campus can be shared and utilized with other programs at other institutions. This sharing of data and programs through many sites and organizations within the community allows for educational replication and improvement. Through Mrs. Bees’ leadership, there have been changes in many programs and policies within the campus. She has created a multifaceted educational environment that allows for the advancement of learning and creates highly motivated, academically driven students who hold her in the highest regard.

Walt Disney said, “Whatever you do, do it well. Do it so well that when people see you do it, they will want to come back and see you do it again, and they will want to bring others and show others how well you do what you do.” This is a concept that Mrs. Bees thrives within. She has developed strategies of enhancing social media to share and celebrate students in ways that encourage them in all facets of their lives. She is the personification of a positive role model providing guidance, encouragement, and leadership to students and staff in a three component strategy. The three component strategy is designed around academics, social, and emotional well-being for all levels of the community of her campus. She has designed the program to increase the number of counselors on campus to assist in providing direction and support to help create a well-rounded educational experience that looks at the whole picture of each individual student. Allowing for individualized instruction and direct support where needed helps each student achieve at their highest potential.

While her leadership has led to great strides in multi-leveled education and individualized instruction, she has provided the leadership that has been needed in a tumultuous time and knows that security must change with the times. Her development of enhanced security for students and staff not only includes safety changes, but changes that effect the overall emotional development and well-being of her students. She has created a reflection of change that could help many schools create better campuses for their students. Single door entry, identification cards for students, and computerized identification log-in for all visitors are just some of the new procedures for the changing times she has immediately enacted to create a safe environment for the entire campus community.

Mrs. Bees is a dynamic, devoted, inventive leader who is fully committed to ensuring the academic success and social and emotional well-being of all students at FAUS. She fosters high standards and expectations that encourage an ongoing school culture of excellence and equity to advance learning and authentic engagement for students and staff. Her genuine caring nature for her school community is obvious in every decision she makes. Her leadership has greatly contributed to her district’s strength in meeting and exceeding their goals, as well as earning the distinction as a 2018 National Blue Ribbon School.

She has secured positive changes to further enhance learning and achievement for all students. From 2016-2019, A.D. Henderson has qualified over 100 seventh graders for the Duke TIP program, and over 395 FAU High students have been recognized in the National Merit Scholarship program. Mrs. Bees realizes that teachers are the greatest school influence on student achievement, so she has ensured time and flexibility during the school day for teachers to engage in collective examination to improve their instructional practice. In response to student and parent recommendations, Mrs. Bees has instituted a well-rounded, sustainable and challenging Enrichment Curriculum whereby students are offered options on a variety of choices in such as robotics, coding, theater, track and field, and competitive swimming.

She has initiated and enhanced innovative programs in both education and research. Since 2012, FAU High has achieved a 100% graduation rate, the only school in Florida to achieve this status. By strengthening academic programs and ensuring community-wide commitment to high standards, a number of initiatives beginning in 2016 have proved beneficial to students. Commencing with the 2016 school year, all tenth-grade students are engaged in a SAT foundations course collaboratively designed by school and university faculty. Beginning in the 2017 school year, eighth grade students take a dedicated course that combines essential content and test taking skills while fostering financial literacy, helping them to build confidence and preparing them to face the rigors of an early college program at FAU High. With these and other recent efforts, the number of National Merit Scholars has increased from 4 to 45.

Her school is rigorous, and curricula is demanding. The high school students fully transition into the college in tenth grade. To help students cope with these additional pressures, she partnered with the university in 2017 to hire a full-time mental health counselor housed on the university campus for students. This position supports group and individual counseling for 10-12th grade students who are fully immersed in academics at the university campus. Additionally, she recognized the responsibility of educators to address the various needs of the “whole” student, so she hired an additional high school counselor and K-8 counselor. Beginning in August 2018, Mrs. Bees has initiated a comprehensive K-12 school counseling program to help students remain safe, healthy, and engaged, all necessary elements of academic and personal success. She has also recognized the critical importance of supporting all students in developing social emotional competence. She continues a targeted recruitment and support approach to ensure all students, especially those who are underrepresented, have access to this unique model.

Mrs. Bees endeavors to change the lives of her students and families for the better. She integrates a level of mindfulness that personifies what a principal should be. This fall, she is engaged in taking an FAU course in Action Research with several of her teachers. Through this course, she has integrated a program of mindfulness through reflective practices. She “walks the walk” by engaging in and leading mindfulness strategies for the faculty. Mrs. Bees is meeting weekly for six weeks with a group of teachers to model a mindfulness strategy each week. Teachers implement the strategy with their students and follow-up by reflecting on the strategy and considering their own mindfulness through a one-minute journal exercise. Through all of her efforts, she is creating the whole picture that allows for positive change now and in the future with integrity, professionalism, care, compassion, and drive for excellence in herself, her students, and her staff.