Florida Senate - 2016 (NP) SR 1774 By Senator Soto 14-03814A-16 20161774__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing the outstanding contributions 3 of Johanna Lopez as an educator and a mentor and 4 congratulating her on her designation as the Orange 5 County Public Schools’ “Teacher of the Year.” 6 7 WHEREAS, Johanna Lopez was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, 8 where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic studies from 9 the University of Puerto Rico and later, a Master of Arts in 10 higher education from the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto 11 Rico, and 12 WHEREAS, in 1998, Johanna Lopez relocated to Orlando, where 13 she began her career at Colonial High School as a foreign 14 language teacher, and 15 WHEREAS, Johanna Lopez went on to start and teach an 16 Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish Literature and Culture course at 17 Colonial High School and later served for a decade as a College 18 Board reader, and 19 WHEREAS, Johanna Lopez was a volleyball coach for the 20 Colonial High School junior varsity boys volleyball team before 21 moving on to become the head coach for the varsity girls 22 volleyball team, and 23 WHEREAS, Johanna Lopez is the current AP Spanish language 24 professional learning community facilitator for the Orange 25 County Public Schools and conducts seminars on strategies for AP 26 Spanish language examination and classroom techniques, and 27 WHEREAS, Johanna Lopez has increased the number of AP 28 Spanish language students at Colonial High School, where, for 29 the first time in history, 12 AP Spanish language courses are 30 offered, and 31 WHEREAS, in 2015, Johanna Lopez achieved a 100 percent 32 passing rate in her AP Spanish Literature and Culture and AP 33 Spanish Language and Culture courses at Colonial High School, 34 and 35 WHEREAS, Johanna Lopez is the sponsor for the Sociedad 36 Honoraria Hispánica, in which more than 17 nationalities are 37 represented, and society members have contributed more than 38 2,100 community service hours, and 39 WHEREAS, in 2015, Johanna Lopez took part in the Puerto 40 Rican Leadership Summit at the University of Central Florida, 41 and 42 WHEREAS, Johanna Lopez was recognized as Colonial High 43 School’s 2015-2016 “Teacher of the Year” for her hard work and 44 dedication to the Spanish language curriculum, and 45 WHEREAS, on February 17, 2016, Johanna Lopez became the 46 first Puerto Rican woman to be named the Orange County Public 47 Schools’ “Teacher of the Year,” and 48 WHEREAS, Johanna Lopez is passionate about teaching and 49 believes that all children can learn and thrive in a learning 50 environment that is stimulating, comforting, and appropriate for 51 their abilities, NOW, THEREFORE, 52 53 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 54 55 That Johanna Lopez is recognized for her outstanding 56 contributions as an educator and a mentor and congratulated on 57 her designation as the Orange County Public Schools’ “Teacher of 58 the Year.”