Dana believes that teaching is the single most influential factor in the molding of tomorrow for the world at large. It is a teacher’s duty to capitalize on each child’s innate desire to learn and it is crucial that an individualized educational plan be tailored for every child, taking each from where he is, to a new height. Dana also believes that despite their tremendous potential for greatness, we lose our children to mediocrity far too often. Education must be a priority.
Dana Kelly
Lakeland, FL | Years Taught: 1973 – Present
Additional Recognition
- 2005 • Butler-Cooley Excellence in Teaching Award – The Turnaround Management Association
- 2005 • USA TODAY’s All-USA Teacher Team
- 2003 • Volunteer of the Year, Sister Cities International
- 2002 • Disney Teacherrific Award, $18,000
- 2002 • Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award, Montgomery College
- 2002 • Time Magazine, Chevy Malibu Teaching Excellence Award
- 2001 • Featured, Schools in the News Ledger series, Immigrant tutoring program
- 2001 • Teaching Excellence Award, Top 5 state finalist, Florida Education Association
- 2001 • Exemplary Program, only Florida gifted program recognized in NAGC publication
- 2001 • Disney Dreamers & Doers Award
- 2001 • Invited Keynote Speaker, FLAG New Gifted Teacher conference, Jacksonville, FL
- 2001 • Polk County District Teacher of the Year
- 2001 • Master Teacher Business Partnership Summer Intern
- 2000-01 • Southwest Elementary Teacher of the Year
- 2000-01 • Florida Gifted Teacher of the Year, Florida Association of the Gifted
- 2000-01 • Polk County Gifted Teacher of the Year, Florida Association of the Gifted
- 2001 • Writer, four student awards (received) including college scholarship
- 2000 • Disney Community Service Award, “Service Learning”
- 2000 • Disney Teacherrific Award, $5,750
- 2000 • Volunteer of the Year, American Red Cross, Polk Chapter
- 2000 • Scorer, Disney American Teacher Awards, Orlando
- 1999 • National Board Certification, National Board/Professional Teaching Standards
- 1999 • Featured, “What’s Right With Our Schools”, (service-learning) FOX 13 TV
- 1999 • Selected to represent international education in schools to Secretary of State
- 1998-99 • Writer, feature series, bimonthly, bilingual Japanese news magazine, Japan
- 1998 • Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers
- 1998 • Featured, “What’s Right With Our Schools”, (exchange program), FOX 13 TV
- 1997 • International study (3 weeks, Japan, volunteerism study in 18 education institutions)
- 1997 • Commendation by Sister Cities International
- 1996 • Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers
- 1995 • Selected to host, tour national Japan DOE delegation, per our national DOE
- 1992 • National Writing Award, Jostens Learning Coporation
- 1991 • Florida State Elementary Chess Champs (coach 11 years, 2 states)
- 1988 • Civic Leader in Education award & KC-135 VIP Flight, Grissom Air Force Base
- 1985 • Teacher-in-Space regional semi-finalist, Indiana
- 1984 • Top Graduate Student in Special Education, Indiana University
- 1975 • Honorarium, Outstanding Service with Learning Disabled Children
- 1976 & 1974 • Saving a child’s life citation (twice), Easter Seals & Association of Learning Disabilities