Nicole M. Greggs - Broward's Arts Teacher Of The Year 2008/05/10

Arts Teachers are Changing Lives

Broward County Cultural Division Says 'Congratulations!'

Early/Middle Childhood Music Teacher at Plantation Park Elementary School

Nicole M. Greggs is the honored recipient of the 2008 Arts Teacher of the Year Award

The Broward County Cultural Division is proud to announce Nicole M. Greggs, National Board Certified Teacher, an early/middle childhood music teacher at Plantation Park Elementary School, as the 23^rdannual Broward County Arts Teacher of the Year. A ceremony to recognize this award will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 2008, 6:00 p.m., at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

A Coral Springs resident, Greggs holds a bachelor degree, magna cum laude, in music education from the University of Miami, 1999, and a masters of arts in teaching, from Florida Atlantic University, 1997. She has also studied abroad in vocal performance and German studies at Salzburg College, Austria, in 1990. Greggs is the founder, director and administrator of the innovative MusicMakers! Summer Camp for ages 6 – 14, and for which she is also the curriculum and program designer and head instructor.

"I do what I do, because I care about students' learning and I care about the future of our nation. Today's students are tomorrow's decision-makers," says Greggs, who holds professional memberships from a number of national associations including Music Educators National Conference, 1991 – 2007, Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Elementary Music Educators Association, Florida Vocal Association, 1991 – 2007, and American Choral Directors Association.

In a show of great fanfare, Nicole M. Greggs received this outstanding news on Friday, April 18, 2008, while teaching a class at Plantation Park Elementary School, where she has taught for the last 17 years. Patricia Zeiler, arts education assistant, Broward County Cultural Division, came unbeknownst into the classroom, followed by Greggs' family members and School Principal Julie Gittelman, to make the announcement personally. Greggs' son was a student in the class, at the time.

The Arts Teacher of the Year Award was created by the Broward County Cultural Division in 1985 to annually recognize the most outstanding arts teacher in Broward County schools. Teachers whose primary assignment is in an arts discipline including dance, drama, music, visual arts and media arts, are eligible to apply or be nominated. The selection panel is composed of members of the Broward Cultural Council's Arts in Education Committee. Potential winners submit a written application, audio/visual exhibits, and are observed in the classroom by members of the selection panel. In addition to the ceremony and reception at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Greggs receives a cash stipend, a scholarship to Nova Southeastern University, a Tiffany crystal apple, an inscribed brick on Riverwalk, and an assortment of gifts from cultural organizations and businesses.

"A people's art is the genesis of their freedom."

Claudia Jones, Founder

London Carnival, 1959

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Currently spending his time between New York and Florida, Beau was born to a theatrical family in Brooklyn. He studied drama at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute and at HB Studios. He studied theater singing with Julia Sperratore and Helen Gallagher. Beau later taught drama at the Lincoln Center Square for the Arts. It was at this time Beau began working with the Theater Development Fund and helped found New York's famed HALF PRICE TICKET BOOTH. Early in his career, Beau was screen tested and contracted for Warner Brothers. He co-hosted, an early cable variety series on Manhattan's Teleprompter channel. At this time he directed the Johnny Specca musical, SEX IS..? at the Lincoln Center Library Theater. Beau has performed Off-Broadway in FAT FELL DOWN, The Comic Strip Theater's LITTLE LULU AND THE INVISIBLE INK and WILL THE REAL ZOOPERMAN PLEASE STAND UP. Around the country he has delighted audiences with his performances in ANYTHING GOES, THE APPLE TREE, GUYS & DOLLS, and HELLZAPOPPIN! He sang for New York audiences at such cabarets as The Duplex and Upstairs at the Downstairs. He has had numerous television appearances but is most proud to have been a winning contestant on the game shows JACKPOT and THE $20,000 PYRAMID.

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