news release

Charter school governing board member Dale Simchick of North County Charter School in Vero Beach, Fla., has received a Charter School Champion of the Year Award for 2026 from the Florida Consortium for Public Charter Schools (FCPCS).

Simchick is one of three charter school governing board members named Charter School Champions from public charter schools throughout Florida.  The award period covers the 2025/2026 school year calendar.

Champion charter school governing board members “are who, through their service on their boards, have contributed significantly to the success of their charter schools,” according to Champions of the Year Award nomination materials.

For the thirteenth year, FCPCS received nominations in several categories, including charter school governing board members, charter school teachers, charter school leaders and charter school pioneers. 

2026 Charter School Champions of the Year come from all parts of Florida and represent schools at grade levels ranging from kindergarten through high school.  Seven Champions of the Year are charter school teachers, five are charter school leaders, three are charter school governing board members and four are charter school pioneers.

“Congratulations to Dale Simchick and to all of the 2026 Charter School Champions of the Year, and congratulations to their schools and communities,” said Robert Haag, FCPCS President.  “Each of the winners helps to deliver quality education to Florida’s charter school students.  Florida’s hugely successful charter school movement is possible because of education professionals like them.  The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools thanks them for everything they do.”

Listed alphabetically by category, winners of the 2026 Charter School Champions of the Year Awards are: 

–Charter School Champions of the Year – Teachers

Dallas Georgianna, Second Grade Teacher, Franklin Academy Cooper City

Karis Haag-James, STEM Teacher, Pinecrest Academy Space Coast, Melbourne

Kristin Jeffrey, Teacher, Rising Leaders Academy, Panama City

Brittnee Jones, Third Grade Teacher, Hope Charter School, Ocoee

Patrick Morton, Teacher, Pepin Academies, Tampa

Nicole Puhr, Math Coach/Intervention Specialist, Oakland Avenue Charter School, Oakland

Rachel Spivey, Science Instructor, Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School, Tampa

–Charter School Champions of the Year – School Leaders

Deseree Barnes, Assistant Principal, Central High School, Panama City

Deb Berg, Assistant Principal, Odyssey Charter School, Palm Bay

Jessica Martinez, Assistant Principal, Ocean Studies Charter School, Key Largo

Michelle Kim O’Neal, Assistant Principal, Spring Creek Charter School, Paisley

Vanessa Tabb, Assistant Principal, Altoona School, Altoona

–Charter School Champions of the Year – Governing Board Members

Dr. Andrew Binns, Board Chair, Palm Beach Maritime Academy, Lantana

Beth Nelson, Founding Board Member, Altoona School, Altoona

Dale Simchick, Board Member, North County Charter School, Vero Beach

About the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools

The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is the leading charter school membership association in the state.  Since its inception in 1999, FCPCS has been dedicated to creating a national model of high quality, accredited public charter schools that are student-centered and performance-driven. FCPCS provides a wide array of technical support, mentoring, training, networking, and purchasing services to its membership, as well as serving as an advocate for all Florida public charter schools.