Through 20 years of excellence, OCSA is the number one school in Osceola County, and number two in Central Florida. Our school strives to help students succeed and find their path. OCSA welcomes new staff and teachers into our family. The positivity and great things at OCSA drove staff here to fulfill a mission. Meet our new staff and teachers here on campus.
Mrs. Sugeily Dolhon joins OCSA as an Assistant Principal. As a former preforming arts student, she is thrilled to be working in a space encompassed by art daily. Coming from a busy background of music and dancing, her passion focuses on her students. “Every classroom my batteries get recharged,” she explains.
She expresses working here is nothing short of amazing and feels familiar to her. “I feel like I see myself in each of you,” she describes working at OCSA. Aside from the students, she fell in love with the staff as well. “It’s just a place full of these amazing educators.” Only four weeks in and we already have all her love and dedication, Ms. Dolhon is an ideal match for OCSA.
Photo of Mrs. Dolhon
Introducing our new dean of students, Mrs. Ivett Ortiz! Serving many roles here in Osceola County, Mrs. Ortiz brings guidance and talent for leading students to a path of success. She finds her place here at OCSA her home, stating: “I like for this to become my final place of growth, making it my home.”
Mrs. Ortiz has been welcomed to the OCSA family with open arms, as she enjoys the life here on campus. “I love it, I really really love it, the students are fantastic, the good mornings, the welcome, the pictures that they have given to me with the special messages of welcoming me into their family, it’s been a good experience,” she shares.
She has a mission here at OCSA to serve and educate parents and students, “I had heard some great things that my talents could be used to provide services to our students as well as parents,” she explains. Mrs. Ortiz pushes the students here at OCSA to their best, and to make good decisions in the near future.
“The dean of students here allows me to help the student to identify what disciplinary aspects are holding them back to succeed right now in the present world, that they’re able to have the appropriate skills and verbiage to progress,” she shares.
Mrs. Claire Mcbride, not to be confused with Mr. Mcbride, joins OCSA with Exceptional Student Support (ESE). She is ready to give her students all the support they need while maintaining independence to prepare them for their futures. “My goal is for them not to need me,” she says. Diving deeper into her student objectives, Mrs. McBride wants to help her students achieve a growth mindset, to allow them to be comfortable in saying “I don’t get understand” and willing to learn. She is constantly impressed by her students and how happy they are here to create and learn. “I just think it’s amazing working here,” she describes OCSA.
Photo of Mrs. Mcbride
Mr. Kaleb Barkley is the new band teacher here at OCSA. His love and passion for music has helped our artists to express the melody within them. He has been driven to OCSA from all the great things we’ve accomplished. “I always heard great things about this school,” he says.
Being a musician himself, Mr. Barkley comes to teach and inspire. “To help as many students as possible,” he strives to guide our artists. He’s had many good experiences with his passion of teaching music to students. “I used to teach music in Chicago, New Orleans, and Milwaukee,” he says. OCSA has been a wonderful place for Mr. Barkley to teach students to be passionate about music and be around professional musicians. He’s been welcomed by our great staff and students. “It’s been awesome. So many great things going on, the students are awesome, faculty, the other teachers, everything’s really good,” he explains.
Photo of Mr. Barkley
Mr. Angel Rivera comes to OCSA’s Visual Arts department with brilliance and dedication. He brings with him a wealth of passion and receptiveness that will undoubtedly enrich the artistic education of OCSA’s students. Not only is he passionate for art but he is ready to work with his students to understand that art and life are intertwined.
His artistic goals consist of advising his students in finding their identity in their art and position in society. “I am very impressed with the talent and the desire to develop the talent,” he describes his students. Not only is he fitting in with his students, but the staff also seems to have befriended him as well. “This is the first time in my life that I come to a place that is so welcoming,” he says. His vehemence for art and love for his students strengthens OCSA.
Photo of Mr. Rivera
Ms. Melba Lopez is the new math teacher here on campus. She brings her dedication and experience to help students succeed here at OCSA. Retired from the army, she comes here to be a part of the OCSA family and experience the great things here on campus. “I heard so many good things about this school”, she explains.
Her passion to become a math teacher originated from her son. “He struggled most in math, and I understood, I learned, to apply what I learned with my son, with other students,” She shares with her students. Ms. Lopez., a crafty person herself, she creates things in her home, as well as doing other art activities. “I sew, I paint, I do a lot of stuff,” she says. She has a mission to help students understand and succeed. “I want to see my students develop the skill that they need to, I need to make sure they understand it”, she explains.
Ms. Lopez has liked her experience here at OCSA, and she enjoys teaching her students. “It’s a verry good experience, the kids are very smart,” she says. Sharing her passion for teaching math with her students, she makes sure her students acknowledge that she is here to help them understand this material and use it throughout their high-school years.
Photo of Ms. Lopez
Meet OCSA’S new Intensive Reading, and Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Teacher, Mrs. Vivian Conners. Her passion for reading has brought her here to OCSA, being involved and experiencing all the wonders that happen on campus. Mrs. Conners helps our students grow, and has been shown that OCSA is a great place to be in.
“I was just given this great opportunity to work in a school where I understand that the majority of the students are serious when it comes to their education,” she says. She feels welcomed, and people were helpful to her. “Very welcoming, everyone has been very welcoming,” she explains.
Mrs. Conners shares her love for art and reading, as she crafts new things. “I love anything that has to do with art,” she explains. With the passion of teaching, Mrs. Conners inspires others to be successful.
“I think it’s inspiring to be able to help someone else build their life,” she shares. She’s had many different experiences teaching, it’s great to have her here at OCSA.
“I have taught elementary school, I have taught middle school, I have taught high school for a long time, but I am also an ESE teacher, I taught vision, I was an itinerary teacher,” she says. Mrs. Conners is really inspiring and fun, she is an awesome teacher here at OCSA.
Photo of Mrs. Conners
Ms. Maria Maza is a new physical science teacher here at OCSA. She hopes to help her students go beyond critical thinking and have good reasoning skills. Her passion comes from a previous teacher of hers which pushes her to develop a bond with her students.
“I want to connect with them without becoming best friends” she states. She believes that understanding her students and thinking like them while also implementing a bit of a strict aspect is one of the most important parts of teaching. One of her favorite ways to connect with students is playing classroom games relating to what she is teaching. Jumping into how she feels about OCSA’s environment, she describes it as inviting and is excited to work with the people here. With her ideals and goals for students paired with her love for teaching she makes a perfect fit for OCSA.
Photo of Ms. Maza
Ultimately, the new teachers and staff all show dedication, commitment, diligence, and most importantly, they show passion. Welcoming these people has not only been a pleasure but an honor as well. Ready to conquer challenges, share their passion to students, and give their all to us, the new teachers and staff are sure to bring OCSA beyond 20 years of excellence!
