M-DCPS Celebrates 10th Annual Values Matter Miami Pop-Up Awards Winners

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) recently held the 2024-2025 Values Matter Miami Pop-up Awards Ceremonies at 36 schools throughout the District. The awards celebrated the outstanding students, staff, and school communities whose actions exemplify the District’s nine core values. 

Values Matter Miami was launched to highlight the District’s nine core values identified in the Code of Student Conduct: Citizenship, Cooperation, Fairness, Honesty, Integrity, Kindness, Respect, Responsibility, and Pursuit of Excellence. 

M-DCPS believes that rewarding positive student behavior is an integral way to cultivate a positive, supportive school environment and empower students to pursue excellence in all areas.

Each month, schools infuse activities that highlight and promote the Values Matter Miami core value of that month. Students and staff are also encouraged to nominate one of their peers who exemplifies that value monthly. 

The pop-up ceremonies are a culmination of this year’s Values Matter Miami initiative. Listed below for each core value are two winning students, a staff member winner, and a school winner for a total of 27 individuals and nine schools:

Citizenship

• Elementary Student: Moises Santana, Maya Angelou Elementary School

• Secondary Student: Anaira Dewarchavez, John I. Smith K-8 Center

• Staff: Phillip Wright, Jan Mann Educational Center

• School: Air Base K-8 Center for International Education

Cooperation

• Elementary Student: Michael Garcia, Dr. Henry E. Perrine Academy for the Arts

• Secondary Student: Maanas Daswani, Felix Varela Senior High School

• Staff: Officer Crystal Gonzalez, Kenwood K-8 Center

• School: Riverside Elementary Community School

Fairness

• Elementary Student: Connor Finales, Eneida Massas Hartner Elementary School

• Secondary Student: Jasmine Lewis, COPE Center North

• Staff: Elena Mestre, West Miami Middle School

• School: North Beach Elementary School

Honesty

• Elementary Student: Kathleen Ortiz, Ludlam Elementary School

• Secondary Student: Aubriel Richardson, Andover Middle School

• Staff: Judersy Fernandez, Paul W. Bell Middle School

• School:  Coral Way K-8 Center

Integrity

• Elementary Student: Daynielly Contreras, Gloria Floyd Elementary School

• Secondary Student: Kevin Scarcello, iPREP Academy North

• Staff: Stephanie Nunez, Southwest Miami Senior High School

• School: Kelsey L. Pharr Elementary School

Kindness

• Elementary Student: Nolentz Pierre, Arch Creek Elementary School

• Secondary Student: Angelo Gandia, Cutler Bay Senior High School

• Staff: Kathy Vispisiano, Miami Killian Senior High School

• School: Pine Villa Elementary School

Pursuit of Excellence

• Elementary Student: Amoni Cunningham, Poinciana Park Elementary School

• Secondary Student: Sofia Arango, School for Advanced Studies - West

• Staff: Sylvia Gonzalez, Ben Sheppard Elementary School

• School: Dr. Frederica S. Wilson/Skyway Elementary School

Respect

• Elementary Student: Sebastian Ramirez, Coral Terrace Elementary School

• Secondary Student: Samuel Rodriguez, Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School

• Staff: Iyana Johnson, Lorah Park Elementary School

• School: Royal Green Elementary School

Responsibility

• Elementary Student: Scarlett Serrano, Charles D. Wyche Elementary School

• Secondary Student: Paula Campos-Arauz, Miami Jackson Senior High School

• Staff: Paulette Walker, Lillie C. Evans K-8 Center

• School: Lamar Louise Curry Middle School

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