Lee County Celebrates Historic School Certifications And Outstanding Teacher Recognition
The School District of Lee County is proud to announce a historic milestone: Cypress Lake Middle School and Hancock Creek Elementary School have become the first two schools in the State of Florida to earn High Reliability Schools (HRS) Level 3 Certification through the Marzano framework.
Level 3 Certification represents the highest standard of instructional excellence, recognizing schools that have established a guaranteed and viable curriculum and consistently deliver high-quality instruction across every classroom. Earning this certification is a rigorous process and achieving it speaks to the exceptional work happening inside both of these schools every single day.
This recognition is the result of years of intentional work, with teachers, instructional coaches, and school leaders aligning their practices around one shared goal: ensuring every student, in every classroom, receives a high-quality education. It reflects the district's deep commitment to continuous improvement and to creating environments where all students can thrive.
"Cypress Lake Middle School is proud of the many accomplishments of our teachers, staff, and students, and achieving HRS Level 3 Certification is another one of them," said Matthew Miller, Principal of Cypress Lake Middle School. "We are now certified in all three levels of the High Reliability Schools framework, each building upon the next to ensure our school remains a place where children can most effectively grow and learn. We merely strive to be a little better today than we were yesterday, and with that mindset, we can achieve great things together."
"Hancock Creek Elementary has achieved HRS Level 3 Certification, recognizing that we have established a guaranteed and viable curriculum that is unified and consistent across every classroom," said Dr. Cynthia Phillips-Luster, Principal of Hancock Creek Elementary School. "This accomplishment reflects the dedication and collaboration our teachers and staff bring every day. Their hard work is what makes this milestone possible, and together we continue to make Hancock Creek a place where students and staff thrive."
This historic achievement reflects the commitment of both school communities to excellence in teaching and learning, and stands as a model for schools across Florida.
The milestone extends beyond the school level. The district is also proud to recognize 20 Lee County educators who earned High Reliability Teacher (HRT) Certification, a framework that recognizes teachers who demonstrate effective instructional practices, engage in continuous professional growth, and intentionally monitor the impact of their teaching on student learning. Among them, Christopher Morales, Biology Teacher at Fort Myers High School, earned both Level 2 and Level 3 HRT Certification, joining only 48 educators nationwide at that distinction. His journey through all three levels of the framework reflects sustained instructional growth and a deep commitment to student success.
The following teachers are also being recognized:
Level 1 HRT Certification
- Anthony Allevato, San Carlos Park Elementary
- Janet Bernard, Harns Marsh Middle
- Kayleigh Boberg, Harns Marsh Elementary
- Lwigy Collado, Curriculum and Instructional Innovation
- Stefanie DeMichele Velez, Treeline Elementary
- Brittany Gardiner, Oak Hammock Middle
- Kristina Gezzar, Amanecer Elementary
- Julie Hancher, Lexington Middle
- Alexandria Hernandez, Buckingham Exceptional Student Center
- Caitlin Linden, Allen Park Elementary
- Jonathan Musci, Lehigh Senior High
- Dharmistha Patel, Dr. Carrie D. Robinson Littleton Elementary
- Rebecca Pullen, Lehigh Senior High
- Christine Sanders, Lehigh Elementary
- Carolyn Staehle, Allen Park Elementary
- Christina Toro, Sunshine Elementary
- Keysha Valentin-Lopez, Harns Marsh Elementary
- Marissa Zinkus, Varsity Lakes Middle
Level 2 HRT Certification
- Michelle Lewis, Lehigh Elementary
Level 3 HRT Certification
- Christopher Morales, Fort Myers High School
These certifications reflect the district's continued investment in instructional quality and its commitment to ensuring every Lee County student benefits from exceptional teaching.