Covenant Christian School in Palm Bay Florida recently presented Teacher of the Year awards to two exceptional educators: Mr. Brian Cieslak & Mrs. Cindy Corey
Brian Cieslak joined the secondary staff at Covenant Christian School in 2006 coming from Ft. Lauderdale where he taught in private schools for several years. He has a Bachelors degree in Computer Science from Clemson but is a math whiz in every sense of the word: Geometry, Algebra II, Trigonometry, Precalculus, AP Calculus, AP Stats, flipped classrooms. He mixes the seriousness of math with Dora the Explorer, fun, snowball fights, and jokes. Students love his encouragement, his challenge, and his extra help before school, after school, study halls, and lunch. With SAT Prep, new technology, and Khan Academy, Mr. Cieslak has made classes interactive, fun, and engaging. He has led the charge in area math competitions preparing our students for success. Whether for the math-minded, engineer-bound, or struggling student, Brian Cieslak devotes his time and energy to perfecting the art of math instruction and helping students grow in their understanding. The faculty love that when he sits down with you, he asks questions about how you’re doing, how are your kids, and how are your classes going? Students love that on Fridays, Mr. Cieslak asks what they heard God say at chapel that morning. And suddenly math class is testimony time.
Mr. Cieslak is tireless in his teaching, his coaching in and out of class, and his service to the Lord. Covenant Christian School is pleased to recognize Brian Cieslak as our Secondary Teacher of the Year.
Cindy Corey, the Elementary Teacher of the Year, is known for her enthusiasm, encouragement and love of reading. Not only do her current students get excited about reading and eagerly clamor for the next book in a series, but her former students stop in to borrow books and chat. She has established a book club, where 4th, 5th and 6th graders gather after school is discuss the chosen book of the month.
Every year Mrs. Corey also inspires her students to run, taking class time weekly to run a mile. She challenges the children to improve throughout the year while she runs alongside them, cheering and encouraging. A number of them will join her in participating at community running events. She reports on these times with enthusiasm and genuine pride and affection for her students.
Mrs. Corey teaches organizational skills that will benefit her students for the rest of their lives. She guides them in learning how to study with checklists and outlines that take them step by step to success.
One grandmother has commented that, “Mrs. Corey’s classroom is not defined by four walls; she makes sure her students relate lessons to the outside world. She (takes her students on) a field trip to St. Augustine where their social studies lessons … come alive!”
Mrs. Corey can be found at yard sales in Palm Bay and Melbourne, always looking for books and materials that will enrich the classroom experience for her students. Mrs. Corey has a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Asbury College in Wilmore, KY and a Master’s degree in Special Education from Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA. She has taught at Covenant for ten years in 4th grade. Prior to this, she taught kindergarten and Reading Recovery in the Brevard Public School System.
Covenant Christian School is proud to honor these two outstanding teachers.
