Rae Burnham: Rae Burnham has been at Palmetto since 2005. Prior to teaching at Palmetto as a Special Education teacher and a co-social studies teacher, Burnham worked at Palmetto Middle School for 27 years. “My experience at Palmetto has been wonderful,” Burnham said. “I love the kids, the staff, and the people I co-teach with.” Burnham will miss the friends and responsible students she met at Palmetto. Burnham felt a calling to be a teacher at a young age and entered the field after college. “I went into teaching because I loved it. I sure didn’t do it for the money,” Burnham said. After teaching for 33 years, Burnham is retiring.
Robert Flinn: Robert Flinn has taught English at Palmetto for the past 11 years. However, once the school year ends, he will be walking away from teaching. “I started being a writer and a poet. I got my bachelor’s of art (degree) in English and a master’s in fine art and creative writing,” Flinn said. He decided to teach English because of his love for literature and poetry and will miss teaching honors creative writing. In his retirement, Flinn plans on moving to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. “I am going to live and possibly teach part time at a university,” Flinn said.
Sashamara Perez: Sashamara Perez has been teaching Biology at Palmetto for four years. Adored by her students, Perez is known to always have her door open and ready to lend an ear even “during my planning period everyday.” While at Palmetto, Perez has extended advice to faculty and staff. “I’ll miss my students, especially the ones I mentored and came to me and seeked my advice. Also, my fellow science colleagues,” Perez said. Known for her dynamic teaching style, some of her most cherished moments were dancing and bringing her mom to class. Perez plans to teach at an American school in England.
Jay Salon: Jay Salon started teaching at Palmetto in 1986, “The same year as Oprah, Arnold and Maria (Schwarzenegger’s) marriage and the Dairy Queen Blizzard first started,” Salon said. During his tenure of 25 years, Salon taught regular, honors and AP Chemistry in addition to the TV Production class, and one summer of Biology. Salon has also served as the sponsor of Science National Honor Society. Salon will be moving on to teach chemistry at Ransom Everglades School. “I am most excited about a new job and meeting new people,” Salon said. “This is a new chapter in my life, and it is bittersweet. It will be a tough first year knowing that I have left students and an esteemed loved group of colleagues behind. I will always be a Panther for life!”
Deboarah Swanson: Deborah Swanson first entered the doors of Palmetto as an Algebra II teacher 14 years ago. This year, however, she will be walking out as a teacher who will be missed dearly. “I will miss the students, and the friendships with faculty and administartion,” Swanson remarks about Palmetto. A teacher in demand, the Palmetto community first acquired Swanson by asking for her. “I never applied for a job at Palmetto,” Swanson said. “I was teaching at Glades Middle and they came wanting me.” Though the Palmetto community wished her time on staff was longer, she leaves behind a legacy of great teaching. Swanson will be leaving to inspire more students as a middle school math teacher at Gulliver.
Antonella Visconti: Antonella Visconti has been teaching ninth grade English for the past seven years. She is going to miss her students and the fact that they will not be able to visit her once they graduate, for she will be hundreds of miles away in Chicago, teaching other students in English (when she finds a job). Even more, Visconti will miss Mr. Panton, Ms. Artzt and the faculty that surrounded her since she began teaching at Palmetto because, to her, they have been her family. She plans on creating some kind of blog to keep in touch with her students.