Area teachers named charter school champs
Three teachers at charter schools in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties have been named Charter School Champions of the year for 2026 by the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools.
Susan Latvala, a charter school pioneer at Acadamie Da Vinci Charter School in Dunedin, is one of four charter school pioneers named Charter School Champions from public charter schools throughout Florida.
Champion charter school pioneers “are individuals who were active in the charter school movement in the early years and have made a major, innovative contribution to the charter school movement,” according to Champions of the Year Award nomination materials.
Patrick Morton, a teacher at Pepin Academies in Tampa, is one of seven teachers named Charter School Champions from public charter schools throughout Florida.
Champion charter school teachers “are exceptional teachers who inspire their students to reach high achievement levels at their charter schools.”
Rachel Spivey, a science instructor at Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School in Tampa, is one of seven teachers named Charter School Champions from public charter schools throughout Florida.
For the 13th year, FCPCS received nominations in several categories, including charter school pioneers, charter school teachers, charter school leaders and charter school governing board members.
USF dean to chair national medical education accrediting body
TAMPA — Dr. Charles J. Lockwood, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, has begun a one-year term as chair of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the accrediting authority for U.S. medical education programs leading to the MD degree.
Jointly sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association, the LCME is composed of medical educators, practicing physicians, public members and medical students who work collaboratively to promote excellence in medical education and ensure that graduates are prepared to provide safe, compassionate, evidence-based care.
Lockwood has served on the LCME for the past four years, including the past year as chair elect. He is among the nation’s longest-serving medical school deans and has led USF Health since 2014.
A maternal-fetal medicine specialist, physician-scientist, educator and academic leader, Dr. Lockwood has delivered more than 5,000 babies, authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications with over 36,000 citations, maintained decades of NIH and foundation funding and mentored numerous future department chairs and deans. He previously served as dean of The Ohio State University College of Medicine and department chair at New York University and Yale University.