MIRAMAR, Fla. – Every year, Local 10′s Tribute to Teachers campaign recognizes the best educators in South Florida, with only five honorees selected from hundreds of nominations.
Sheketha Ellison has been teaching special education at Glades Middle School in Miramar for 18 years.
“These are my babies as you can see, and I just can’t imagine doing anything else,” Ellison said.
Ellison is known for inspiring her students with her positive attitude toward teaching.
“She is a great compass for us and a great anchor to bring us back and make sure that in everything that we do we are advocating for all children,” Principal of Glades Middle School Ricardo Santana said.
Ellison’s life is marked by what she does for others. She’s not only a special education teacher, she’s a special needs mom.
“I had the wonderful privilege of actually adopting my kids out of foster care. I have a son and a daughter, my son has Down syndrome and they are the reason why I keep going,” Ellison said.
Ellison is among a select group of South Florida educators receiving recognition from the Tribute to Teachers campaign.
The recognition also comes with a $1,000 gift card from Publix Super Markets.
Ellison is known to her colleagues as the school’s leadership coach. She plans on being with them for a few more years before she retires.
“It also shows that the work that I’m doing is not in vain — that I’m actually touching the lives of my students which is my ultimate goal,” Ellison said.
RELATED: To see the stories of all the winners, click here.