Frederick Douglass Elementary School principal Yolanda Ellis was named Educator of the Year, and Detective Ryan Rodriguez was honored as City of Miami Police Officer of the Year during a special Biscayne Bay Kiwanis (BiscayneBayKiwanis.org) luncheon.
The unique luncheon, honoring two people who dramatically impact the South Florida community, was held at the Airport Hilton Hotel.
Ellis, a local South Florida product who graduated from Miami Killian Senior High, began her education career in 1991 as a classroom teacher at Kelsey L. Pharr Elementary. After serving is a variety of positions at Pharr, she was named assistant principal at Holmes Elementary then served in the same position at Phillis Wheatley. In 2011 she was named principal at Frederick Douglass Elementary, then one of the county’s oldest schools.
In 2015, Douglass was razed to make way for a “new” Douglass, forcing the students, faculty, and staff to relocate to — and share the building with — nearby Wheatley Elementary. During the three years under trying circumstances, the Douglass school grade went from a “D” rating to an “A.”
“Ms. Ellis’ display of educational leadership under less than ideal circumstances was one of the key reasons we selected her as the winner of the Vyonda Moss Educator of the Year award,” said Kellie Gayoso, president of Biscayne Bay Kiwanis, one of South Florida’s most active community service organizations. “What she did — and continues to do — for her students is inspirational.”
While Ellis came to the luncheon already knowing she had been selected, the honor of Biscayne Bay Kiwanis’ City of Miami Police Officer of the Year is not announced until the award event. Four officers, all winners of the club’s “Officer of the Quarter” award, arrive not knowing if they are the winner.
“I’m honored to receive this award,” said Rodriguez, a five-year veteran of the police force who was joined on stage by Assistant Police Chief Louis Melancon and last year’s Officer of the Year winner Richard Rios. “Every one of the other officers were fine representatives of the department and were deserving.”
Rodriguez, surrounded by family and friends when the announcement was made, was selected for his overall work, but specifically because of his relentless investigation of three violent kidnappings/sexual assault cases.
Through analytical and investigative means, Rodriguez, 29, was able to ascertain that these three cases — women attacked at gunpoint in their homes — were committed by the same individual. Using composite sketches of the assailant and following up on a Crimestoppers tip, Rodriguez prepared a photo lineup for the victims, identified the assailant and he was arrested.
“Officers like Det. Rodrigue z— and our other nominees — have constantly put the safety of citizens ahead of their own safety,” Gayoso said. “Simply put, they make the City of Miami a better, safer place to live.”
Since its founding in 1950, the Biscayne Bay Kiwanis has served the children of Miami through educational programs, field trips, and hands on service projects. The 68-year-old club’s very successful programs include an in-school reading program to help second graders pass the EOY (End of Year) Exam, funding of summer swim lessons, lessons in etiquette, civics, and life skills, Thanksgiving meal giveaways to inner city families and guided tours/field trips to Everglades National Park and South Florida museums.
Over the past seven years the BBKC has awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships throughout Miami-Dade County, including an annual full, four-year college scholarship to a deserving Booker T. Washington High School senior.
For more information on the Biscayne Bay Kiwanis Club or to participate in one of their community service projects, send email to Biscaynebaykiwanis@gmail.com or phone/text 305-814-2225.
