Gulliver Preparatory Schools foreign language teacher Margarita Morell recently received the coveted Operation Smile “Educator of the Year Award” given annually by Operation Smile at the International Student Leadership Conference held in Denver, Colorado on August 4, 2010.
More than 400 students and teachers from 12 different countries, including Ireland, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, China, Paraguay, Japan, Panama, Morocco, Egypt and the United States, attended the conference.
Morell, a 29-year educator, a 12-year veteran teacher at of which have been with Gulliver Prep, was chosen from hundreds of applicants worldwide. “I am very grateful for the generosity and support Gulliver has provided over the years and for this special recognition,” saidys Morell. “But it’s not about my efforts, i. It’s about the joy we see on the children’s faces following reconstructive surgery that brings them hope for a better future.”
Operation Smile is an international humanitarian organization comprised of medical volunteers who provide free cleft lip and cleft palate repair surgery for children worldwide. The “Educator of the Year” award recognizes a teacher who has devoted time, effort, and knowledge to supporting Operation Smile by spreading awareness and aiding an Operation Smile student club.
Morell has been an active Operation Smile student club sponsor at Gulliver Schools for four years. During the last school year, the club raised more than $6,000 with the help of Gulliver students, teachers, and administrators.
In addition to supervising the student club on the Pinecrest campuses, Morell also goes on missions to countries receiving Operation Smile assistance and where she supervises students assigned to her, teaches hygiene to families, and generally assists where needed. Her first Operation Smile mission was in March 2009 in Egypt, and her next mission will be in in March 2011, the location is to be determined.
For more information, about Operation Smile or how you can help, contact Morell atcall 305-.815-.7360 or e-mail her at morm@gulliverschools.org.
Gulliver Schools is a 501 (c) (3) private, not-for-profit, independent, coeducational, nonsectarian day school with the mission of providing a superior college-preparatory education and ensuring an outstanding dynamic learning environment which recognizes and nurtures the unique talents and gifts of each student.
Comments are closed.