Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator Finalist Named at Progress Village Middle Magnet

Note: This article has been corrected to reflect the award won by William F. Leonard II, who is a finalist for the Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year in Hillsborough County.

It wasn't too hard to fool William Leonard II, who on Jan. 18 received a "surprise patrol" visit at his Exceptional Student Education (ESE) classroom at Progress Village Middle Magnet School.

"I was told to come prepared today to answer questions about test scores," Leonard said Friday, outside his classroom, after he learned he was one of five finalists for this year's Ida S. Baker Diveristy Educator of the Year award in Hillsborough County, the nation's eighth-largest school district. "I was told a few months ago that my test scores were the best in the county as far as ESE test scores."

But then Leonard saw the patrol headed to his classroom, with Ronald McDonald among the walkers, and he had another thought. Progress Village is a magent school for the performing arts, and in April is staging The Wizard of Oz. Teachers, with their students, have been asked to decorate the doors to their classrooms in a theme related to the musical, for a schoowide judging.

"I thought that the group was the judging panel for the door-deocrating contest, and we weren't ready," Leonard said. "The next thing I knew, confetti was flying everywhere."

Within moments Leonard learned that after being an Ida S. Baker honoree at his school for three years in a row — in 2011, 2012 and 2013 — he was now being recognized on a broader scale.

Leonard is among the 17 countywide finalists for 2013 Excellence in Education Awards, with the winners scheduled to be selected at a banquet March 28. The Teacher of the Year honoree will advance to statewide competition. The winner there will advance to national competition.

• See Hillsborough Teacher of the Year Finalist Surprised at Spoto High

• See 2012-13 Teacher of the Year: A List of Finalist Contenders

As for his countywide honor, Leonard said, "I was blown away."

"Every year I go to the banquet and see so many people doing so many great things," he said.

This year, he will go again, and again as an Ida S. Baker designee, focused on the kid in the classroom.

"I truly believe, with all my heart, that every child can learn," Leonard said. "There is not such thing as a child with any situation that can prevent them from learning. We just have to identify how to reach them. It just takes a little more to reach them. And once you reach therem, they're like putty in your hand. You can shape them, mold them, show them their options, and their self-esteem just goes through the roof."

Leonard said he became a teacher because he comes from a family of teachers — both his parents were in education — and that he entered the profession with an alternative certificate, after working as a health educator with the American Lung Association.

For 11 years he has taught at Progress Village, which he said was "a good fit," because of his degree in fine arts.

"I play piano and organ and my degree was in musical theater," he said, noting as well that one year, with another teacher, he directed the school musical, Grease.

At Progress Village, he added, the school's prinicpal, Michael Miranda, "really stresses the integration of the arts with education.

"He really stresses academic excellence, big time, and he really stresses teachers thinking outside the box" to get the job done.