Teacher of the year
This is the second time Greg Cardino has been voted to represent his colleagues in this position and it is so easy to understand why. In his 22 years of teaching, Mr. Cardino has been one of the most popular teachers around - not only with the students at Mainland High school, but also with the adults on the campus. The reason is simple - he gives all of himself to help out everyone else all of the time.
Mr. Cardino has been a fine arts teacher for 22 years teaching both Theatre Arts and Television Production. He has served as the chairperson of the Unified Arts Department for the past 12 years. In addition to his responsibilities as a teacher and department chair, Greg schedules and instructs the sound and lightning technicians for events and activities in the Performing Arts Center and the Vince Carter Athletic Center. He also assists in the coordination of all events in the Performing Arts Center. He is responsible for editing and broadcasting the video morning announcements and is the coordinator of "Potpourri" - a monthly student-produced television show.
Mr. Cardino always assists the Teacher Induction Program by videotaping new teachers in order to help facilitate their growth in the profession. He also assists veteran teachers as they reach for their National Board Certification. In addition to all of this, Mr. Cardino has become the "go-to-guy" for keeping classroom video projection systems, as well as PA systems, wired correctly and functioning throughout the campus.
Although we appreciate the many "tasks" Greg does on campus, it is what he accomplishes in the classroom that has made him so popular. His students vary greatly in interest and ability, but each receives the individual attention and instruction he or she needs. Greg is creative and innovative by nature and he has a way of drawing the kids to the teaching at hand. He has a way of engaging students and we often send some of our most at-risk students to Mr. Cardino's class because he has a track record of pulling them in, getting them interested, and coming to school regularly - so they won't miss Mr. Cardino's class. And, thank goodness for us, Mr. Cardino always welcomes them.
On another note, Mr. Cardino is a talented musician, singer, and performer. He has been an entertainer for nearly 40 years in the Greater Daytona area. Here again, his reputation precedes him. As that popular entertainer, Greg has raised tens of thousands of dollars for charities such as Muscular Dystrophy and Breast Cancer Research. And because he is who he is, countless numbers of his students have also done projects for community service organizations.
In short, Greg Cardino is one of the most valuable players on the Mainland Buccaneer team.
Cheryl A. Salerno Ed. D
(386) 258-4665