Dillard Street Elementary teacher named OCPS Stellar Award finalist

Dillard Street Elementary School's Lauren Fiallo is a finalist for an Orange County Public School Stellar Award. 

Fiallo, who is a behavior specialist with 17 years of experience, is among five finalists for Teacher of the Year. 

The other finalists are Daisha Velandia from Sadler Elementary, Alexandra Figueroa from Village Park Elementary, Susan Peoski from Edgewater High and Cheyenne Williams from Princeton Elementary. 

Fiallo is an "expert at creating highly specialized interventions that result in dramatic change" and she provides campus leadership, managing a self-contained unit for six months, according to a release from OCPS. 

She also founded the Dillard St. Chess Club, which improves students' behaviors and academics.

Dr. Maria Vazquez, the superintendent for OCPS, surprised them at their schools to give them the good news. 

The winner will be announced at the Stellar Awards on Friday, Jan. 30 at Rosen Shingle Creek.