Two West Orange County school staff named OCPS Stellar Award finalists

A staff member from West Orange High School and Water Spring Elementary School have been named finalists for Support Person of the Year.

By Liz Ramos
| 8:07 a.m. October 16, 2025

Laura Heintzelman of West Orange High School and Gabriela Cardani of Water Spring Elementary have been named two of four finalists for Support Person of the Year.

Observer School Zone

A staff member from West Orange High School and Water Spring Elementary School have been named finalists for an Orange County Public Schools Stellar Award.

Laura Heintzelman of West Orange High School and Gabriela Cardani of Water Spring Elementary have been named two of four finalists for Support Person of the Year.

The other two finalists are McCoy Elementary School's Justin Riggs and Clay Spring Elementary School's Christine Muchow.

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.

author

Liz Ramos

Managing Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.