Cape Coral Municipal Charter School Foundation names 12 Lighthouse Award finalists
Program honors top teachers within city's municipal school system
Twelve teachers among the four Oasis Charter Schools have been selected as Lighthouse Awards finalists.
Finalists include Alexandra Redecker, Stephanie Lockhart and Jane Curasco from Oasis Elementary School; Christina Placke, Tiffany Brown and Susan Taylor from Oasis Elementary South; Christine Knight, April Gibson and Lindsay Koller from Oasis Middle School and Carrie Guffy, Angela Goicoechea and John Ball from Oasis High School.
Cape Coral Municipal Charter School Foundation Vice President Jen-Hope Belis said the teachers collectively have shared that the award is not about the dinner, or recognition, but about the nomination comments they read during the event.
“We give them a copy of the nomination comments from students, parents and coworkers,” she said.
The three teachers from each school now will undergo observations in their classrooms from the Lighthouse Award committee, as well as interviews, which will determine the winner from each school.
The foundation received well over 300 nominations. Belis said in addition to the nominations for two teachers per school, the administrator of the school chose the third finalist – the “unsung hero.”
The winner of the Lighthouse Award for each school will be announced at the March 27 dinner.
Oasis Elementary South
Tiffany Brown
Of her 22 years of teaching, Brown has spent 21 of those at Oasis South. She currently teaches second grade.
“Being named a Lighthouse Award Finalist at OES truly is an honor. When my principal and assistant principal walked through my door, I was in absolute shock. To me, it means that what I do every day in and out of the classroom still matters. It confirms that the relationships I have built with all my students – past and present – are noticed and it is recognition of my commitment to my students, my school, and my coworkers,” she said. “I just want to say thank you to our Cape Charter School Foundation for taking the time to allow parents, students, and staff the opportunity to honor the teachers through the Lighthouse process.”
Relationships are what she enjoys the most about teaching.
“I enjoy building strong, trusting relationships with my students because that creates a safe environment where learning can thrive,” Brown said.
She engages her students so she can get to know their interests which then turn into fun, hands-on lessons.
“I let the students have a voice and choices, so they can take pride and ownership of their learning,” Brown said.
Susan Taylor
Taylor began teaching 31 years ago, with the past 21 years spent at Oasis Elementary South. She now teaches fifth grade.
“I never imagined myself being a finalist, so this recognition is truly an honor. Knowing that our families took the time to nominate me makes it especially meaningful. I have been incredibly blessed to have teaching as my career, and I have never done it for recognition. It’s the students that keep me here,” she said. “I am grateful to be part of a school community that values relationships, family involvement, and putting students first. Teaching has given me far more than I ever imagined, and I am thankful every day for the opportunity to make a difference in my students’ lives.”
Taylor said she loves that kids make her job fun.
“Their genuine curiosity and excitement about learning push me to keep learning myself so I can pass that knowledge on to them,” she said.
The engagement is about connecting with students, providing a purpose, and supporting them any way she can.
“I work to create a positive classroom environment where students feel loved, encouraged, and confident to take risks. When learning is meaningful and students feel supported, they are more willing to challenge themselves and fully engage,” she said.
Christina Placke
Placke has spent her entire 10-year career teaching at Oasis Elementary South. She teaches music to kindergarten through fifth grade students.
“I’m honored to be nominated, and I’m humbled to know my work at OES has had an impact. I’m also excited to see that people value the arts and see the effect music education has had on their kids,” she said.
As a music teacher she has the ability to bring joy to her students.
“I love that I can develop relationships with all the kids in the whole school and watch them grow as I teach them throughout their six years in elementary school. I’ve seen kids’ lives be changed through music, and I’m so blessed to be able to play a part. This is the best job in the world,” Placke said.
She said children learn best in the language of play. The students in her class experience music in a community through movement, games, and imaginative play.
“Serious knowledge, instrumental and vocal technique, good habits, and social skills are all taught and practiced within this framework of fun,” Placke said. “Music education is a critical part of every student’s education. Only music can combine the experiences of technical skill, auditory sensation, feelings deeper than words, communication of feelings, collaboration, and creativity. Teaching students’ music is the best way t to educate the whole child – head, heart, and body. Educating the whole child benefits all parts of each student’s life, making them into better people who are able to live fulfilling lives of their own and be good citizens in their community. While not all students grow up to be professional musicians, every person can have their lives powerfully enriched by music.”
Oasis Elementary North
Stephanie Lockhart
Lockhart began teaching kindergarten at Oasis Elementary North nine years ago.
“It is a great honor to be nominated, especially working alongside so many phenomenal educators. I am very grateful for the nomination, and the kindness I have received from my student’s families, as well as my colleagues,” she said.
Lockhart loves spending time with her students and watching them learn and grow throughout the year.
“Teaching is a very rewarding profession, as you are given the incredible responsibility to instill knowledge that will last a lifetime. As the academic demands on children continue to increase, I try to remind myself that they are still children, and that the goal is that they will always love to learn,” she said.
Lockhart said she tries to offer different opportunities for learning in her classroom, as she knows that children learn in many ways.
“I also have learned through the years that children strive academically, as well as socially, when they are given the responsibility to have ownership of their learning,” she said.
Jane Curasco
Curasco began teaching at Oasis Elementary North six years ago, five of which have been spent teaching third grade.
“Being a Lighthouse Award finalist is a true honor. It affirms that the relationships I build and the belief I have in my students truly makes a difference, and it feels great to be recognized by my school community,” she said.
Curasco said loves working with third grade students because it’s a fun, and easy age to engage them.
“They are old enough to be independent thinkers/ workers, but young enough to still think I am cool,” she said.
The relationships built with her students are the most rewarding part of being a teacher.
“It’s wonderful to watch them grow academically, of course, but equally as rewarding to see them grow as individuals. I love seeing the confidence my current and former students carry, and knowing I have been a small part of making that happen,” Curasco said.
Through building a strong classroom community, she is able to keep her students engaged.
“When students care about each other and their teacher, they will work harder to make it a great learning environment for everyone. I want them to feel safe, take risks, and encourage them to be lifelong learners,” Curasco said.
Alexandra Redecker
Redecker began teaching 11 years ago, four of which have been at Oasis Elementary North. She is a kindergarten teacher.
“It honestly means so much. Teaching is something I truly love, so being named a Lighthouse Award finalist is very special. It’s a great reminder that the everyday moments in the classroom, the little things, really do matter,” she said. “I teach kindergarten, which is such a fun and important year. I believe it to be the most special year of elementary school. Kindergarten is where everything starts; not just academics but learning how to be a student and a friend.”
The enjoyment of teaching stems in watching her students grow in a multitude of ways – from beginning to read and write to growing socially.
“It’s an incredible feeling to witness all the, “I did it” moments. Just as meaningful is watching them grow socially, gaining confidence and independence, learning how to solve problems, and work together. Those moments are small but unforgettable, and they’re the reason I love being a teacher,” Redecker said.
Movement is how she keeps her students engaged, as well as games, as it helps challenge their brains and encourage creative thinking.
“We also focus a lot on building a classroom family. It’s our classroom, not my classroom, and that sense of belonging makes such a difference. Social-emotional learning is huge in kindergarten, and it’s woven into everything we do. When students feel safe and supported, they’re more willing to take risks and try new things,” Redecker said.
Parental involvement is also an important piece for her.
“When families are part of the learning, it creates such a strong and supportive environment for the kids. I’m also very lucky to work with an amazing team, collaboration plays a huge role in what we do. We truly support one another every day. Teaching is always evolving, and that’s one of my favorite things about it. No two days are ever the same. I try to be a better teacher every day, and I’m constantly learning right alongside my students,” she said.
Oasis Middle School
Lindsay Koller
In 2005, Koller moved to Cape Coral and began teaching middle school band and chorus classes for the School District of Lee County before she began at Oasis Middle School.
“Over the past two decades, I have had multiple students participate in All County Choirs and Bands, and many have been selected for the prestigious honor of participating in the All-State Choirs. This year alone, I had six students representing Oasis Middle School, which is impressive since this is the first year Oasis Middle School has participated,” she said.
Koller has also created a band program, now in its third year of development, at Oasis Middle. She is also building a band program at Oasis High School.
“This year I have also implemented a drumline, which allows participation for any band student from seventh grade through high school,” Koller said.
She is also the music director of the Musical Theatre class where she helps students connect with characters through the music they are singing.
“This is a passion of mine, and I always strive to teach my young voice students not only proper vocal technique, but how to be truly authentic when creating a character,” Koller said.
Christine Knight
Knight began teaching 24 years ago, most of which have been in elementary school before “I felt God leading me toward middle school.” She moved to the city of Cape Coral’s Oasis Charter School system when she began teaching ancient world history for middle schoolers.
“I am so excited to be named a Lighthouse Award Finalist. I love knowing that students and parents nominated me and helped get me to this point. I love teaching and I love my students, so receiving that affirmation from them makes me incredibly happy. It feels good to be appreciated, and this recognition truly reflects that,” she said. “I feel incredibly blessed to teach, and I don’t take for granted the opportunity to make learning meaningful and joyful for my students.”
Although she has always loved teaching, teaching middle school is the most fun she has ever had.
“I get to tell the stories of how people, cultures, religions, writing, and government began. I am a storyteller of the world,” she said.
Knight said she really enjoys being a part of her students’ lives and creating a safe place for them to be.
“Every day, I pray that my classroom is a place of peace and stability for my students, and that they feel the love of Jesus through me, even if they do not realize where it is coming from. I love making learning fun and creating a space they look forward to coming to each day. Especially in middle school, I love getting to know the students, their personalities, and making sure they know they are important,” she said.
The continued engagement stems from making history fun through “taste-test regions of the world,” hands-on activities, a Shark Tank style presentation complete with a brand name, log, pitch, advertisements or commercials and prototypes or demonstrations.
“I do hands-on activities like mummifying apple heads during our Egypt unit and throwing hard-boiled eggs as oracle bones for the Shang Dynasty of ancient China. I allow students to show what they know through hands-on, artistic, and creative methods,” Knight said. “One of my favorite projects of the year is the ‘Do Anything’ project. Students can do anything they want to show what they have learned from the unit. The only rule is that it cannot be a slideshow. My walls and shelves are filled with their work, including canvas paintings, games, sculptures, jewelry, dioramas, 3D-printed items, and more. I am always impressed by what they create.”
April Gibson
“I was truly shocked and honored to learn that I have been selected as a Lighthouse Award finalist this year. I am currently in my sixth year teaching art at Oasis Middle School where, over the years, I have had the privilege of working with hundreds of students — some of whom I have taught for all three years of their middle school experience. This recognition is especially meaningful to me, as it is the second time I have been chosen. I was also honored to be named a Lighthouse Award finalist in 2023,” Gibson said.
Her classroom is a space where creativity, skill-building and exploration come together. Students engage in a wide range of projects and units designed to strengthen both technical ability and creative thinking throughout a semester.
“We explore foundational concepts such as value, balance, and color theory through hands-on activities like sketching boot camps, Zentangle drawings, color wheels, and watercolor technique studies,” Gibson said. “Students also dive into expressive and imaginative projects including surrealism, creating their own comic strips, and personal pieces like ‘My Biggest Dream,’ where they explore something they want to accomplish in life.”
She enjoys exposing students to both traditional and contemporary art forms. Students experiment with drawing, painting, ceramics, mixed media, collage and found-object art.
“They study influential artists such as Keith Haring and Andy Warhol, create pop art and graffiti-inspired works, and participate in creative challenges like Doodle for Google. Many projects also incorporate reflection and writing, including artist statements shared through Artsonia.com, a website that creates digital portfolios for students. I have had student art win awards in both local art contests, like the ‘Leave the Scene Clean’ contest and national contests, such as the Artsonia Artist of the Week award,” Gibson said.
The true love of teaching is when her students grow in confidence and discover abilities they did not know they had.
“Art often becomes a place where students feel safe to express themselves and take creative risks, and being part of that journey is incredibly rewarding. I am grateful for the supportive school community at Oasis Middle and for the opportunity to learn alongside my students every day,” she said.
Oasis High School
John Ball
Ball, who began teaching 27 years ago, started working with the Oasis Charter School System eight years ago. Three years ago, he began teaching U.S. History Honors and World History Honors at Oasis High School.
“Being named a Lighthouse Award Finalist is a great honor and very meaningful to me. It reminds me that the hard work I put into my students and school community is being noticed and valued,” he said. “I do not do this work alone – this recognition reflects the support of my colleagues, administrators, families, and especially my students.”
The award encourages Ball to continue to build strong relationships, set high expectations, and help his students believe in themselves.
“I try to be a steady, positive presence for my students, and this nomination motivates me to continue giving my best every day,” he said. “Teaching is not just my job — it is my passion and my purpose. I am thankful for the support of my colleagues and administrators, and for the trust families place in me to educate their children. This nomination motivates me to continue learning, improving, and giving my best to my students. I am proud to represent my school and remain committed to helping every student succeed.”
The continuation of building relationships and watching his students grow academically, socially and personally is what he enjoys most about teaching.
“I love seeing students gain confidence, set goals, and realize they are capable of more than they thought. Helping a student understand a difficult concept or take pride in their progress is incredibly rewarding,” Ball said. “I also enjoy creating a classroom where students feel safe, respected, and motivated to learn. Being able to encourage, challenge, and support them every day is what makes teaching meaningful to me.”
The engagement stems from relevant, interactive, and meaningful learning through real world issues and students’ interests, to see why what they are studying matters.
“I use a variety of strategies — discussion, collaboration, movement, and technology — to keep students actively involved rather than just listening. I also focus on building positive relationships and creating a classroom where students feel respected, safe, and challenged. When students know I care about them and believe in their potential, they are more willing to take risks, ask questions, and stay engaged. Most importantly, I celebrate effort and growth, which helps students stay motivated and invested in their learning,” Ball said.
Carrie Guffy
Guffy’s teaching career began 27 years ago, the last seven of which have been at Oasis High School. She is the performing arts director at the high school and teaches piano, music theater, chorus, vocal ensemble, technical theater, theater and film studies.
“This recognition isn’t about a single achievement or moment in the classroom,” Guffy said. “It reflects years of creating spaces where students feel safe to take risks. Where their voices matter and where they are seen as individuals, not just performers or test scores. To me, that is the heart of teaching – helping students find their footing, their confidence, and their sense of belonging.
The enjoyment of teaching stems from watching everything come together – the finished product that reflects weeks of hard work, growth and teamwork.
“Seeing students stand taller, more confident in their abilities, is incredibly rewarding,” Guffy said. “The smiles after a successful performance or breakthrough moment say more than words ever could. I love the fun that fills the classroom, the laughter, shared memories, paired with the mutual respect. When students take pride in what they’ve accomplished and respect both the process and one another, it reminds me why I love my (job) so much.”
Her students are engaged through keeping learning purposeful, interactive, and student-centered.
“I give them ownership in the process, through leadership roles, collaboration, and creative choices, so they feel invested in the outcome,” Guffy said. “My job is to educate and inspire, not do the work for them. I vary activities to keep rehearsals dynamic, give them encouragement, and celebrate progress along the way, not just the final product. Building strong relationships is key; when students feel respected and supported, they are more willing to participate. I also keep the environment fun and positive because engagement thrives where students feel challenged, valued, and excited to be involved.”
Angela Goicoechea
Goicoechea has spent half of her six years as an educator at Oasis High School. She currently teaches ninth grade pre-AICE Biology and Biology 1.
“It is a great honor to be named a Lighthouse Award Finalist. Knowing that my students have chosen me as a positive influence in their lives and a teacher who has made a difference on their educational journey has reassured me that I am fulfilling the calling I have on my life as an educator,” she said. “Being able to serve my community in this capacity and ‘start children off on the way they should go’ has been one of the greatest joys of my life; I am grateful for the opportunity to do so alongside my Oasis family.”
The enjoyment of teaching comes from the daily interactions with students, as each day holds a new adventure, new questions, and new things that the students get to learn.
“Playing even a small part on their path to discovering the world around them fills me with great delight. I also love hearing ‘Hi, Mrs. G’ in the hallway every day from current and former students,” Goicoechea said.
Although engaging high school students can be challenging some days, she has found by switching up the activities multiple times throughout the class period has helped keep her students interested and eager to learn.
“I also try to incorporate quick games, or “brain breaks,” to give students a little rest after learning difficult concepts,” she said.