Orange County Public Schools continues
to honor its latest class of inductees to the Orange County Public Schools Hall
of Fame. They are now on display in the lobby of the Ronald Blocker Educational
Leadership Center in downtown Orlando.
Wayne Brady (Dr. Phillips High ‘89) is
best known as a prime-time Emmy Award-winning actor, singer, comedian and
television personality, known for his work on Whose Line Is it Anyway?
and currently as host of Let’s Make a Deal. He started performing in community
theater and at the Orlando improv school Sak Comedy Lab.
Professor S. James Gates,
Jr. (Jones
High ‘69) is a theoretical physicist, known for work on supersymmetry,
supergravity and superstring theory. He is currently the professor of Physics
at the University of Maryland. He also served on President Barack Obama’s
Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. In 2013, he received the
National Medal of Science.
In the Community Champion category, Toni Jennings (Winter
Park High ‘67) was Florida’s first female lieutenant governor, two-term
president of the Florida Senate, successful businesswoman and former
fifth-grade teacher, Toni Jennings is among the most prominent public figures
in Florida’s history, dedicating more than 27 years to the citizens of Florida.
David “Deacon” Jones (Hungerford High ‘57) was
inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame after a stellar career as a defensive end
with the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins. A native
of Eatonville, he and his wife Elizabeth established the Deacon Jones
Foundation when he retired from football to assist young people. Jones died in
2013 and will be represented at the induction by his sister.
In the Distinguished Educator category, Jim Schott served as
Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools from 1980 – 1992. He was
responsible for forming the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools,
developing the first magnet and International Baccalaureate programs and
nurturing a leadership team of future superintendents like Donald Shaw, Ronald
Blocker, Eric Smith, Joseph Joyner and Barbara Jenkins.
The Hall of Fame is a tradition created
by the School Board in 2014 to honor people who have made a name for themselves
and the school district throughout its long history – since December 1869, 147
years ago. The Hall features inductees in three categories: distinguished
educator, community champion and distinguished alumni.