Dr. Brian Dassler Honor Council
On March 2o, 2017, the education community lost one of its brightest stars with the passing of Deputy Chancellor of Education Quality. We lost his unrivaled passion for students, educators, and the field of education as a whole. Dr. Brian W. Dassler, 38. Brian grew up in Broward County, where he graduated from Cooper City High School in 1997. Brian earned bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from the University of Florida, where he was twice named an outstanding young alumnus.
Brian’s journey with the South Florida Leadership Training Camp began in 1995, when he attended as a student and earned the distinguished Honor Council Award for his outstanding leadership as a camp delegate. Inspired by that experience, he returned year after year, giving back to the program that shaped him. Brian served in multiple leadership roles—including Junior Counselor (JC), Head JC, and ultimately Senior Counselor—after earning his teaching certificate, modeling a lifelong commitment to leadership, service, and mentorship.
Brian's first job was as an English teacher at Stranahan High. In 2006, while teaching at Stranahan High, he was named Teacher of the Year. He was the youngest teacher to receive this award. Brian was the founder and first principal of the KIPP Renaissance High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. He also served as Chief Academic Officer of New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), the performing and visual arts high school for the State of Louisiana. At the age of 34, Brian became the Deputy Chancellor of Educator Quality for the Florida Department of Education, bringing with him an unrivaled passion for students, educators, and the field of education as a whole.
In the fall of 2015, Brian gave a TEDx talk entitled, "Why We Persist at Some Things and Quit at Others." Active in the community, he was a supporter of multiple organizations representing a range of interests, including the arts, social justice, equity, youth, and LGBTQ+ rights.
During the 2019 South Florida Leadership Training Camp, in honor of Brian's legacy in leadership development and education, the SFLTC Directors created the Brian Dassler Honor Council Award to recognize an outstanding Senior Counselor and Junior Counselor at the conclusion of camp each year.
Brian’s journey with the South Florida Leadership Training Camp began in 1995, when he attended as a student and earned the distinguished Honor Council Award for his outstanding leadership as a camp delegate. Inspired by that experience, he returned year after year, giving back to the program that shaped him. Brian served in multiple leadership roles—including Junior Counselor (JC), Head JC, and ultimately Senior Counselor—after earning his teaching certificate, modeling a lifelong commitment to leadership, service, and mentorship.
Brian's first job was as an English teacher at Stranahan High. In 2006, while teaching at Stranahan High, he was named Teacher of the Year. He was the youngest teacher to receive this award. Brian was the founder and first principal of the KIPP Renaissance High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. He also served as Chief Academic Officer of New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), the performing and visual arts high school for the State of Louisiana. At the age of 34, Brian became the Deputy Chancellor of Educator Quality for the Florida Department of Education, bringing with him an unrivaled passion for students, educators, and the field of education as a whole.
In the fall of 2015, Brian gave a TEDx talk entitled, "Why We Persist at Some Things and Quit at Others." Active in the community, he was a supporter of multiple organizations representing a range of interests, including the arts, social justice, equity, youth, and LGBTQ+ rights.
During the 2019 South Florida Leadership Training Camp, in honor of Brian's legacy in leadership development and education, the SFLTC Directors created the Brian Dassler Honor Council Award to recognize an outstanding Senior Counselor and Junior Counselor at the conclusion of camp each year.
Recipients
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Junior Counselor
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Senior Counselor
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2019
Camila "Pledge" Rodriguez |
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2019
Jenny "VP" Van Pelt |
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2022
Samantha "Venus" Scott |
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2022
Nelson "Shadow" Cartaya |
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2023
Hailey "H2O" Cutherell |
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2023
Monique "Whoville" Brown |
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2024
Manuel "Suave" Marquez |
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2024
Emily "Kloss" Klossner |
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2025
Katricia "Darlin' " Joseph |
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2025
Celine "Antique" Besman |
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2026
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2026
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