Abess Park Elementary

Hi, my name is Ginger Brown and I am the school counselor. This is my fifth year at Abess Park and I am very happy to be here! I have also worked at Mandarin Oaks, Lake Lucina and Pickett Elementary Schools here in Duval County as well as Shady Hills Elementary in Pasco County. I graduated from the University of Florida, Go Gators! where I met my husband, James. We have been married for 29 years and have three children. I enjoy spending time with my family , reading good books, working in my yard, baking, spending time with my friends and riding with my husband on his Harley.

My name is Mary Buyno or as the children say, "Coach B." I've been a physical education teacher in Duval county for the last 26 years. I came to Abess Park in 1997 when it first opened with just grass and dirt as our playground. We began building our "field of dreams" with the help of many people who have hearts of gold. We first built the playground equipment and then we added the picnic tables and benches. We got them covered for shade and then began the three year process of building the track and soccer field. We hope to be adding more this year and next with your support.

I've been honored to be selected as Teacher of the Year at Seabreeze elementary, West Jacksonville Elementary, and Abess Park Elementary schools. I am so very proud to have been the very FIRST Teacher of the Year at Abess Park!

I've grown up in the beaches community and still live there. I attended Fletcher , FCCJ, and graduated from FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY (GO NOLES!)

I've played sports throughout my lifetime and during college on scholarships. I enjoy softball and volleyball the most.

My favorite pastimes are cheering for my Seminoles and enjoying my high school friendship and organizing my high school reunions. I am a star wars fan and have a cat named Chewbacca.

You can contact Ms. Buyno at: buynom@duvalschools.org

My name is Greg Davis and I am an itinerant Speech Pathologist with the Duval County School Board assigned to Abess Park Elementary School. I am married to Janet, an MRI technician at the Mayo Clinic, for over 22 years, and have 3 sons: Jason is a chef and is married to Christina, a Catholic youth director, and they have a son, Owen Gregory, who has taken up the game of golf at 4 years. Forrest is currently working for a large insurance company and is a part-time artist, residing in Yorkville, Illinois. Justin who lives in Chicago, is a free lance photographer and is married to Danielle, who owns her own all occasions greeting card company.

I have lived in Jacksonville since July, 1981. Hobbies are golf, fishing, photography, collecting shark teeth and entering my 1999 Corvette convertible into local car shows, placing 16th in the top 40 out of over 300 entries in 2006 at the World Golf Village.

I was a medical corpsman with the 4th Infantry Division and an eye, ear, nose, and throat specialist in the army, a gastrointestinal lab technician and a member of a heart catherization team at Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Texas, an Emergency Medical Technician in Johnson City, Tennessee, and received my B.S. degree in Nursing and Masters degree in Speech Pathology from East Tennessee State University.

I also coached baseball at San Souci, fall baseball at Englewood and Wolfson High Schools, was a member of the Jacksonville Umpires Association, coached and officiated soccer at Jesse DuPont YMCA and Paxon Middle School. While coaching at San Souci, was one of 4 coaches who started fall baseball in Jacksonville.

As a speech pathologist, I have served all student populations: hearing impaired, trainable mentally handicapped, physically impaired, autistic, visually impaired, emotionally impaired, pre-school handicapped, private students, and regular education, ranging from 3 years old to 22 years of age.

Hello! I am Susan Elledge, the media specialist at Abess Park and one of the “original” teachers that has been here since our school opened! After earning my degree in Elementary Education from the University of North Florida in 1992, I began my career teaching Kindergarten and 1^st grade at Brentwood Elementary. In 1997, I transferred to Abess Park as a 2^nd grade teacher. In 2001, I moved from the classroom into the media center and began working on my Master’s Degree in media, receiving my certification in 2003.

I have been married to my best friend for 33 years and have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. I am also the proud “Alpha-mom” of two Doberman Pinschers. They are the only kids still at home and are quite a handful!

I love running, playing golf, and watching football – especially the Jaguars and Florida State! And, naturally….as the media specialist….I LOVE TO READ!

My name is James Justice and I am very excited to have been appointed this year as the new music and band teacher at Abess Park. As a student at The University of North Florida, I held the Lead trumpet position in UNF's Jazz Ensemble One in addition to assisting and coordinating the Great American Jazz series. In my musical pursuits, I have had the privilege of enriching students lives through music education in Duval, Pasco, Polk, and Hillsborough counties, and hold over six years experience as an instrumental instructor for Elementary, Middle and High Schools. My educational experience extends from the classroom to a large group of private students, and includes my annual participation in The Great American Teach In. In addition to my work as a music educator, I enjoy an active career as a performing artist, working with the Northend Jazz Ensemble, Lakeland Jazz Ensemble, The Seebring Jazz Ensemble and the River City Jazz Ensemble. In 2004-2005 I performed for The Walt Disney Corporation in the Magic Kingdom, Serving in a lead and solo capacity as well as holding the position of student leader. Following my work for Disney I was asked to lead a fifteen member ensemble for Movie Park, in Bottrop, Germany. Throughout my career I have worked with artists like: Doc Severinsen, Diane Schuur, Chris Vadala, Tim Hagans, Dan Miller, Ernie Watts, Ed Calle, Jimmy Cobb, John Pizzarelli, Dave Douglas, and Maria Schneider. I have a tremendous admiration for music and all that it encompasses. Outside of teaching and performing, I spend a great deal of time honing my skills as composer and recording engineer. This year I was able to produce and record my first CD, which includes music by some of the trumpet greats as well as my own compositions. As a music educator, I strive to provide students with an enriching experience and the necessary knowledge for success in their journey as young musicians. Opportunities for learning are endless. That in mind, I continue to expand my knowledge base in order to better serve my students. It is with great pleasure that I continue my work as a music educator with the Abess Park learning community. I look forward to the amazing things in store for us this year and for years to come.

Hi, my name is Pat Laurence and this is my 13^th year at Abess Park. During that time I have served as the Instructional Coach for the past ten years and as the media specialist from 1997 when we opened until 2000. I also work as the extended day co director with Mrs. Utley. This year is my 36^th in the field of education. In addition to my jobs at Abess I have worked as a second grade teacher, a reading specialist and as a district professional development instructor. I have loved every minute I have spent teaching. There is no more rewarding profession in my opinion.

I graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Masters of Education in Reading Education. I have also attended Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida.

As you can imagine I love reading both for enjoyment and for professional growth. I also love following my Georgia Bulldogs…especially in football. Another hobby is writing poetry. My family is in South Carolina and I enjoy visiting them as often as possible but Jacksonville is now home. There is nothing I enjoy more than a stroll on the beach. It helps to keep me grounded.

I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Florida-Go Gators-in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology. I worked for 2 years at Pinedale Elementary serving children with hearing impairments, autism, varying exceptionalities and regular education. I was nominated for New Teacher of the Year award in 1991 and served as PTA president in 1992. I then went to the University of South Florida to earn my masters degree in Speech Language Pathology. I did my externship at Vicars Landing and Earth M.M. White rehabilitation and nursing facilities. After receiving my C's (Certificate of Clinical Competence) I worked at a rehabilitation and nursing facility, IHS, in Orange Park. I then got a job at the Life Care Center of Orange Park as the Director of Speech and Language Services. I was blessed with a son named Andrew in 1997 who was born with a congenital heart defect called Tetrallogy of Fallot. I had to leave my position and I gladly stayed home with him. Andrew had a wonderful doctor in Miami, Dr. Burke. He had successful open heart surgery at 4 months and he is still very healthy. After Andrew recovered I worked for Brook's Rehabilitation at San Pablo with pediatric through geriatric clients for 2 years to help out a good friend. I then became a full-time room mom and volunteer at my son's school until coming to Abess Park last year. I love my job here because of the phenomenal kids, the amazing teachers, the supportive parents and the wonderful staff here at Abess. Go Jaguars!

Hi, my name is Elaine Perez. I have been at Abess Park for 12 years. I teach art classes for all grade levels. In my spare time I enjoy reading and spending time at the beach. I have my Masters of Education from UNF. My hobbies include watercolors artists, and playing hand bells in the choir at church. I have two adult sons. I have one Angel Husky pound puppy named Miko. I enjoy playing with my dog Miko, who is 18 years old. I have illustrated and written children's books, but they have not been published yet. I am originally from Maryland, educated in Tennessee and have lived in Florida since 1992. I am a summer missionary in Costa Rica and a volunteer for beaches habitat on Saturdays.

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