About Michael Armbruster

Before retiring in 2020, Dr. Michael Armbruster dedicated 33 years to Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) in Florida. His extensive career included roles as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal and ultimately as the Associate Superintendent for Career and Technical Education. As a principal, he led three high schools over thirteen years, overseeing student populations ranging from 2,700 - 4,400 students. He contributed to the growth and improvement of West Orange HS, Ocoee HS and University HS within OCPS, one of the largest school districts in the nation. Most recently, he served as the executive director for the Orange County Association of School Administrators, acting as a liaison between school leaders and the deputy superintendent.

Dr. Armbruster’s career is marked by numerous accolades, including a Governor’s appointment to the Florida Concrete Masonry Education Council (2017), the National Association of Women in Construction Central Florida Chapter Supporter of the Year (2016), and the West Orange Chamber of Commerce George Bailey Award (2016). He was also named Principal of the Year by the Orange County Association of School Administrators (2013), the Orange County PTSA (2011), and the Orange County Counselors Association (2009). Among these honors, Dr. Armbruster received the Winter Garden Elk’s Lodge Outstanding Educator of the Year Award for 1998-99 and the Westside Vocational Technical Center Teacher of the Year Award in 1993.

Married to his wife Sandi for 38 years, they are proud parents to their beautiful daughter Jennifer. Jennifer is a Georgia Tech graduate and a process engineer with Mars, Incorporated in Chicago.

About Rob Bixler

Rob Bixler is Chief of Staff of Orange County Public Schools, the eighth-largest public school district in the nation and fourth-largest in Florida. The district serves about 209,000 students at 210 schools and is one of the largest employers in Central Florida with more than 25,000 team members.

Mr. Bixler was born and raised in Orlando and a product of Orange County Public Schools – Lake Weston and Riverside Elementary, Lockhart Middle and Edgewater High. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education, Social Sciences from Flagler College and Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Supervision from the University of Central Florida.

In his 33rd year working in public education, Rob has been a classroom teacher, school-based and district-level administrator. He began his administrative career as a dean of students at Edgewater High School then an assistant principal at Glenridge Middle School. Over the next 11 years, Rob was principal at Killarney Elementary, Dillard Street Elementary and Westbrooke Elementary. All schools achieved “A” ratings under his leadership. Rob has assumed various district level roles and previously served as the Associate Superintendent for Curriculum and Digital Learning. He oversaw PreK-12 curriculum and instruction, visual and performing arts, instructional materials, instructional technology, and digital learning which includes the district’s 1:1 initiative called LaunchED.

About Harold Border

Dr. Harold Border is the Chief Strategy Officer for Orange County Public Schools (OCPS), where he aligns district-wide strategic initiatives with the OCPS 2025 Strategic Plan and oversees the research, measurement and strategy division for the nation’s eighth-largest school district.

Before assuming his current role, Dr. Border was the OCPS Chief of High Schools from 2016 to 2022. In this capacity, he managed student success across 22 high schools, impacting around 60,000 students and 4,200 staff members. Under his leadership, the district achieved record-breaking success in graduation rates and rigorous coursework access.

A U.S. Navy Veteran, Dr. Border served in Orlando and Charleston before returning to Orlando to attend the University of Central Florida. His personal journey from rural Pennsylvania to a career in education underscores his belief in education as a powerful tool for socio-economic advancement. His mother’s emphasis on education as a means of upward mobility inspired his commitment to ensuring all students have access to quality education. For over 27 years in OCPS, Harold has remained committed.

After completing his studies on Elementary Education in 1997, Harold began teaching 6th grade Science and coaching basketball at Westridge Middle School. While teaching, he continued his education by completing his M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from UCF in 1999 and his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from UCF in 2004. During these years, Harold served as an Administrative Dean and Assistant Principal at the middle and high school level.

Harold became Principal of Hunter’s Creek Middle School in 2005. During his tenure, HCMS earned 100% Adequate Yearly Progress across all student groups as the first middle school to accomplish such results in OCPS. After serving in this role for 3 years, he was tapped by the Superintendent to become the Principal of Freedom High School in 2008. At this time, Freedom was under state intervention due to multiple ‘D’ grades. With the work of a committed staff, student achievement at Freedom exponentially improved vaulting the school to ‘A’ status and the school continues to be a flagship site in OCPS. Harold also worked to ensure open access and equity to rigorous coursework for students. The number of students participating in such courses at Freedom increased over 300% during the 5 years while their performance also improved resulting in this success being covered by the New York Times.

Dr. Border was later appointed Executive Area Director for the School Transformation Office in 2013, then Area Superintendent for the Southwest Learning Community, where he managed 35 principals and opened two elementary schools. His tenure as Chief of High Schools saw OCPS achieve its highest graduation rates to date.

Harold has served on several boards including Junior Achievement of Central Florida, the Central Florida Boy Scouts Council as the Vice President for Learning for Life, and the Tangelo Park Program while overseeing Tangelo Park Elementary. Harold also currently serves on the Orange County Citizens’ Commission for Children. Harold was also one of 15 senior executive leaders from across the nation selected to attend the inaugural cohort of the Fellowship for Public Education at the Yale School of Management and was recently recognized by the Aspen Society for his work as a champion for school climate as well as the American Heart Association for his work relative CPR and ECGs amongst high school students.

Dr. Border’s wife Janice has been an Exceptional Education teacher in OCPS for 23 years and is now an Elementary School Staffing Specialist. They have three children, Kristina, Anneliz and Mason, who are and will be graduates of OCPS.

About Tashanda Brown-Cannon

Dr. Tashanda Brown-Cannon has dedicated over 25 years to serving the students of Orange County Public Schools with excellence. A native Floridian, Dr. Brown-Cannon matriculated through Duval County Public Schools before obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.) in Elementary Education from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. Driven by a lifelong passion for learning, she received a Master of Education in Educational Leadership (M.Ed) from the University of Central Florida and completed her Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) at National Louis University.

An innovative instructional leader, Dr. Brown-Cannon’s many years of service have greatly benefited students inside and outside the classroom. Recognized for her efforts, Dr. Brown-Cannon became a turnaround principal for Tangelo Park Elementary School, where she implemented innovative strategies to increase teacher effectiveness and student achievement. Under her leadership, the school earned five consecutive “A” ratings from the Florida Department of Education from 2007 through 2012. In 2009, Dr. Brown-Cannon was honored as the State of Florida’s 2009 Literacy Leader of the Year and drew national attention for her accomplishments with a featured article in Lifestyles magazine. Under her leadership, Tangelo Park Elementary School was recognized as a “Distinguished School” at the National Title I Conference.

Continuing to ascend in her career, Dr. Brown-Cannon assumed the role of executive area director in 2013 and associate superintendent in 2019, where her dedication to fostering a culture of educational excellence and transforming high-needs schools was felt throughout OCPS. Dr. Brown-Cannon’s tireless efforts to increase the leadership capacity of principals and mentor colleagues paved the foundation for student success.

In recognition of her exemplary contributions and unwavering commitment to educational excellence, Dr. Brown-Cannon achieved a significant milestone in 2023 when she was promoted to the esteemed position of chief academic officer. In this role, she leads the charge of shaping the educational future of OCPS, ensuring every student receives a high-quality education.

With a proven track record of coaching principals, increasing student outcomes, and developing a pipeline of turnaround leaders, Dr. Brown-Cannon continues to be a driving force in education. Her career is a testament to her passion for making a difference in the lives of students and educators alike. She remains a beacon of inspiration within the OCPS community.

About John Palmerini

As the General Counsel John Palmerini provides legal advice and counsel to the School Board on School Board/Superintendent Relations, relations with other governmental entities, First Amendment issues, instructional and library materials matters and LGBTQ issues. John oversees all litigation on behalf of the District.

John has practiced for more than 20 years, mostly concentrating his practice in labor and employment before coming to Orange County Public Schools. In his prior roles as Associate General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, he provided counsel to the School Board, the Superintendent and District Staff in all areas of labor and employment law, including hiring and termination issues, wage payment issues, exemption, and overtime issues, as well as compliance with state and federal disability and, leave laws. He has represented the district in cases involving claims regarding Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the American with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Florida Civil Rights Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act.

John has previously conducted training with respect to issues such as union representation, progressive discipline, religious issues in schools, sexual and workplace harassment, handling leave issues, and best practices.

In addition, John has also been a guest speaker before the Florida School Boards Association, the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, the Florida School Board Attorneys Association, the Florida Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, the Florida Organization of Instructional Leaders, the Florida Records Management Association, the Florida Educational Negotiators, the Florida Association of School Business Leaders, Association of Legal Administrators and the Orlando Diversity Council.

John received a B.S. in Journalism and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Florida and his J.D. from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law. He is Board Certified in Education Law and Labor and Employment Law.

John is currently the President of the Florida School Board Attorneys Association. He is also the Florida School Board Attorneys Association 2022 recipient of the C. Graham Carothers Award of Excellence, presented annually to a Florida school board attorney who has demonstrated excellence in the profession.

Education
University of Florida, B.S., Journalism, and B.A., Political Science
University of Florida, J.D., Levin College of Law

Bar Admissions
State of Florida
District of Columbia
United States Northern District of Florida
United States Middle District of Florida
United States Southern District of Florida
United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit

About Rory Salimbene

Rory Salimbene is Chief Facilities Officer for Orange County Public Schools (OCPS). Following graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, Rory completed a 20-year career in the U. S. Army. He held several leadership positions with military construction units in addition to a project management assignment with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. Rory also did service as the Director of Public Works for Fort Polk, Louisiana, a major Army base.

During his military career, Rory earned a Master of Science in Engineering with a concentration in construction management from the University of Texas and a Master of Business Administration from the Northern Illinois University. Rory also completed the U. S. Army’s Command and General Staff Officers’ Course, a year-long graduate level management and leadership program.

Following his military service, Rory spent several years in the private sector managing energy saving projects for Florida public sector clients. Directing a district’s facility maintenance and construction programs in successive assignments, Rory resumed his public service with Hillsborough County Public School (HCPS) in 2013. In 2017, Rory relocated to the Orlando area and began supporting the Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) construction program as a consultant with the OCPS program management team. First, he managed the planning and design of both new school and renovation projects and later directed the resumption of the district’s capital renewal program. Following this, Rory was asked to join the OCPS staff as the senior facilities executive director with overall responsibility for the district’s construction and renovation program. He served until assuming his current role.

Rory and his wife Rebecca live in Altamonte Springs, where they enjoy spending time with their grandchildren. Rory also devotes time to his church, serving as a deacon and occasional song leader and bible class teacher.

In 2021, Rory was appointed to the City of Altamonte Springs Variance Review Board and currently serves as a member.

About Kathryn Shuler

Dr. Shuler has served Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) for over 30 years in various roles as a classroom teacher, administrative dean, assistant principal, associate superintendent, Chief Academic Officer, and now Chief Schools Officer. She has extensive experience overseeing curriculum and digital learning, student and health services, multilingual, professional learning, and federal programs. In her current role, Dr. Shuler is responsible for providing oversight and direction for the efficient operations and academic performance through developing leadership capacity in one of the largest districts in the nation.

She is a current member of the Chancellor's Leadership Academy, Superintendent’s Cabinet, YMCA Metro Board of Directors, the Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, the OCPS foundation board, and former member of the Holocaust Visitors’ task force. In addition, she previously served as the Regional Executive Director for the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of School Improvement, overseeing district improvement efforts among 7 school districts in the state of Florida.

Her most notable accomplishments include leading a school in reform from a school letter grade of “F” to “A” (making 100% AYP), named Central Floridian of the Week, and the Just Read Florida Elementary Literacy Leader of the Year. As the associate superintendent, School Transformation Officer, 20 of the schools served improved 838 percentage points under her supervision as opposed to a decline of 929 percentage points the previous year. In addition, she led the initiative to launch the district’s first Parent Academy, which supports parent advocacy and learning, serving over 25,000 parents and community members to date.

Dr. Shuler received her doctorate in Educational Leadership from National Louis University and her M.ED. in Education from Nova Southeastern University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Stetson University

About Bridget Williams

Bridget Williams is the Deputy Superintendent of Executive Services for Orange County Public Schools, the eighth-largest public school district in the nation and fourth-largest in Florida.

Born in Orlando, she is a home-grown product of OCPS, attending Richmond Heights and Eccleston Elementary Schools, Robert E. Lee Middle School and Edgewater High School.

Over the last 30 years, she has served and led the children and families of Orange County as an alternative education teacher; guidance counselor; dean; assistant principal; and district administrator. She also served as principal of Robinswood Middle School and earned the school’s first “A” rating from the Department of Education. At Jones High School, she moved the school to a high performing “B” rating and established the International Baccalaureate Program. As Associate Superintendent of Specialized Student Support, she guided the services of more than 180 schools of testing assessments and accountability, grants, and fully funded Title I programs. As Area Superintendent of the West Learning Community she supervised principals and served as a liaison to the school board. She also served as the Chief of Staff overseeing School Board Services and the Human Resources Division(HR). During this time the HR division earned and received national and local recognition for its enhanced marketing and recruitment strategies and efforts.

Dr. Williams is a proud alumna of Florida A&M University, where she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree. In addition, she received a second master’s degree from the University of Central Florida and doctorate from Nova Southeastern University.

She was honored to be inducted into the Edgewater High School Foundation Hall of Fame and has received numerous awards for her commitment to excellence in public education. Just to name a few: The Queen Smith Award from Council of the Great City Schools; Distinguished Educational Leadership Award from the international educational organization Phi Delta Kappa, Inc.; the Drum Major Award from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; International Women on the Move Award from ONYX Magazine; the Educator of the Year Award from Junior Achievement of Central Florida; and the Lifetime Achievement award from the Orange County School Counseling Association.

Williams and her husband, Dexter, are the parents of two exceptional young men - Joshua (Florida State University) a System Software Quality Engineer with Lockheed Martin and Elijah (Duke University) an Associate Account Executive at Amazon Web Services.

Education
Bachelor’s & Master’s Degree from Florida A&M University;
Earned Second Master’s Degree from University of Central Florida and her Doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University

Time in current position
Dr. Williams has been Deputy Superintendent since July 2023