Mr. Manuel received the Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Florida A & M University, a Master of Science Degree in Administration and Supervision from Florida A & M University and additional studies at the University of Florida. Mr. Manuel completed 38 years of service with the Duval County School District during which he served as an elementary teacher, in-service cadre, elementary school principal, middle school principal, elementary director, assistant superintendent for middle schools and regional superintendent.  He has been an adjunct professor at Jacksonville University and Edward Waters College.

Mr. Manuel received the Johnson Branch YMCA Black Achiever Award for working with inner city African-American males in Jacksonville, Florida.  He also received the 2003 Southern Association of Schools and Colleges John M. Davis Distinguished Educational Achievement Award.

Mr. Manuel has been active with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1977, serving then as Peer Review Team Chair, trainer and a member of numerous visiting committees with both the Elementary and Middle School Commission and the Secondary and Middle School Commission.  He has been a lead facilitator for several school systems in Florida, served on the Florida Elementary and Middle School Committee for 10 years, chaired the regional Central Reviewing Committed for 2001-2002 and was a member of the Executive Council of the Commission in which he served as Vice-Chair for two years.  For 14 years prior to his retirement from the Duval County School District, he served as the SACS system contact for the Duval County School District.  When the Elementary and Middle School Commission and the Secondary and Middle School Commission combined, Mr. Manuel was named Associate Director of the Florida Office of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement, a position which he continues to hold today.
   
In addition, Mr. Manuel has worked extensively with the Accreditation Division of AdvancED and Distance Education Services with distance learning schools in Florida and with Florida Early Learning schools to qualify for Gold Seal.

Mr. Manuel has served on AdvancED/SACS CASI Readiness reviews for new schools and for school systems that were considering school system accreditation, most recently in Pinellas County School District, Orange County School District and Polk County School District.  Of the 48 public school systems that are AdvancED system accredited in Florida, Mr. Manuel has completed their Readiness Review and assisted them through the school system accreditation process.

Most schools and school systems in Florida have benefitted from the direct participation of Mr. Manual in their accreditation processes, whether it was as a Readiness Reviewer, External Review Team Lead Evaluator, Associate Lead Evaluator, Special Reviewer or team member, Accreditation Progress Report Reviewer or other document reviewer. In all his activities, Mr. Manuel maintains respect for every student, faculty member and administrator in every school and school system that his influence touches.

Always available to assist a school or a school system, Mr. Manuel is an excellent role model for educational professionals.  It is with pride that the AdvancED Florida Council has selected him for the AdvancED Excellence In Education Award for Florida.

In Remembrance: Dr. Delores “Dody” Sapp

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dr. Delores “Dody” Sapp this past December. Dr. Sapp served AdvancED on the AdvancED Florida Council, as a Field Consultant and a Lead Evaluator for many years. Her career in education spanned over 40 years, touching the lives of many. In 2012, Dody received the prestigious AdvancED Excellence in Education Award. We will miss her greatly.

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