Retirement Corner
OCPS Associate Superintendent's True Calling is Teaching
By Sandra Carr
It was through an introductory education course in college that Susan Abbe became passionate about teaching students. She fell in love with the profession while assisting children with special needs during physical-education drills at Gateway School, where she was obtaining service hours for her elective class.
Abbe decided to major in education at the University of Central Florida and interned at Engelwood ES and Orange Center ES when she was a junior, and Union Park ES during her final year in college.
Abbe is a proud Winter Park High Wildcat. She was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and relocated to Central Florida during her senior year in high school.
Her OCPS career officially began at Orange Center ES in August 1989. Abbe taught first and second graders at the school for eight years, then taught second grade at Rosemont Elementary. From there, she began taking on leadership roles, first as an assistant principal at Eccleston and Lake George elementary schools, and then as principal at Durrance and Sun Blaze elementary schools.
The OCPS alumna has many fond memories of working for the school district, but her favorites include being inspired by her teachers who were educating students with special needs at Durrance Elementary, as well as opening Sun Blaze Elementary.
Abbe’s educational journey continued with her promotion to executive director of the Professional Learning department and later associate superintendent of Exceptional Student Education.
Her mentors were OCPS retirees David Collins and Judy Cunningham and Superintendent Maria Vazquez.
“Dr. Vazquez is a people person who values her personal and professional relationships,” said Abbe. “She always took time out of her schedule to meet with me and is a good listener who knows how to ask questions and help you come to a conclusion.”
As associate superintendent for ESE, Abbe created a three-year plan to streamline exceptional education processes in the district and bring cohesiveness to schools, teachers and parents, and most importantly, lead students to success.