By Victor Ocasio
For the News Gazette

The long hours and hard work put in by teachers is no mystery to those working in Osceola County’s school system, but for educators like Nanci Brillant, of St. Cloud High School, the ability to give back to her students is reward enough.

Soon after the start of the new year, 25 special needs students in the school’s ESE program are taking a field trip to Disney’s Magic Kingdom just in time to see the park’s new Fantasyland, and while most trips of this size would cost a pretty penny, all expenses are paid thanks to Brillant.

Brillant was named Osceola County’s 2013 Teacher of the Year this past spring, and after negotiating with Disney representatives, the veteran English and reading teacher was able to trade in the four year-long passes she was given with the title into 25 one-day tickets for her students.

“To me, it is just so heart warming that she’s taking something that she could use personally for herself, and instead, is choosing on her own volition to give a positive experience to some of our students,” said Nate Fancher, principal of St. Cloud High. “It’s just wonderful to see.”

Given the many budgetary issues schools face in financing extracurricular activities, the gesture is more than just kind; it’s timely. Many of the students in ESE – children with varying physical, developmental, emotional and learning barriers – have not been on a field trip in years.

“She goes out of her way and people realize how much she does to help the students,” said Fancher. “I think people see that. She’s very well respected and she kind of raises the bar for everybody else.”

With a specialty in special needs education, Brillant has worked in Osceola’s school system for more than 10 years, currently teaches English and intensive reading, and heads numerous programs including the school’s National Honor Society and Gifted program.    

“I love my job. It really is who I am,” said Brillant. “It totally defines Nanci. I am just happiest when I am with my kids.”

But while the idea may have started with Brillant, this enthusiastic educator takes no credit for the massive coordination between teachers like Karen Best, Krista Browning, Ruth Ellis and Denise Peeler it took to make it all happen.

“It really is a family. It really is a group of people who work together for the greater good,” said Brillant. “And the greater good in this case was the kids being able to do something they haven’t had the opportunity to do in awhile.”    

In addition to the 25 students attending, networking between teachers and staffers who work for Disney is allowing the parents, additional faculty, students involved in the National Honor Society’s Best Buddies program, and even district 5 School Board Member Tom Long to tag along as well.

Turning four tickets into a class outing of more than 50 is no small feat, but for teachers that go above and beyond the workload of the week, providing for those most in need is just the name of the game.

“It is not an easy job. That being said, that’s the joy of it too,” said Brillant. “Every day is different, every student is different, everything they bring to you, that you give to them, that you can share with someone else; not a job to be bored in.”