Robert Loupo, Co-founder, Executive Director

Robert Loupo, co-founder and executive director of Safe Schools South Florida, has degrees in English, history and English education. After 14 years as a high school English teacher he became a TRUST counselor at a Miami-Dade middle school and earned National Board Certification as a school counselor. Robert has been an unflagging advocate for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth and educators for fifteen years.

Officers of the Board

Bruce W. Presley, President

Bruce W. Presley publishes high school and college text books on computer-related topics through his company, Lawrenceville Press. He holds a degree in industrial engineering and taught physics at private schools in Massachusetts and New Jersey prior to entering the publishing business. In addition to being president of the Safe Schools South Florida board, he is a member of several other non-profit organizations.

John P. Bremer, Secretary

John Bremer is a retired private consultant who specialized in high technology from the beginning of the industry having studied with one of the first IBM MBA computer training groups. John helped introduce technology and its associated discipline to a number of industries including manufacturing, banking, retail, and insurance, among others. He has degrees in technology, humanities, French language and literature and liberal arts.

Clarence Brooks

Clarence Brooks is a professor of dance at Florida Atlantic University having spent several years teaching dance at Bak Middle School in West Palm Beach. As a dancer and choreographer, Mr. Brooks has a master of fine arts degree and spent the bulk of his professional career performing in the US and abroad. He is a local activist and published author.

Joshua Delsman

Joshua Delsman is a recent graduate from McFatter Technical High School in Broward County and is attending Suffolk University in Boston. During the past year Josh has been the Southern Regional student coordinator for GLSEN, Inc., a member of the Jump Start Program and a youth program facilitator at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center in Fort Lauderdale. Josh is president and owner of Voxxit, an Internet consulting firm.

Betsy Kaplan

Betsy Kaplan is a life-long supporter of the arts and an advocate for children and for civil rights. Since her election to the Miami-Dade School Board in 1988, Betsy has worked to help teachers and youth realize their full potential. Since 1991 she has worked with Robert Loupo to win equality for gay teachers and students. Now retired, she is an active board member and a regular speaker at Safe Schools South Florida events.

De Palazzo

De Palazzo is the president and owner of Perspectives Unlimited, Inc. an educational consulting service aimed at improving workplace environments through intercultural understanding and conflict resolution. She has extensive experience in the field of education in both the classroom and curriculum development. Ms. Palazzo holds a masters in conflict analysis and dispute resolution and a masters in education. She has worked extensively with local, state and national rights organizations.

Daniel Pye

Dan Pye is a financial consultant with Morgan Stanley Investment Firm. He has lived in South Florida for over 30 years and has been on the boards of a number of charitable organizations including currently the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, as well as Safe Schools South Florida. He has also been active in several political campaigns in South Florida counties. Dan and his partner of 26 years, Peter Mangone, currently reside in Miami Shores.

Upendo Shabazz-Phillips

Upendo Shabazz-Phillips is a vice president with United Way of Palm Beach County. With bachelor and master degrees in social work, Ms. Shabazz-Phillips spent six years as a consultant with the Palm Beach County School District Department of Safe Schools before joining United Way. She volunteers with a number of youth and minority focused organizations in Palm Beach County.

Staff

Donald Cavanaugh, Assistant Director

Donald Cavanaugh, assistant director of Safe Schools South Florida has joined the non-profit world after 30 successful years in marketing in financial services, telecommunications and technology. He has been a journalist for over ten years focused largely on gay equality. For three years he wrote a column on gay issues for a local weekly paper. He has a bachelor degree in philosophy.

Albert Menard, Administration

Albert Menard has a bachelor degree in elementary education and a masters in education. He taught science in elementary school in Woonsocket, RI for almost 30 years and won several awards for teaching science and economics. After retiring, he led a group of graduate students gathering information on gay men's health issues in Miami-Dade and became an instructor on effective use of a national line of science text books.