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Updates & Events continued

makerspace, choral room and secondary practice space, Ott was promoted to assistant principal in 1994. Following
band studio, digital music lab, a Genius Room and the retirement of former principal Very Reverend Joseph J.
television editing and production studios, as well as Kershner, Ott was officially named the fourth principal of
collaborative STEAM classrooms and labs. Cardinal Gibbons on July 1, 2003.

About Cardinal Gibbons High School Ott has been an instrumental figure in the advancement
Cardinal Gibbons High School is an Archdiocese of Miami and physical expansion of Cardinal Gibbons over the past
Catholic School dedicated to Catholic principles and decade. Under Ott’s direction, two academic wings—
offering a college preparatory curriculum. For more Gibbons Hall and C-wing—were redesigned and a
information, visit www.cghsfl.org. Technology Center, gymnasium lobby, expanded cafeteria

About the Phil and Susan Smith and athletic fieldhouse were all added to the campus. Ott’s
Family Foundation leadership was also crucial in several athletic advancement
The Phil and Susan Smith Family Foundation was efforts around campus, including the installation of a
established in 2014 as an additional way for the Smith synthetic multi-use turf field and rubberized track, as well
family’s contributions to reach community organizations, as lights for the football field.
and has demonstrated the Smith’s commitment to Senior Bradley Leventhal, student government president,
community involvement through charitable work with Holy expressed how Ott was not only instrumental in the
Cross Hospital, Florida Atlantic University, Northwood physical expansion of the school but also in the personal
University, Nova Southeastern University and Junior development of every student that came to Cardinal
Achievement of South Florida, amongst others. The Gibbons. He said, “Mr. Ott has impacted all of us more so
Foundation is now led by Susan Smith, Shawn Smith-Myers than anyone else. He puts in the effort to make a
and Mike Dayhoff, CEO of Phil Smith Management. connection with every single student, and really makes us
feel like Cardinal Gibbons is our home.”

48 Years of Service W. Grey Marker, II, Cardinal Gibbons graduate and CEO
of Marker Construction Group, mirrored Leventhal’s
Cardinal Gibbons High sentiments and spoke of how Ott helped him develop into
School principal Paul D. Ott the man he is today. “Paul Ott quite literally changed my
has announced his retirement life,” said Marker. “As a student at Cardinal Gibbons, with
from the school in a single working mom, I was flying low under the radar
Fort Lauderdale after 48 and falling between the cracks, and I was lucky enough to
years of service. Ott, who have Paul as a teacher. He noticed me, and thousands of
attended Cardinal Gibbons others like me; he held me accountable, held me to a higher
and graduated in 1966, standard and made me believe that I could achieve. When
will officially retire on June I fell short, he was there with a firm hand, wise advice and
30, 2019, following the continuing faith that I would get it right the next time.”
end of the 2018-2019 “Paul has changed the lives of so very many of us; there
academic year. are no adequate words to describe the gratitude that I, as
well as so many others, feel for his guidance and wisdom
During his 48-year tenure at
Cardinal Gibbons, Ott served and for making us believe in ourselves enough to take the
risk at trying to succeed,” said Marker.
as a teacher, student activities director, assistant principal
and principal. After graduating from the University of The Archdiocese of Miami is currently conducting a search
Notre Dame in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in English, to select a replacement for Ott; the search is expected to
Ott returned to Cardinal Gibbons where he began be completed prior to Ott’s official retirement date on
teaching English. While teaching, he also served as June 30, 2019.
student activities director, planning a number of student
engagement events such as pep rallies and the annual
Homecoming Dance. After 23 years in the classroom,

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