From protest rallies to celebration parties, students and teachers across South Florida were elated Thursday after learning their efforts to stop Senate Bill 6 didn't go in vain.
It didn't take long for the news of Governor Charlie Crist vetoing the controversial teacher merit-pay bill to spread through Pembroke Pines Charter High School Thursday.
In American Government class, students like Breana Hines learned first hand how elected officials court the popular vote.
"I was very excited, I was in class screaming and hollering, saying 'Yes, we did it!'" Hines said.
In Cooper City, reaction was the same, with Mayor Debbie Eisinger joining in on the celebration.
"The Governor did the right thing," said Mayor Eisinger. "What we are seeing is democracy in action. If they are going to do any type of reform or make any changes to the way teachers are hired or their salary structure, you need to bring the stakeholders to the table and they didn't do that."
For weeks, students and teachers held protests, outraged that teachers' pay could be tied to their students test grades.
"There are many factors that influence a child's progress and a child's success in school," said Miami Edison Senior High School Provost Dr. Pablo Ortiz. " Educators work very hard on a daily basis performing nothing short of miracles in the classroom. Often times to put their entire performance hinging on the outcome of a test sends the wrong message."
Meantime, educators were grateful that their voices were heard, but they say the fight to improve the quality of education is far from over.
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"We have to reconsider and possibly encourage people who create these bills to come to our schools and find out what it takes in our environment to educate our children," said Miami Edison dance instructor Yarima Ariza.
