Polk County Public Schools
For the first time, the Polk County Teacher Of The Year and School-Related Employee Of The Year Banquet will be broadcast live on cable and fiber optic television and the Internet. This invitation-only event at the Lakeland Center will be broadcast beginning at 7 p.m., Thursday, February 25 on Polk County School Board Television airing on Bright House Networks channel 614, Comcast channel 7 and Verizon FiOS channel 45. The event will also be shown live simultaneously on PGTV, the county government’s channel on Bright House channel 622, Comcast channel 5 and Verizon FiOS channel 20. It will also be Web streamed on the school district’s Web site and the county government’s Web site. The event typically lasts approximately 2 and ½ hours. More than 1,000 people attend this annual event.
A Teacher of the Year and a School-Related Employee of the Year for the entire county will be announced during the banquet. The two winners will be announced among sixteen finalists (eight finalists each for Teacher of the Year and School-Related Employee). Finalists and winners receive cash and other prizes from banquet sponsors. The Polk Education Foundation provides financial support for the event along with 39 community sponsors.
Community members from local organizations and businesses judge nominee applications. Judges do not know nominees’ identities or the school where they work. Teacher of the Year and School-Related nominees completed an application with categories that included leadership and professional development activities, community and school involvement and teaching style.
Combined, Teacher of the Year and School-Related nominees have 2,871 years of experience. The average experience for Teacher of the Year nominees is 14 years and the average experience for School-Related nominees is 11 years. The most experienced Teacher of the Year nominee has 50 years experience. The most experienced School-Related nominee has 39 years experience.
The following school district employees have been nominated by their schools for the 2010 Polk County Public Schools Teacher of the Year and School-Related Employee of the Year Awards. The school-related award honors employees in support roles such as paraeducators, secretaries, food service, custodial, transportation and other responsibilities.
TEACHER OF THE YEAR and SCHOOL-RELATED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Nominees are listed by school locations. Teachers are listed first with grades taught or instructional responsibility followed by school-related employees listed with their areas of responsibility.
Alturas
Alturas Elementary: Brian Chance, network manager; Sammy Pate, custodian.
Auburndale
Auburndale Central Elementary: Wayne Gourley, network manager; Maria De Lourdes Corrales, custodian.
Auburndale High: Matthew Blankenship, geography and reading; Carol Meyers, secretary.
Boswell Elementary: Dana Esposito, grade one; Maria Forkel, paraeducator.
Caldwell Elementary: Kim Marler, science; Susan Sweep, ESE paraeducator.
East Area Adult & Community: Madeline Lopez-Ortiz, marketing; Judy Hudson, secretary.
Lena Vista Elementary: Jeremy Bohnenstiehl, grade four; Carla Murphy, paraeducator.
Stambaugh Middle: Christine Klupp, language arts; Penny Horning, foodservice.
Bartow
Bartow Elementary Academy: Anna Jones, music; Melissa Vice, clinic paraeducator.
Bartow High/IB/Summerlin Academy: Janell Marmon, English; Angela Godwin, secretary.
Bartow Middle: Heather Carr, grade six; Kristina Clark, secretary.
District Office: Sharon Bowers, retirement analyst (school-related nominee).
Floral Avenue Elementary: Dale MacArthur, ESE grades three to five; Yvette Pena, paraeducator.
Gause Academy: Teresa Roberts, library media specialist; Denise Chiampi, secretary.
Gibbons Street Elementary: Kimberly Dudley, kindergarten; Stephanie Green, computer operator.
Polk Life and Learning Center: Raymond Holbrook, agriculture; Yvinnie Johnson, paraeducator.
Spessard L. Holland Elementary: Sarah Rodgers, kindergarten; Tanya Peavy, secretary.
Stephens Elementary: Laura Fitzhugh, network manager; Shirley Harris, paraeducator.
Union Academy: Abby Kayden, social studies; Eugene Carter, custodian.
Davenport
Davenport School of the Arts: Patti Frier, history; Nathaniel Shepherd, custodian.
Horizons Elementary: Suzie Nelson, grade four; Frances Span, secretary.
Loughman Oaks Elementary: Peter McDougall, physical education; Patricia Swigart, foodservice.
Ridge Community High: Jamie Birmingham, history; Robin Clark Fox, custodian;
Dundee
Dundee Elementary: Carol Utke, grade three; Carol Leighton, network manager.
Dundee Ridge Middle: Kerri Collins, curriculum resource; Marisely Melendez, paraeducator.
Eagle Lake
Eagle Lake Elementary: Lori Irwin, grade three; Ann Conley, foodservice.
Lake Region High: Veronica Berry, reading; Sarah Ramos, ESOL paraeducator.
Pinewood Elementary: Kathy Winters, art; Kathleen Whited, paraeducator.
Eaton Park
Oscar J. Pope Elementary: Lisa Rockett, ESE support facilitator; Gina Hamlin, foodservice.
Eloise
Snively Elementary: Theresa Hill, kindergarten; Shannah Acevedo, lab manager.
Fort Meade
Fort Meade Middle-Senior: Elspeth Belflower, art; Anita Bass, paraeducator.
Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary (Anna Woodbury campus): Jason Springer, grade four; Dianne Thompson, paraeducator.
Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary (Lewis campus): Linda Thomas, grade one; Nancy Rodriguez, paraeducator.
Frostproof
Ben Hill Griffin Jr. Elementary: Brian Schmitt, physical education; Alice Brantley, secretary.
Frostproof Elementary: Shelly Hayes, grade one; Maggie Elyard, paraeducator.
Frostproof Middle-Senior: Pamela Hadden, mathematics; Laurie Hortert, computer operator.
Haines City
Alta Vista Elementary: Hilda Feliciano, Grade 1; Danielle Prudhomme, secretary.
Bethune Academy: Amanda Smith, grade four; Nakesha Fielder, foodservice.
Boone Middle: Jacqueline Teeters, science; Vernon Bean, custodian.
Daniel Jenkins Academy: Melanie Tucker, science; Norman Babers, custodian.
Eastside Elementary: Mary Ann Ensley, grade four; Arthur Douglas, custodian.
Haines City High/IB: Sabra Hatley, music; Sally Westover, vocational trainer.
Sandhill Elementary: Mahboobah Jadallah, grade three; Mary Bullard, paraeducator.
Highland City
Highland City Elementary: Jennifer Horvatin, grade one; Juanita McCoy, ESE paraeducator.
Lake Alfred
Karen M. Siegel Academy: Kathy Brammer, ESE pre-K to grade three; Joan Ng-A-Fook, paraeducator.
Lake Alfred Elementary: Stacey Jessee, kindergarten; Beth Danforth, substitute.
Lake Wales
McLaughlin Middle And Fine Arts Academy: Varsha Dabiesingh, science; Jean Howell, paraeducator.
Roosevelt Academy: Linda Davis, reading; Sandra Douberly, secretary.
Spook Hill Elementary: Alyson Dort, grade three; Monica Vigna, paraeducator.
Lakeland
Blake Academy: Jennifer O’Neal, grade four and five; Katina Penland, mentor coordinator.
Carlton Palmore Elementary: Edie Roden, ESE grades four and five; Lisa Rozier, paraeducator.
Churchwell Elementary: Elyshia Carleton, kindergarten, Bernard Milewski, custodian.
Cleveland Court Elementary: Ken Groff, art; Frances Fowler, paraeducator.
Combee Elementary: Cathy Copeland, grade two; Debbie Wise, secretary.
Countywide ESE: Carlressian Jones, ESE; Agnes Outlaw, paraeducator.
Crystal Lake Elementary: Lindsay Persohn, library media specialist; Deanna Gambill, paraeducator.
Crystal Lake Middle: Steve Morgan, reading; Joyce Lopez, ESE paraeducator.
Dixieland Elementary: Colleen Hiers, grade five; Joy McMichael, secretary.
Doris Sanders Learning Center: Kaitlin Gabbert, ESE; Kelly Thorsen, secretary.
Dr. N.E. Roberts Elementary: Daphne Linholm, grade one; Patricia Moon, paraeducator.
George Jenkins High: Sandra King-Williams, language arts; Ann Baldwin, foodservice.
Griffin Elementary: Ricky Vice, physical education; Teresa Harrell, paraeducator.
Harrison School For The Arts: Susan Olson, dance; Kelly James, secretary.
Highlands Grove Elementary: Kari Groover, kindergarten; Stephanie Noel, paraeducator.
Jesse Keen Elementary: Jessica Lovett, grade one; Rose Yzaguirre, foodservice.
Kathleen Elementary: Amy Weingarth, teacher trainer; Raquel Vargas, secretary.
Kathleen High: Robert Goff, Jr., world history; Susan Kelley, secretary.
Kathleen Middle: Katie Hatcher, reading; Rodney Jamerson, custodian.
Lake Gibson High: Meredith Moore, language arts; Marcia Gray, foodservice.
Lake Gibson Middle: Tracy Chaves, history; Vellyana Candelario, paraeducator.
Lakeland High: Kenneth Dockery, ESE career prep; Willie Brown, custodian.
Lakeland Highlands Middle: Judy Thomas, science; Encarnacion Vallejo, custodian.
Lakeland Teen Parent: Melissa MacEachern, career prep; Maribel Garay, paraeducator.
Lawton Chiles Middle Academy: Allison Sitta, mathematics; Margaret Whidden, custodian.
Lincoln Avenue Academy: Shelly Gerber, grade four; Kimberly Green, paraeducator.
Medulla Elementary: Jacqueline Hood, grade two; Diane Coker, secretary.
North Lakeland Elementary: Amanda Granados, grade three; Deborah Vernooy, custodian.
Padgett Elementary: Elizabeth Ashmore, grade two; Roby Gilchrest, custodian.
Philip O’Brien Elementary: Jan Shields, library media specialist; Alcira McConnell, paraeducator.
R. Bruce Wagner Elementary: Kim Mayes, grade five; Faye Turney, paraeducator.
Rochelle School of the Arts: Jesse Bryant II, band; Diana King, custodian;
Scott Lake Elementary: Cynthia Black, grade three; Laura Martin, secretary.
Sikes Elementary: Mark Cloutier; art; Christy Mark, foodservice.
Sleepy Hill Elementary: Dove Reynolds, kindergarten; Karen Mallory, computer operator.
Sleepy Hill Middle: James Larrow, social studies; Leslie Jackson, custodian.
Socrum Elementary: Seth Miller, grade three; Tamara Ball, paraeducator.
Southwest Elementary: Jan Keith, grade three; Carol Lamb, paraeducator.
Southwest Middle: Paul Peterson, art; Rodolfo Lumpuy, custodian.
Tenoroc High: Diane Bondurant, English; Rani Dickey, secretary.
Traviss Career Center: Edwin Harrell, welding; Clifford Kitchen, custodian.
Valleyview Elementary: Leslie Phillips, kindergarten; Jerry Hopkins, foodservice.
Wendell Watson Elementary: Tara Cauthen, grade one; Cindy Troxel, ESE paraeducator
West Area Adult School: Lori Cabrera, ESOL; Geraline King, secretary.
Winston Elementary: Nancy Townsend, grade two; Madelyn Velez, paraeducator.
Mulberry
Kingsford Elementary: Jill McKnight, writing and math; Linda Smith, computer operator.
Mulberry High: Christine Combs, science; Mercedes Eijo, custodian.
Mulberry Middle: Amy Lashkajani, mathematics; Lourdes Floyd, ESOL paraeducator.
Purcell Elementary: Alan Fontana, grade three; Eva Gomez, medical clinic paraeducator.
Poinciana
Lake Marion Creek School: Linda Marrero-Torres, grade one; Hughie Chumney III, paraeducator.
Laurel Elementary: Carymil Torres, kindergarten; Yazmin Pelaez, custodian.
Palmetto Elementary: Robynn Hamrick, kindergarten; Lisa Myrick, secretary.
Polk City
Polk City Elementary: Kimberly Wilson, writing; Kathryn Grigsby, foodservice.
Winter Haven
Brigham Academy: Janet Davis, grade three; Donna Langford, secretary.
Chain of Lakes Elementary: Linda Babington, grade two; Johnny Carr, custodian;
Denison Middle: Sandi Smith, reading; Doris Pennini, secretary.
Elbert Elementary: Shanon Stephens, grade four; Sandra Hudson, paraeducator.
Garden Grove Elementary: Luisa Meyer, physical education; Darlene Czerwinski, secretary.
Garner Elementary: Christopher Hutchinson, physical education; Patricia Bay, ESE paraeducator.
Inwood Elementary: Brittanie Moore, kindergarten; Diane Buey, secretary.
Jewett Middle Academy: Delphine Kendrick, history and math; Cecilia Lyon, paraeducator.
Jewett School of the Arts: Crystal Robinson, language arts; Patricia McKinnon, computer operator.
Lake Shipp Elementary: Druecilla Cook, grade one; Barbara Ladler, custodian.
Ridge Career Center: Gary Dunn, digital design; Nancy Edmondson, secretary.
Wahneta Elementary: Diane Foli, physical education; La Wanda Warren, paraeducator.
Westwood Middle: David Coggeshall, mathematics; Gail Heslep, secretary.
Winter Haven High: Wendi Wooddell, English; Brenda Bowen, paraeducator.
