Polk County Public Schools
The following school district employees have been nominated by their schools for the 2008. 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.
A Teacher of the Year and a School-Related Employee of the Year for the entire county will be announced during the Educator, School-Related & Business Partner Banquet on February 7, 2008 at the Lakeland Center. 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.
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 2,691 years of experience. The average experience of Teacher of the Year nominees is 11 years. The average experience of School-Related nominees is 13 years. The most experienced Teacher of the Year nominee has 38 years experience. The most experienced School-Related nominee has 35 years experience.
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 Elementary: John Iskra, music; Lenora Hales, foodservice;
Auburndale Central Elementary: Rhonda Strange, kindergarten; Maria Corrales, custodian;
Auburndale High: Carla Savage, science; Carvetta Young, secretary;
Boswell Elementary: Karen Smoak, third grade ; Jessica Wells, paraeducator;
Caldwell Elementary: Barbara Truitt, first to fifth grade; Carol Pringle, secretary;
East Area Adult & Community: Rosalinda Mills, adult education; Marilyn Crane, secretary;
Lena Vista Elementary: Jim Palmer, fourth grade; Shirley West, secretary;
Stambaugh Middle: April Brown, mathematics; Leigh Damiano, paraeducator;
Bartow Elementary: Karen Reece, kindergarten to fifth grade; Edna Wilson, foodservice;
Bartow High/IB/Summerlin Academy: Chris Guice, English; Benita Conley, custodian;
Bartow Middle: Connie Harris, grades six to eight; Jackie Barnes, paraeducator;
Compass Middle: Olivia Hazell, counselor; Donna Sellers, secretary;
District Office: Sue Bain, secretary (school-related nominee);
Floral Avenue Elementary: Nancy Carrier, second grade; Veronica Hunt-Holden, secretary;
Gause Academy: Terry Monies, reading; Gloria Macias, paraeducator;
Gibbons Street Elementary: Jane Herman, grade four; Jocelyn Jean-Baptiste, custodian;
Polk Life and Learning: Nancy Wolfe, pre-K to twelfth grade; Diane Boczkowski, network manager;
Stephens Elementary: Brenda Guice, kindergarten; Stella Panton, custodian;
Union Academy: Kathie Goldstein, English; Debbie Milligan, nurse;
Davenport School of the Arts: Caroline Kaiser, kindergarten; Lisa Armstrong, paraeducator;
Loughman Oaks Elementary: Sonja Skaggs, third grade; Cheryl Davis, secretary;
Ridge Community High: Bobby Cranston, world languages and government; Josephine Bragg, secretary;
Dundee Elementary: Phillip Daniels, first grade; Jennifer Williams, computer operator;
Dundee Ridge Middle: Rebecka Jo Sare, reading; Albert Freitas, custodian;
Eagle Lake Elementary: Patricia Katsoulis, fifth grade; Anelia Baker, paraeducator;
Lake Region High: Robert Pobjecky, English and history; Louise Shaffer, secretary;
Pinewood Elementary: Torsha Baker, grade 2; Rafael Pabon, custodian;
Oscar J. Pope Elementary: Ann Rowton Smith, kindergarten to fifth grade; Diana Tinker, paraeducator;
Snively Elementary: Laura Mastrangelo, fifth grade; Pam Yates, custodian;
Fort Meade Middle-Senior: Beth Conley Wilkin, reading; Beth Gobble, secretary;
Gause Riverside: Leslie Belcher, grades three and four; Bessie Smith, custodian;
Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary (Woodbury campus): Jason Springer, fourth grade; Deborah Sivadasan, secretary;
Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary (Lewis campus): Jennifer Webb, music; Sharon Bevis, paraeducator;
Ben Hill Griffin Jr. Elementary: Anita Linkenbach, music; Nancy Piller, paraeducator;
Frostproof Elementary: Alexandra Wise, kindergarten; Johnnie Lewis, custodian;
Frostproof Middle-Senior: Nina Dyer, life management skills; Joan Hutto, foodservice;
Alta Vista Elementary: Diane Hill, kindergarten, Javier Altamirano, custodian;
Bethune Academy: Christy Cotton, fifth grade; Debbie Weeks, paraeducator;
Boone Middle: William Toney, agriscience; Mary Gaston, foodservice;
Daniel Jenkins Academy of Technology: Deborah Widner, library media specialist; Rhonda Gibson, computer operator;
Eastside Elementary: Sean Williams, writing coach; Jackie Rodriguez, computer operator;
Haines City High: Keitha Hall, agriscience; Angelica Marin, paraeducator;
Sandhill Elementary: Mark Murphy, physical education; Michael Malfa, Jr., custodian;
Highland City Elementary: Vivian Tebo-Bennett, first grade; Joanne Mathes, custodian;
Karen M. Siegel Academy: Chad Young, exceptional student education; Mary Faltyn, paraeducator;
Lake Alfred Addair Middle: Beverly Faniel, reading; Gloria Morris, secretary;
Lake Alfred Elementary: Randi Honer, third grade; Nellie Wilkerson, foodservice;
McLaughlin Middle: Cynthia Braaten, program facilitator; Shirley Baldwin, secretary;
Roosevelt Academy: Eugene Fultz, grades seven to nine; Stephanie Mask, nurse;
Spook Hill Elementary: Lisa Ellis, fourth grade; Charlie Simpson, foodservice;
Blake Academy: Lindsay Samuels, band; Willie Borders, custodian;
Carlton Palmore Elementary: Jennifer Sowell, fifth grade; Anadina Mota, custodian;
Churchwell Elementary: Adella Spires, second to third grade; Theresa Little, paraeducator
Cleveland Court Elementary: Carmela Di Cesare Myers, second grade; Yvette Demko, secretary
Combee Elementary: Ellen Carey, first grade; Teresa Harrell, paraeducator
Crystal Lake Elementary: Denise Williams, pre-K to sixth grade; Deanna Gambill, paraeducator
Crystal Lake Middle: Sheila Hillery, mathematics; Charlotte Newton, secretary
Dixieland Elementary: Pamela Grant, fifth grade; Kay Llewellyn, computer lab manager
Doris Sanders Learning Center: Fanny Edwards, exceptional student education; Tracie Kniskern, paraeducator
Dr. N.E. Roberts Elementary: Sharon Hawks, kindergarten; Shirley Ann Battle, computer operator;
George Jenkins High: Steven Wilder, business; Melva Leynes, paraeducator;
Griffin Elementary: Denai Porter Ardis, library media specialist; Sara Bittinger, paraeducator;
Highlands Grove Elementary: Steven Jones, fourth grade; Pamela Evans, secretary;
Harrison Arts: Ilene Fins, performing arts; Idalmis Hernandez, custodian;
Jesse Keen Elementary: Susan Walsh, first grade; Rita Riker, paraeducator;
Kathleen Elementary: Cherry McClellan, language arts; Marcia Collins, foodservice;
Kathleen Middle: Beverly Wixon, English; Allison Medlin, paraeducator;
Kathleen High: Danny Whittenton, history; Penny Thomas, paraeducator;
Lake Gibson High: Kelly Rogers, mathematics; Judith Rundle, secretary;
Lake Gibson Middle: Kelly Weiss, science; Rebecca Whipple, computer operator;
Lakeland High: Pam Qualls Baker, television production; Jeani Lamb, secretary;
Lakeland Highlands Middle: Elizabeth Graff, history; Valerie Hillman, lab manager
Lawton Chiles Middle: Debbie Viertel, science; Wanda Stephenson, custodian;
Lime Street Elementary: Melissa More, pre-K to first grade; Mona Collins, paraeducator;
Lincoln Avenue Academy: Carla Campbell, fifth grade; Ethel Perry, custodian;
Medulla Elementary: Heidi Kovach, third grade; Marlene Hudson, foodservice; -more-
North Lakeland Elementary: Daphne Harris, third grade; Mary Ann Tallman, secretary;
Padgett Elementary: Patrick Coughlin, guidance counselor; Deborah Stephens, foodservice
R. Bruce Wagner Elementary: Carol Hurst, media specialist; Lori Proskey, paraeducator;
Rochelle School of the Arts: Zachary Maisenbacher, fourth grade; Reba Amee, computer operator;
Scott Lake Elementary: Ruben Zapata, kindergarten through fifth grade; Bea Stoler, foodservice;
Sikes Elementary: Sandi Williamson, second grade; Deborah Kolodziej, lab manager;
Sleepy Hill Elementary: Jacqueline Thomas, grades one and four; Linda Goodwin, secretary;
Sleepy Hill Middle: Alric Fischle III, mathematics; Laurice Jones, secretary;
Socrum Elementary: Melissa Stilwell, second grade; Vicci Jester, paraeducator;
Southwest Elementary: Rebecca McMann, kindergarten through fifth grade; Sylvia Todd, paraeducator;
Southwest Middle: Stephen Miller, mathematics; Acela Lumpuy, custodian;
Traviss Career Center: George Milliken III, building construction technology; Linda May, secretary;
Valleyview Elementary: Lisa Cowperthwaite, library media specialist; Christine Custred, secretary;
Wendell Watson Elementary: Kim Sealey, reading coach; Joanna Stover, network manager
West Area Adult School: Heather Lilly, business and mathematics; Stanley Evans, custodian;
Winston Elementary: Amanda Leggate, first grade; Kasandra Bostic, custodian;
Kingsford Elementary: Evelyn Wiggs, second grade; Kaye Strickland, paraeducator;
Mulberry High: Kelly Magdanz, culinary arts; Brenda Cleveland, secretary;
Mulberry Middle: Heidi Murphy, reading; Juanita Daughtry, secretary;
Purcell Elementary: Tanisha McLachlan, exceptional student education; Timothy Woodham, custodian
Lake Marion Creek Elementary: Nereida Massas-Cruz, English For Speakers Of Other Languages; Elise Duffy, secretary;
Laurel Elementary: Shannon Young, reading; Terri Vandiver, secretary;
Palmetto Elementary: Charlotte Clifton, second and third grade; Eileen Lozada, secretary;
Polk City Elementary: Susan O’Steen, kindergarten; Katrina Taylor, secretary;
Brigham Academy: Kelly Burgess, science; Susan Tucker, foodservice;
Chain of Lakes Elementary: Stacey Mize, second and fifth grade; Kelly Cole, lab manager;
Denison Middle: Lisa Richard, reading; Maxine Preston, custodian;
Elbert Elementary: Patricia Centuolo, kindergarten through fifth grade; Nancy Burton, paraeducator;
Garden Grove Elementary: Jaye Hansen, kindergarten through fifth grade; Julieanne Wright, secretary;
Garner Elementary: Rose Dolemon, kindergarten; Joni Gann, paraeducator;
Inwood Elementary: Seth Stephens, physical education; Patty McTier, lab manager;
Jewett Middle: Rebecca Hensley, language arts and math; Jill Dumont, secretary;
Jewett School of the Arts: Alonzo Williams, Jr., language arts and math; Carol Walker, foodservice;
Lake Shipp Elementary: Patrick Stone, kindergarten through fifth grade; Merle McGee, foodservice;
Ridge Career Center: John Russell, applied welding technology; Bernadette Wright, career assessment specialist;
Wahneta Elementary: William Beatty, fourth grade; Sarah Greek, foodservice;
Westwood Middle: Gregory Herndon, industrial arts; Jayne Barton, computer operator;
Winter Haven High: Rhea McKinney, science; Deryl Feacher, custodian;
