Polk County Public Schools
Danny Whittenton, a history teacher at Lakeland’s Kathleen High and Acela Lumpuy, a custodian at Lakeland’s Southwest Middle took top honors Thursday evening at the Polk County Public Schools 2008 Teacher Of The Year and School-Related Employee Of The Year event held at The Lakeland Center.
Whittenton was named 2008 Teacher Of The Year and Lumpuy was named 2008 School-Related Employee Of The Year before more than 1,000 teachers, staff members, community members, event sponsors and guests. The School-Related award is for paraeducators, secretaries, maintenance, foodservice, transportation and others in support roles.
Teachers and school-related employees were nominated by their individual schools. Whittenton and Lumpuy, along with award finalists, received cash awards and other prizes from event sponsors.
In addition, MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, the event’s premier sponsor, presented a 2008 Toyota Prius to Whittenton.
Judges were representatives from local businesses and organizations and included former Teachers Of The Year and School-Related Employees Of The Year. They reviewed more than 300 nominee applications and did not know nominees’ identities or school where they work. Teacher and School-Related nominees completed an application with categories that included leadership and professional development activities, community and school involvement and teaching style.
The Polk County Public Schools are the largest employer in Polk County with more than 12,300 employees. More than 6,770 are employed as teachers.
Eight finalists for each award were announced during the evening prior to naming the winners.
Whittenton was named Teacher Of The Year from among the following finalist group:
Lumpuy was named School-Related Employee Of The Year from among the following finalist group:
Danny Whittenton profile: Danny is a history teacher with 38 years experience. He has taught American history to three generations of Kathleen High students. Danny brings history alive to the classroom by dressing up in costume as historical figures George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Davy Crockett. He is an innovative educator utilizing game show concepts like History Jeopardy and History Trivial Pursuit to teach history. He organized a Get-Out-The-Vote project with students. Students became heavily involved in campaigns and worked for candidates. Students also corresponded with candidates and provided elderly citizens with transportation to the polls. Students wrote essays about their experiences in the election process.
Quote from Cecil McClellan, Kathleen High principal: “Danny is an excellent communicator with peers, parents and students. He possesses the ability to have students on the edge of their seats while engaging them in the learning process. Students look forward to attending class because they are having fun while learning.”
Acela Lumpuy profile: Acela is a custodian with 20 years experience. She is credited with maintaining a well-kept campus and buildings that are more than 50 years old. Teachers are constantly amazed how quickly and efficiently her staff transforms a classroom in disarray after a long day into a sparkling, immaculate place ready for the next day’s learning. Acela translates for Spanish-speaking families and Spanish-speaking custodial employees. She helps others with transportation and works to feed, clothe and find jobs for impoverished newcomers to our area. She often returns to her native Cuba with supplies of medicine, eye glasses and clothing to distribute to the poor.
Quote from Southwest Middle’s nominating committee: “Her official title is custodian but a more appropriate title would be ‘guardian’ or ‘humanitarian.’ She not only cares for the school grounds but she also provides care and help to her school’s students, staff and surrounding community.”
Superintendent Gail McKinzie and event organizers appreciate the support of the following sponsors for their participation in the 2008 Teacher Of The Year and School-Related Employee Of The Year event:
Aramark Facility Services, AT&T, Bank of America, Ben Hill Griffin Inc., Boswell & Dunlap LLP Attorneys At Law, Bright House Networks, Bunting Tripp & Ingley, CEMEX, Clear Springs LLC, Colonial Bank, Community First Credit Union, Everest University, Herff Jones, Holland and Knight, Huntington Learning Center, Lakeland Electric, The Ledger, McDonald’s Owners/Operators of Polk County, MIDFLORIDA Federal Credit Union, J.D. and Maria Mosley, MM Parish Construction, Morgan Stanley, Mosaic, Pepsi Bottling Company, Polk Education Association, Progress Energy, Publix Super Markets Charities, Smith Barney, State Farm Insurance, Sun Trust Bank, TECO Energy, Teacher’s Exchange, Verizon
