News Release

2012 Superintendent’s Partnership Award Winners Announced

November 28, 2012

Associate Superintendent of School-Based Operations Ann Tankson announced the Superintendent’s Partnership Award winners yesterday, during an event held at the historic Ritz Theatre in Winter Haven. The partners honored include individuals, businesses, non-profit and community organizations that provided everything from donations to tutoring services to students, faculty and or administration during the 2011-2012 school year. Additionally, the business partners play a significant role in helping the district provide a relevant and rigorous curriculum for our students.

The event was coordinated by the Community Relations Department, the Department of Workforce Education and the Polk Education Foundation.

The following individuals and organizations were recognized:

Commissioner’s Business Recognition Awards
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
State Farm Insurance

2012 Superintendents Partnership Award
Elementary Schools
1st place: Summit Consulting is the recipient of the 2012 Elementary Partner of the Year Award. The organization led a fundraising effort called “Employee Coin Wars” which yielded almost $2,500 for incentives that supported the academic achievements of students at Oscar J. Pope Elementary.

2nd place: For the past six years, the Lakeland North Rotary Club has provided funds, clothing and dictionaries to more than 500 students at Sleepy Hill Elementary.

3rd place: Noel Wynn was honored for her long-standing partnership with Lake Alfred Elementary. She has spent more than 1,200 hours each year spearheading ongoing PTO donations of clothing and backpacks so hundreds of students can come to school ready to learn.

Middle/High Schools
1st place: Lake Wales Care Center allows Roosevelt Academy students the opportunity to learn job skills while completing on the job training.

2nd place: Magnify Credit Union donated more than $36,000 to use towards the improvement of student test scores, increased financial literacy and the maintenance of art and athletic programs at George Jenkins High.

3rd place: Carlos Martinez, who represents the University of Florida Extension Service, partnered with Crystal Lake Middle Academy. He provided professional development for teachers associated with the school’s aquaculture program and created the aquaculture curriculum online modules which are available to staff and students free of charge.

District Office
1st place: The Winter Haven Public Education Partnership built relationships between local schools and businesses that have resulted in the formation of the Cybersecurity and Technobotics Academies at Winter Haven High and the Law Academy at Lake Region High.

2nd place: The Ridge Chapter of the Florida Engineering Society sponsors the Mathcounts competition program geared towards middle school students. By doing so, the organization promotes mathematical excellence and STEM career paths.

3rd place: Sticky Spanish, LLC provides significant linguistic skills training to meet the needs of dual language students in kindergarten through third grade.

The following organizations and individuals were nominated:
Elementary Schools: Haines City Walmart; Teresa Connell State Farm Insurance; College Heights United Methodist Church; Church of the Redeemer; Frostproof Elementary PTO; Winter Haven Square Publix; Absolute Home Inspections and Consulting; Cutrale Citrus Juices; Horace Mann Insurance; All Children’s Hospital; Signature Promotions; Winter Haven Southeast Publix; Heritage Baptist Church; Dundee United Methodist Church; KidsPack Polk Project; Stingray Chevrolet

Middle/High Schools: All American Signs; Ridge Point Church; Bartow Fire Department; Rotary Club of Winter Haven; First Choice Pharmacy; Victory Church; Regal Automotive Group; Boys and Girls Club of Lakeland and Mulberry; Horace Mann Insurance and Financial Solutions; Walt Disney World; Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven

District Office: Molina Healthcare; Lake Wales Little Theatre; Dixon Ticonderoga