Nominate A School Employee for $10,000 Award

This week Hillsborough County Superintendent MaryEllen Elia announced that nominations are being accepted for the sixth annual We Deliver award.

“The We Deliver award is my way of personally celebrating and thanking one employee who delivers miracles every day in Hillsborough County Public Schools,” Elia said.

All Hillsborough County School employees are eligible for the award.

Parents, students, employees, business partners, and others in the community are welcome to submit nominations.  Anyone who knows a teacher, secretary, clerk, custodian, principal, aide, bus driver, maintenance worker, lunchroom worker, or other staff member who has gone above and beyond what is expected of every employee, is encouraged to submit a nomination.    

The district is soliciting nominations through March 30. The nomination form can be accessed from the district homepage, www.sdhc.k12.fl.us . Paper nominations can be faxed to the Office of Communications at 813-272-4510, or mailed to:
Office of Communications Raymond O. Shelton School Administrative Center 901 E. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, FL 33602

"The winner will be someone who delivers miracles every day beyond his or her job description, who takes a special interest in students or the community, who basically is someone who goes the extra mile,” Elia said.

Elia will surprise the winner during an event at the winner’s work site on Friday, May 25. If the winner works at a school, their colleagues and students also will be there to watch as the winner is presented with a $10,000 check and tokens of appreciation. 

Following is a list of past winners whose accomplishments at work and in the community earned them the award:

• Sadie Douglas, the first winner in 2007, was an aide at Seminole Elementary School.  She won for her compassion, caring, and contributions at school, at home, and in the community.
• Marlene Sacarello, who was a second grade teacher at Lowry Elementary School, won in 2008.  In addition to being an excellent teacher, she won the award for the many extra projects she managed each year.
• Ross Anderson won the 2009 award.  He sponsors Men of Vision, through which he has mentored dozens of young men while teaching them responsibility and introducing them to worlds of opportunity.  He was the AVID teacher at Van Buren Middle School.  
• The 2010 winner was Chrissy Dorion, a Juvenile Justice resource teacher who has worked in the district since 1994.  She works with students to provide a seamless, successful transition from juvenile justice programs back into our school system and to schools throughout Florida.
• Melanie Bolender won the 2011 We Deliver award.  She is the migrant reading teacher at Reddick Elementary School who shops garage sales on weekends to fill the boxes of multi-sized children’s clothing she keeps for her students.  She learned Spanish to better communicate with them and their families, many of whom she also has helped learn English.