Wal-Mart stores and Phi Delta Kappa International, an educators association, recently kicked off their eighth annual Teacher of the Year program.
Recipients will receive a $1,000 educational grant from the Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club Foundation to benefit their school, an honorary Wal-Mart greeter’s vest and the opportunity to apply for the state and national Teacher of the Year honors.
Nearly 14,000 teachers nationwide have been recognized since the beginning of the program in 1995. Last year, Wal-Mart donated $14 million to educational causes.
Anyone can nominate an outstanding teacher by visiting a local Wal-Mart store or Sam’s Club. Forms also can be downloaded from the Phi Delta Kappa Web site at pdkintl.org.
The deadline is March 7.
SCHOOL MEETINGS
Tavares Middle School will have an advisory council meeting at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the media center, 13032 Lane Park Cutoff, Tavares. Topics will include the principal’s assessment and other related school business. Details: 352-343-4545.
There will be a joint meeting of all parents of Title I students and the advisory council of Triangle Elementary School at 7 p.m. Thursday in the school media center, 1707 Eudora Road, Mount Dora. The agenda will include input from parents as to how the federal funds, which supports their Title I program, will be spent for the 2003-04 school year and a review of the school improvement plan. The advisory council also will review their progress to the completion of the strategies identified within their school improvement plan. Details: 352-383-6176.
The school advisory council for Gray Middle School, 205 E. Magnolia St., Groveland, will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the media center. The agenda will include the school improvement plan, Title I and promotion criteria. Details: 352-429-3322.
Lake Hills School will have an advisory council meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the school, 200 W. Golf Links Ave., Eustis, for a review of the school improvement plan, to discuss facility need and to vote on agenda items Details: 352-357-1192.
Eustis Elementary School will have an advisory council meeting at 2:15 p.m. Feb. 19 in the media center, 714 Citrus Ave., for a discussion of the principal’s assessment and other related school business. Details: 352-357-2779.
Skeen Elementary School, 401 S. Moss St., Leesburg, will meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 20 in the media center. The agenda will include a vote on the principal’s job performance and input on its Title I plan. Details: 352-787-5224.
LAKE TECHNICAL CENTER
Carol Hawk, a practical nursing instructor, was recently named Teacher of the Year for Lake Technical Center in Eustis.
Hawk also is a registered nurse and adviser for the center’s Health Occupations Students of America. She also is a house-nursing supervisor for Florida Hospital Waterman.
She joined Lake Technical Center in 1981 and received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Central Florida in 1985.
Last year during HOSA State Leadership Conference and Competition, she was named as a HOSA Honorary Life Member for her contributions, continued support, and dedication to the organization.
Debra Zaharis, a records clerk specialist for Lake Technical Center, recently was named 2003 School Related Employee of the Year. She joined the center as a school clerk in 1997 and was instrumental in starting the Web design program.
She serves as secretary for the school advisory council and the director’s advisory council. The Mount Plymouth resident also is a member of the Publicity and Social/Welfare committees.
Shelby Coon, a Leesburg resident, was named Lake Technical Center’s vocational incentive program’s Student of the Month for February.
She received a designated parking place at the school, lunch with the school’s director and program instructor, a certificate of recognition, a gift certificate for dinner at a local restaurant, and movie tickets.
Coon is enrolled in Lake Technical Center’s accounting operations program. After graduation, Coon plans to attend college and study to become a certified public accountant.
Lake Technical started the Vocational Incentive Program to motivate and reward students for their work. To qualify as a VIP student of the month, a student must have perfect attendance, display exemplary work habits and excellent academic achievements in his or her area of study.
Coon is now a candidate for the school’s Student of the Year award.
EUSTIS SENIORS HONORED
The Eustis Lions Club has sponsored a Seniors of the Month program at Eustis High School for nine years.
The program honors one male and one female senior each month from September through March.
Seniors are selected and recommended by the high school staff and administration, based on their dedication to academic excellence, exemplary citizenship, attitude and behavior and their plans for continued education after graduation.
Seniors who are selected are honored at monthly meetings of the Lions Club.
At the end of the school year, one male and one female overall winner are selected from the monthly nominations and scholarship awards are presented at the school’s Senior Awards Night.
Seniors of the Month for the first semester of the 2002-03 school year include the following:
September Seniors of the Month were Kim Vuong and Arthur Agdeppa.
October Seniors of the Month were Shane Williams and Krisan Thompson.
November Seniors of the Month were Greg Garner and Martha Allen.
December Seniors of the Month were Lana Meeks and Jeffrey R. Morgan Jr.
