Apr 23rd, 2010

LAKE WALES – Denise Moss wears many hats at Dale R. Fair Babson Park Elementary.

She is the school’s administrative assistant, principal’s secretary and finance secretary. She manages the books for the school’s preschool program, and she serves as chair of the School Advisory Committee. For 13 years, she has coordinated Babson Park’s Five Star Schools application to the State of Florida. She mentors a kindergarten student and she organizes numerous community food drives.

Her hard work was rewarded Thursday (April 22) when she was named Polk’s Charter Schools Non-Instructional Employee of the Year. Moss was given a large crystal award, $2,000 and a special ring customized by Herff Jones.

Sierra Gibbs, ESE classroom paraprofessional at Janie Howard Wilson Elementary, was named second runner-up for the honor. She received a crystal award and $500.

Other Lake Wales Charter Schools system teachers and non-instructional employees who were honored at the banquet included:

• Karen Blackwelder, Edward W. Bok Academy, administrative assistant and terminal operator
• Althea Moody, Hillcrest Elementary, food service manager
• Sonia Barnes, Lake Wales High, secretary
• Delores Peters, Polk Avenue Elementary, paraprofessional
• Michele Black, Dale R. Fair Babson Park Elementary, fourth grade reading, writing and spelling teacher
• Arianne Seidl, Edward W. Bok Academy, physical education teacher
• Romell Mincey, Hillcrest Elementary, third grade teacher
• Tina Stegman, Janie Howard Wilson Elementary, ESE primary varying exceptionalities teacher
• Candice Stepp, Lake Wales High, math teacher
• Shelley Batson, Polk Avenue Elementary, fourth grade teacher

Also honored at Thursday’s banquet were Our Children’s Academy representatives Justin Helton, paraeducator, and Melissa West, ESE first-fourth grade teacher.

The annual Polk County Charter Schools Association banquet honored 19 teachers of the year and 17 non-instructional employees of the year from charter schools throughout Polk County. Their anonymous applications were judged by business and community volunteers.

The banquet was held at the Lake Wales Country Club, and the program was coordinated by volunteers from the Lake Wales Charter Schools system central office. When guests arrived, they were greeted by cadets from Lake Wales High School’s JROTC program, who escorted them to their tables. Before dinner, the LWHS Strings performed under the direction of Meg Smith.

The banquet and awards program is sponsored by the participating schools and many business sponsors, including Mulling Insurance Agency, Lake Wales Charter Schools, Cigna, Gibson & Wirt Insurance, Achievement Academy, Berkley Elementary Charter, Discovery Academy of Lake Alfred, Herff Jones/J.D. Mosely, McKeel Academy of Technology, McKeel Elementary Academy, Publix Super Markets Charities Inc., Ridgeview Global Studies Academy, South McKeel Academy, United Health Care, Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School, Craig Anderson/Colonial Life, Dale R. Fair Babson Park Elementary, Edward W. Bok Academy, Lake Wales High, Our Children’s Academy, Travelers Companies/Skip Fromm, and Warner University.

PHOTO #1: Babson Park’s Denise Moss and Janie Howard Wilson’s Sierra Gibbs celebrate their awards following the Polk County Charter Schools Association’s banquet Thursday to honor Teachers and Non-Instructional Employees of the Year. The two Lake Wales Charter Schools employees won top honors among their peers.