This recognition program showcases the many supportive areas wherein high performance school personnel are recognized for the role they play in ensuring students and schools have the proper care and services available to ensure their environment is one of enrichment, safety and serving the needs of our students and schools. The winner of the award will be named Hillsborough County's Instructional Support Employee of the Year and will go on to compete for the title at the state and, potentially, national levels.
Presenting Sponsor - Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union's Suncoast for Kids Foundation
Congratulations to our 2012 Instructional Support
Employee of the Year finalists!
Bradley Myers – Bailey Elementary
Mr. Bradley Myers, head custodian at Bailey Elementary, has been employed with Hillsborough County Public Schools for four and a half years. Mr. Myers understands the importance of continual learning and has completed professional development classes such as the Master Custodial Class, Time and Stress Management, Certified First Aid and CPR, and a Sticks and Stones team building class. The staff at Bailey Elementary voted Mr. Myers the Support Employee of the Year in the 2009-2010 and 2011-2012 school years. He also earned the Star Swept Award in September 2010 and November 2011. He went on to receive the Area VI Star Swept Award and was a district finalist for the 2010-2011 school year. His overall dedication and passion for working with the school, staff, students, and community is commendable.
Kena McDaniels-Harris – Edison Elementary
Kena McDaniels-Harris, born on September 13, 1963, attended public school in Tampa, Florida. She graduated from King Senior High in 1981. She continued her education in Special Education at Hillsborough Community College. Ms. McDaniels-Harris has worked for Hillsborough County Public Schools for 22 years; she has worked for 13 years with ESE students at Edison Elementary. Ms. McDaniels-Harris has been voted Instructional Support Employee several times by her peers.
Ryan Johnson – Lanier Elementary
Ryan Johnson has an Associate in Arts degree from Palm Beach State College. He is an Exceptional Student Education Paraprofessional at Lanier Elementary and has worked for Hillsborough County Public Schools for more than nine years. He is a true advocate for his students and has a strong belief that his students deserve all opportunities available to students without disabilities. He assisted in coaching a Special Olympics soccer team that won the state championship in 2005. He received the "Rising Star Award" from YMCA Childcare Services in 2007. He also received the "Bing Bulldog" Award from Bing Elementary in 2007. He was awarded Instructional Support Employee of the Month at Lanier Elementary in 2009, March 2011, and October 2011.
Kathleen Bennett – Tinker Elementary
Kathleen Bennett moved to Florida at the age of 9. She graduated from Clearwater High School and received an A.S. degree from St. Petersburg Junior College. Her husband of 34 years, David, retired from the Air Force in 1995 after he was stationed at MacDill AFB. Kathleen began her affiliation with Tinker Elementary in 1992 as a parent volunteer. She was employed as a lunchroom aide a few years later. She has since filled the positions of PEP aide, Kindergarten aide, substitute teacher, HOST instructor, and has been the Secretary IV since 2001. Kathleen is also very involved in the children’s ministry at South Tampa Fellowship. Though Kathleen has filled many roles in and out of school, her most valued accomplishment has been seeing her four children earn college degrees and grow to be caring adults and a mom’s delight.
Leena Hasbini – Wharton High
A 2007 graduate of Newsome High School, Leena Hasbini demonstrates by personal example the importance of education as the foundation for future success. Leena earned her undergraduate degree in Business Management from the University of South Florida in just two years, and at 21, has completed her USF graduate degree with a perfect 4.0 GPA. At 16, she began working for the district in the HOST afterschool program, and for the past three years, Leena has run the Success Center at Wharton High School. While at Wharton, she has started several data-driven projects that integrate technology to track and measure student outcomes, and her initiatives have been replicated at other district high schools. She also helps out in the district’s Career and Technical Education department, working on a special STEM grant for disadvantaged students. Leena is most proud of her Lebanese heritage and close family, and hopes to one day become a future leader that will impact the lives of children in the most meaningful way she knows: through their education.
Congratulations to the 2011 Hillsborough County Instructional Support Employee of the Year!
Timothy Driggers, Transportation Department