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Schools
Beyond the classroom
Whether ladling in lunchrooms, sweeping halls or assisting administrators, these employees help schools hum.
By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE, Times Correspondent
Published November 15, 2007
The Hernando County School District will honor its 2007-2008 School-Related Employees of the Year tonight. The Hernando County Education Foundation sponsors the event, which recognizes outstanding employees who were selected at their work sites. Here are this year's winners:
Julia Jinkens, 82
Bio: Brooksville Elementary, lunchroom assistant. 35 years at site, 35 with district.
Job Description: Helps students with lunchroom needs. Cleans tables and empties trash cans.
Best part of Job: "My co-workers, great manager and time flies," she said, adding that she enjoys "being 'Granny' to the children."
Judi Calloway, 64
Bio: Central High, secretary to the assistant principals. 9 years at site, 10 with district.
Job Description: She does secretarial work as well as deal with student activities.
Best part of Job: "I get to go and interact with my co-workers and deal with children."
Sheila Doyle, 41
Bio: Challenger K-8, assistant principal secretary. 3 years at site, 4-5 with district.
Job Description: Taking care of assistant principals, disciplines, substitutes.
Best part of Job: "Working with the children and watching them grow."
Linda Lamberson, 45
Bio: Chocachatti Elementary custodian. 6 years at site, 6 with district.
Job Description: "My first priority is to clean the area I'm assigned." She assists with school night activities and makes sure the buildings are secure at night.
Best part of Job: "Conversing with the kids as well as parents, teachers. I'm a people pleaser. I like to make people happy."
Michele DiLuzio, 43
Bio: Deltona Elementary, data-entry operator. 14 years at site, 25 with district.
Job Description: "I'm responsible for everything related to students that has to be put into the system. I assist the technology coordinator. I created and maintain the school's Web site."
Best part of Job: "Getting to interact with so many people."
Cheryl Johnson, 42,
Bio: D.S. Parrott Middle, custodian. 7 years at site, 10 with district.
Job Description: "Main custodian in the day, which provides assistance to faculty and staff in all capacities."
Best part of Job: "I like to clean and get the job done and enjoy seeing my peers daily. It makes me feel good when I do something for the kids and they say 'Thank you, Ms. Cheryl!'"
Charles "Kojak" Burnett, 50
Bio: Eastside Elementary, custodian. 18 years at site, 24 with district.
Job Description: Oversee the campus. Best part of Job: "Teamwork."
Nina Mock, 57
Bio: Finance Department, accounting assistant. 6 years at site, 30 with district.
Job Description: Assistant to payroll coordinator; processes payroll for approximately 3,800 employees on a biweekly basis.
Best part of Job: "I enjoy the interaction with such a variety of people that I come in contact with in the course of the day. I love helping people."
Joe Bosco, 31
Bio: Fox Chapel Middle, math lab manager. 5 years at site, 5 with district.
Job Description: Helping the teachers in the lab with students to improve math scores.
Best part of Job: "The best part of my job is having students come up to me years later and thanking me for taking the time to help them. It's just very gratifying."
Gioia Scuoteguazza, 55
Bio: J.D. Floyd Elementary, paraprofessional in the computer lab. 21 years at site, 26 with district.
Job Description: "Oversee the main campus computer lab. Students come to the lab for their specials class. I assign and explain programs to them, test when needed."
Best part of Job: "Working with so many different grade levels and helping them to understand and enjoy computing."
Sharon D. Miller, 53
Bio: Hernando High, director of teen parenting. 13 years at site, 13 with district.
Job Description: "I take care of the students' babies so they can continue their education. We have about 12 babies and (work with) 19 students."
Best part of Job: "Loving the babies, showing that we care for them, support the parents."
Judy Cyg, 57
Bio: Moton Elementary, entry operator. 6 years at site, 6 with district.
Job Description: Handles records concerning students, including registration of new students.
Best part of Job: "Oh, working with people, families, workers, children."
Robert Kretzer, 49
Bio: Nature Coast Technical, custodian III. 1 year at site, 19 with district.
Job Description: Keeping the school looking good.
Best part of Job: "Knowing the school is clean. Knowing it's looking good when I leave."
Stacy Perkins, 46
Bio: Pine Grove Elementary, secretary, 4 years at site, 4 with district.
Job Description: Secretary, volunteer coordinator, in charge of substitutes. "Keeping everyone in line."
Best part of Job: "I love every aspect of my job."
Loretta Schwefringhaus, 59
Bio: Powell Middle, secretary. 22 years at site, 22 with district.
Job Description: Attendance, inputting data, running reports, all attendance letters, truancy, work closely with guidance counselors, administrators ... plus much more.
Best part of Job: "Working with the wonderful faculty and staff, meeting many people and mostly working with the students of Hernando County."
Richard Fremer, 38
Bio: Printing Department, press technician II. 10 years at site, 10 with district.
Job Description: Pressroom supervisor
Best part of Job: "Challenging meeting timelines and workload."
Brenda Hicks, 48
Bio: Spring Hill Elementary, data-entry operator. 29 years at site, 30 with district.
Job Description: Input and maintain all student information, course information and teacher course information; reporting to Department of Education.
Best part of Job: "Challenging."
Janette Boyd, 53
Bio: Springstead High, bookkeeper. 8 years at site, 8 with district.
Job Description: Keeps track of funding; assists administrators with budgeting; shipping and receiving clerk; benefits coordinator; textbook coordinator.
Best part of Job: "Helping the people here get what they need so they can help the students get a good start on life."
Pete Ruiz, 44
Bio: Star Education Center, violence prevention. 7 years at site, 12 with district.
Job Description: "Working with students' behaviors and counseling them so that they could return to class to concentrate more on their academics."
Best part of Job: "Seeing positive results and being visited by former students who thank me for being a positive role model in their lives."
Anna Welshoff, 75
Bio: Student Services, secretary III. 10 years at site, 18 with district.
Job Description: "... all discipline that comes to us from all the schools where students are involved in drug, alcohol, tobacco, anger issues and refer them to evening classes."
Best part of Job: "It's part time."
Carol Cass, 58
Bio: Suncoast Elementary, paraprofessional in in-school suspension. 9 years at site, 9 with district.
Job Description: "Taking care of the children with school supervisor, copies, and anything you can think of."
Best part of Job: "My co-workers, the children, my principal and assistant principal. This is my second home."
Mary Holland, 63
Bio: Transportation Department. 25 years at site, 25 with district.
Job Description: "I transport students to and from school safely."
Best part of Job: "Giving back some good that was given to me."
Charles "Chuck" Corbett, 53
Bio: West Hernando Elementary, custodian. 3 years at site , 3 with district
Job Description: Head grounds keeper, assist teachers with whatever is needed.
Best part of Job: "Helping teachers perform their jobs easier."
Jacki Forgit, 46
Bio: Westside Elementary, ISS paraprofessional/copy room. 8 years at site , district.
Job Description: Making copies; assisting with students sent to in-school suspension, helping them learn to make good choices.
Best part of Job: "Working with students. I love working with kids. I just really enjoy it. It's a great administration with dedicated teachers and school staff."
[Last modified November 14, 2007, 21:15:15]
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