Pamela Schmidt Named Sarasota County's 2025 School-Related Employee of the Year
Schmidt plays a crucial role in managing police records, tracking investigative evidence, and training new school resource officers (SROs) on the district's records management system. She also teaches crime scene investigations at Suncoast Technical College's Criminal Justice Academy and has voluntarily led forensic courses at Booker High School.
Beyond her daily duties, Schmidt is a fixture at school and community events, including Trunk or Treat, Shop with a Cop, and National Night Out. With her district recognition, she is now in the running for the statewide award from the Florida Department of Education.
Sarasota County Schools also recognized outstanding school-related employees at each of its campuses:
Jaime Cope – Alta Vista ElementaryAndrew Kujawski – Ashton ElementaryRoxann Swantek Williams – Atwater ElementaryArlene Nieves – Bay Haven School of Basics PlusAlex Burbano-Jimenez – Booker HighJo Ann Lawson – Booker MiddleJulee Santelli – Brentwood ElementaryMaida Lara – Brookside MiddlePatricia Goldsmith – Chief of Student Services, Academic InterventionMeredith Clifton – Communications & Government AffairsTami Cooke – Cranberry ElementaryMarie Fernandez – Emma E. Booker ElementaryEcho Lazorko – Englewood ElementaryBrandi Hastie – Exceptional Student Education ServicesHector Robinson Rodriguez – Facilities, Custodial ServicesPeter Svoboda – Facilities, MaintenanceEngy Hanna – Financial ServicesJeff Brooks – Food & Nutrition ServicesTammy Gauntt – Fruitville ElementaryVeronica Keller – Garden ElementaryBrittany Cox – Glenallen ElementaryJacob Hoermann – Gocio ElementaryBrittany Steverson – Gulf Gate ElementaryCorruth Johnson – Heron Creek MiddleYolanda Nash – Human ResourcesJ McQueen – Information TechnologyTim Beery – Lakeview ElementaryNicole Bounds – Lamarque ElementaryLinette Stiffler – Laurel NokomisMeredith Carroll – Materials ManagementLena Walker – McIntosh MiddleNicole Freck – North Port HighKevin D'Angelo – Oak Park SchoolDonna Fangman – Phillippi Shores ElementaryFaith Kona – Pine View SchoolRebecca Bilbrey – Riverview HighAmanda Mavrikas – Sarasota HighFrank Meyer – Sarasota MiddleDebby Abt – Southside ElementaryAimee White – Student ServicesSally Williams – Suncoast Polytechnical HighDylan Kasper – Suncoast Technical CollegeGretchen Ryder – Tatum Ridge ElementaryCynthia Cochran – Taylor Ranch ElementaryLisandra Gonzalez – Toledo Blade ElementaryAlbert Oliver – TransportationSuzette Dill – TriadMarcia Kops-Roy – Tuttle ElementaryJaimie Satagaj – Venice ElementaryAmanda Center – Venice HighMike Volta – Venice MiddleDeborah Beese – Wilkinson ElementaryLeocadia Abreu – Woodland Middle
Sarasota County Schools' School-Related Employee of the Year program is made possible by the support of community sponsors who believe in recognizing and encouraging excellence in education. The sponsors for this year's recognition are Sarasota Ford and Tandem Construction. The Sarasota Classified/Teachers Association served as the platinum sponsors for this year. Other sponsors include Achieva, Harvard Jolly PBK, Neal Communities, Trane, Florida Blue, Halfacre Construction Co., Magnum Builders, and Willis Smith Baacke Insurance, Bencor, and the Sarasota County Association of Educational Office Professionals.
The Florida Department of Education's School-Related Employee of the Year program honors the significant contributions of non-instructional school staff across the state.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota County Schools Honors School-Related Employee of Year
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