04-04-2025
Bay district schools' Eduardo Anastacio is a finalist for statewide award
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Eduardo Anastacio has been named a finalist for the Florida School-Related Employee of the Year.
Anastacio is a language assistant at Patronis Elementary. He works one-on-one with students, transitioning to U.S. schools from other countries, to learn English.
'We need people here in Florida especially in this area that speaks more than one language to help all those that come. And, you know, it's it's tough for them knowing no English, and they have to come and interact with everybody. So I'm the middle man. I help them to do this, I'm the bond,' Anastacio said.
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Back in December, Anastacio was recognized as support employee of the year for Bay District. His principal says she knew from the moment he started working there that he would change the lives of his students.
'They just follow and they hang on his every word. And that is so important in a teacher that they want to hear everything he has to say. And they play and they learn. And that's a great combo. So to watch him work is just an incredible experience. I'm proud to be a part of that,' Patronis Elementary Principal Brooke Loyed said.
Anastacio works one on one with students every day but once the bell rings, his day isn't even close to being over.
He is currently part of the Bay District Scholars program, which helps current paraprofessionals go back to school for free to get their education degree. So after he spends the day with his students, he helps clean up the school, and then heads over to Gulf Coast State College to attend his classes.
Anastacio says getting his degree will help him further help students in the classroom.
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'I always dreamed to come to America and have a better life. Sounds like cliche, but it's not. And I remember my friends saying, you're not going to live Brazil. Yes, I will one day. Here I am doing the right thing, helping kids, taking kids and being a nice person to the community,' Anastacio said.
Anastacio will represent Bay District at the state competition, coming up later this year.
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