Outstanding substitute teachers in the Lee County School District were recognized by the school board Tuesday night for their work in local schools.
Elementary substitute Phyllis Barton, middle school substitute Ronald Scudder, high school substitute Jeffrey Fowler and special center substitute Deborah Strode were awarded.
Employees in any of the district’s 106 schools submitted nominations for the 2009 Substitute Teachers of the Year. Later, a selections committee consisting of three teachers, three administrators and three substitutes narrowed down 62 nominations into the four award winners.
One substitute was recognized from each level — elementary, middle, high and special centers — for his or her dedication to students, punctuality and willingness to go above and beyond what is required.
“I was able to convince the board to recognize substitute teachers who are an important part of the educational family,” said Marvin Goetz, president of the Lee County Substitute Teachers Association. “Last year was the first year it was ever given. I am hoping it will continue and be an annual thing.”
The same teachers will be presented with a Silver Apple during Lee County’s substitute orientation Aug. 20 at Cypress Lake High School in Fort Myers.
According to Goetz, the Lee County Association of Substitute Teachers is also hosting a national conference for substitutes at Florida Gulf Coast University from July 24-26. The conference is a partnership between local substitutes, the Florida Alliance of Substitute Teachers and the National Substitute Teachers Alliance.
“If any substitute wants to attend the conference they are certainly welcome,” he said. “From meeting substitutes from all over the nation, they will begin to see a lot of commonalities with issues.”
The conference will feature 14 speakers from Florida and all over the United States, including Dr. Genesis Johnson, from the University of Nevada; Dr. Lance Tomei, from the University of Central Florida; Dr. Joyce Rollins, from Edison State University; and Dr. Carolynne Gischel, from Florida Gulf Coast University.
Anyone interested in attending the conference can contact Marvin Goetz by phone at 542-1746 or by e-mail at marvingoetz@comcast.net.