Sarasota County Schools is proud to announce that Stacy Lahdenpera has been selected as the district’s overall 2024 School-Related Employee of the Year. Mrs. Lahdenpera serves as the Administrative Assistant to the Principal of Riverview High School.
Mrs. Lahdenpera’s impact on the Riverview High students, teachers, staff members, and larger school community alike is evident. She is beloved by all and known for her compassion, strong work ethic, graciousness, and skill. Among her widespread job duties, Mrs. Lahdenpera manages staff absences and coordinates substitutes; the school rarely has difficulty securing substitutes, and many credit this to the numerous meaningful, positive relationships that Mrs. Lahdenpera has built between Riverview High School and the community at-large. At a time when schools nationwide are suffering from shortages of personnel, funding, and basic resources, she puts forth her maximum effort to ensure the teachers & staff members feel supported, all students receive a high-quality school experience, and the community remains connected to Ram Nation and invested in its success.
In her spare time, Mrs. Lahdenpera serves on Riverview High School’s School Advisory Council (SAC) as the Secretary, a role she has held since the 2019-20 school year. She has also served as a Classified Staff Representative and voting member of the SAC since first being nominated & selected for the council by her peers at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year. As one of the co-chairs & founding members of Riverview High School’s Social Committee, Mrs. Lahdenpera packs up and distributes fresh baked goods to staff on Fun Fridays – an initiative brought about by her special relationship with the local Detwiler’s Farm Market. In an effort to also nourish the hearts of her colleagues on Fun Fridays, she includes notes of encouragement and affirmation with each selection of baked goods to uplift her teammates and remind them of their crucial primary focus: fostering the success of every student, every day.
As the award recipient for Sarasota County, Mrs. Stacy Lahdenpera is now eligible for the overall state-level recognition. Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Stacy Lahdenpera and all of our 2024 School-Related Employees of the Year:
Nominee Name + Location:
Anita McNamee
Alta Vista Elementary School
Nick Gerardi
Ashton Elementary School
Stephanie Vigeant
Atwater Elementary School
Officer Mark Larivee
Bay Haven School of Basics Plus
Nancy Hahn
Booker High School
Francisco Hidalgo
Booker Middle School
Kim Maszak
Brentwood Elementary School
Jo Studebaker
Brookside Middle School
Lisa Wagoner
Communications & Government Affairs
Brianna Browning
Construction Services
Peggy Landivar
Cranberry Elementary School
Michele Cox
Emma E. Booker Elementary School
Michael Watson
Englewood Elementary School
Euniswidaly Domenech
Exceptional Student Education
Inna Dicke
Facilities Services
Kristina Greene
Financial Services
Melissa Phillips
Food & Nutrition Services
Renée Silverthorne
Fruitville Elementary School
Sage Keck
Garden Elementary School
Jordan Shaver
Glenallen Elementary School
Carmen Lilly-Melgar
Gocio Elementary School
Alia Moncayo
Gulf Gate Elementary School
Claudia Mendez Noonan
Heron Creek Middle School
Dorie Cleere
Human Resources
Marina Vastag
Information Technology
Jennifer Moore
Lakeview Elementary School
Robert Boyd
Lamarque Elementary School
Mary Simpson
Laurel Nokomis School
Jasmine Simmons
Materials Management
William Ambrose
McIntosh Middle School
Victoria Noyes
North Port High School
Patti Manson
Oak Park School
Saturnedgson Olaince
Phillippi Shores Elementary School
Carla Milsop
Pine View School
Stacy Lahdenpera
Riverview High School
Norbert Seres
Sarasota High School
Sarah Martin
Sarasota Middle School
Christen Ralich
Southside Elementary School
Rachel Fadley
Student Services
Stephen Tuttle
Suncoast Polytechnical High School
Desiree Shkriuba
Suncoast Technical College
Tifni Martin
Tatum Ridge Elementary School
Tami Watjen
Taylor Ranch Elementary School
Keith Van Gorder
Toledo Blade Elementary School
Tameka Winder
Transportation
Madison Dill
Triad
Gerson Paniagua
Tuttle Elementary School
Kelly Marsh
Venice Elementary School
Angela Canevari
Venice High School
Genoveva Garcia
Venice Middle School
Shannon Quinn
Wilkinson Elementary School
Officer David Singer
Woodland Middle School
The Florida Department of Education’s School-Related Employee of the Year program annually recognizes outstanding education support personnel for the significant contributions they make to their schools and district school systems. The program honors one state representative and four finalists from the 67 school districts in Florida. All non-certified, non-instructional educational support personnel who serve at the school or district level — such as teacher aides, library aides, bookkeepers, bus drivers, food service staff and custodians, among others — may be nominated.
Sarasota County Schools’ School-Related Employee of the Year program is made possible through the funding and support of many generous sponsors. These schools & organizations are committed to the belief that rewarding and encouraging excellence in service is vital to a strong and successful public educational system. We appreciate their continued commitment to our school communities! Please join us in thanking all of the following sponsors:
Lead Sponsor
Sarasota Ford
Platinum Sponsor
Sarasota Classified/Teachers Association
Tandem Construction
Gold Sponsors
B&I Contractors
Halfacre Construction Company
Jon F. Swift Construction
Trane
Silver Sponsors
Bencor
Fastenal
Florida Blue
KidGuard School Insurance
McIntyre, Ewell & Strammer General Contractors
Robson Corp
Tampa Contract Floors, Inc.
Bronze Sponsor
Sarasota County Association of Educational Office Professionals
Freedom Pavers
Award Sponsor
School Based Administrators
School District Administrators
School Sponsors
Alta Vista Elementary
Ashton Elementary
Atwater Elementary
Bay Haven School of Basics Plus
Booker High
Booker Middle
Brentwood Elementary
Brookside Middle
Fruitville Elementary
Garden Elementary
Glenallen Elementary
Gocio Elementary
Gulf Gate Elementary
Heron Creek Middle
Lakeview Elementary
Lamarque Elementary
Laurel Nokomis School
McIntosh Middle
North Port High
Oak Park School
Phillippi Shores Elementary
Pine View School
Riverview High
Sarasota High
Sarasota Middle
Southside Elementary
Suncoast Technical College
Tatum Ridge Elementary
Toledo Blade Elementary
Tuttle Elementary
Venice Elementary
Venice High
Venice Middle
Wilkinson Elementary
Woodland Middle