Sarasota County Schools

Sarasota County, FL, February 27, 2025 – Sarasota County Schools is proud to announce that Mrs. Pamela Schmidt has been selected as the district’s overall 2025 School-Related Employee of the Year. Mrs. Schmidt serves as the Records & Evidence Specialist for the Sarasota County Schools Police Department (SCSPD).

Mrs. Schmidt holds a unique role that is not found in the majority of school districts in Florida – it is even more rare across the country. As the Records & Evidence Specialist, she processes and maintains police records, oversees logs detailing chain of custody for investigative evidence, and ensures all police reports are complete and properly documented, among other advanced clerical duties. Mrs. Schmidt also assists School Resource Officers (SRO) as they collect and process evidence at crime scenes. Additionally, she trains all new SRO hires on the SCSPD’s Records Management System, testifies in court related to chains of custody and evidence identification (as needed), and teaches Crime Scene Investigations to cadets at the Criminal Justice Academy based at Suncoast Technical College.

Mrs. Schmidt has also voluntarily taught the Criminal Justice and Forensics course at Booker High School and routinely offers her expertise as a guest speaker in schools throughout the district. Known for her “unwavering” work ethic, positive attitude, and attention to detail, she is dedicated to preserving the wellbeing and success of all students and continually supports her colleagues’ efforts to do the same through their respective work. Mrs. Schmidt connects with students and families regularly at school events like Trunk or Treat, as well as outreach events within the community such as Shop with a Cop and National Night Out. In her “off” time, she prioritizes maintaining industry credentials and regularly engages in professional learning.

As the award recipient for Sarasota County, Mrs. Schmidt is now eligible for the overall state-level recognition. Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Pamela Schmidt and all of our 2025 School-Related Employees of the Year:

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 Sponsors

  • Sarasota Ford

  • Tandem Construction

• Platinum Sponsor

  • Sarasota Classified/Teachers Association

• Gold Sponsors

  • Achieva Bank

  • Harvard Jolly PBK

  • Neal Communities

  • Trane

• Silver Sponsors

  • Florida Blue

  • Halfacre Construction Co.

  • Magnum Builders

  • Willis Smith

•  Bronze Sponsors

  • Baacke Insurance

  • Bencor

  • Sarasota County Association of Educational Office Professionals

• Award Sponsors

  • Sarasota District Administrators

  • School Based Administrators

• School Sponsors

  • Alta Vista Elementary

  • Ashton Elementary

  • Atwater Elementary School

  • Bay Haven School of Basics Plus

  • Booker High School

  • Booker Middle School

  • Brentwood Elementary School

  • Brookside Middle School

  • Cranberry Elementary School

  • Emma E. Booker Elementary School

  • Englewood Elementary School

  • Fruitville Elementary School

  • Garden Elementary School

  • Glenallen Elementary School

  • Gocio Elementary School

  • Gulf Gate Elementary School

  • Heron Creek Middle School

  • Lakeview Elementary School

  • Lamarque Elementary School

  • Laurel Nokomis School

  • McIntosh Middle School

  • North Port High School

  • Oak Park School

  • Phillippi Shores Elementary

  • Pine View School

  • Riverview High School

  • Sarasota High School

  • Sarasota Middle School

  • Southside Elementary School

  • Suncoast Polytechnical High School

  • Suncoast Technical College

  • Tatum Ridge Elementary School

  • Taylor Ranch Elementary School

  • Toledo Blade Elementary School

  • Triad School

  • Tuttle Elementary School

  • Venice Elementary School

  • Venice High School

  • Venice Middle School

  • Wilkinson Elementary School

  • Woodland Middle School