The purpose of the "Teacher and Support Employee of the Year" program is to recognize outstanding teaching and outstanding support service in Charlotte County Public Schools. The Charlotte Local Education Foundation holds an annual celebration to celebrate and recognize these outstanding individuals.
Melissa White, 2011 Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Melissa White, Deep Creek Elementary 2nd grade teacher and named as the 2011 Teacher of the Year!
Mary Ellen Meek, 2011 Support Employee of the Year
Congratulations to Mary Ellen Meek, Murdock Transportation Bus Driver and named as the 2011 Support Employee of the Year!
2011 Teachers of Distinction
Michael Fullington, Port Charlotte High School
Karrie McGuirk, Vineland Elementary
Matina Pulliam, Meadow Park Elementary
Linda Schmidt, Liberty Elementary
2011 Support Employees of Distinction
Hope Davis, Neil Armstrong Elementary
Raymond (Trey( Jayne, III, Neil Armstrong Elementary
Angie Kopp, Peace River Elementary
Donette Todd, LA Ainger Middle School
Special Thanks to the Following Public Education Supporters
Platinum
Walmart
Gold Sponsors
Ajax Building Corporation • Balfour Beatty Construction
Owen Ames Kimball, Company • Suncoast for Kids Foundation
Silver Sponsors
B&I Contractors, Inc. • FPL
Harvard Jolly Architecture • Publix Super Markets Charities
Southwest Florida College
Bronze Sponsors
Charlotte Stone Crabs Baseball • Dees & Dees, CPA's, PA
Edison State College-Charlotte Campus
Farr, Farr, Emerich, Hackett and Carr, P.A.
Fawcett Memorial Hospital • First Financial Employee Leasing, Inc.
Betty Gissendanner • The Lovett Family/McDonald's
Mosaic • Peace River Regional Medical Center
State Representative Ken Roberson, District 71
Patricia A. Scott, DDS, P.A.
•United Way of Charlotte County
Webb, Lorah & Company, P.L., CPA's
Copper Sponsors
Amberg Insurance Center, Inc. • BB&T Bank • Buffalo Graffix
Mary A. Byrski, P.A. • DMK Associates, Inc.
Guy & Annett Emerich • Shawn & Emily Lewis
Panther Hollow Dental Lodge
Peace River Distributing • Garnett Scholl
Quartz Sponsors
Ashley, Brown & Co., CPA's • Banks Engineering
Charlotte State Bank • Florida Gulf Coast University
Key Agency, Inc. • Kiwanis Club of Punta Gorda
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney • O'Leary Orthodontics - Kay W. O'Leary, D.D.S.
Peninsula Property
Other Sponsors
Warm Mineral Springs
Media Sponsor
Charlotte Sun
Past Years of Exceptional Educators
| Jane Adams | 1983 Teacher of the Year | |
| Barbara Taylor | 1984 Teacher of the Year | |
| Dr. Donna Widmeyer | 1987 Teacher of the Year | |
| Bob Johnson | 1992 Teacher of the Year | |
| Jan McGregor | 1993 Teacher of the Year | |
| Ruth White | 1994 Teacher of the Year | |
| Bob Davis | 1997 Teacher of the Year | |
| Wendy Graham | 1998 Teacher of the Year | |
| Christine Broyles | 1999 Teacher of the Year | |
| Gale Tidwell | 2000 Teacher of the Year | |
| Carol Leonard | 2002 Teacher of the Year | |
| JoAnn Winkler | 2003 Teacher of the Year | |
| Eric Bishop | 2004 Teacher of the Year | |
| Frank Lock | 2005 Teacher of the Year | |
| Karrie Wikman | 2006 Teacher of the Year | |
| Sally Lutz | 2007 Teacher of the Year | |
| Adrienne McElroy | 2008 Teacher of the Year | |
| Judy Lynch Haynes | 2009 Teacher of the Year | |
| Jeanne Marquez | 2010 Teacher of the Year |
Past Years of Excellent Support Staff
| Rosalie Santello | 1991 Support Employee of the Year | |
| Sue Peyton | 1991 Support Employee of the Year | |
| Mary Rousseau | 1994 Support Employee of the Year | |
| Millie Rochester | 1995 Support Employee of the Year | |
| Judith Brabbs | 1996 Support Employee of the Year | |
| Mary Cox | 1997 Support Employee of the Year | |
| Peggy Stoever | 1999 Support Employee of the Year | |
| Dorothy Ott | 2000 Support Employee of the Year | |
| Bill Spelman | 2002 Support Employee of the Year | |
| Joy Hause | 2003 Support Employee of the Year | |
| Joyce Welsh | 2004 Support Employee of the Year | |
| Jill Mead | 2005 Support Employee of the Year | |
| Ann Chestnut | 2006 Support Employee of the Year | |
| Margaret Shier | 2007 Support Employee of the Year | |
| Hope Schmidt | 2008 Support Employee of the Year | |
| Jennifery Kyle | 2009 Support Employee of the Year | |
| Philip James | 2010 Support Employee of the Year |