Polk County Public Schools has announced its second set of finalists for the 2024-25 Polk County Teacher and School-Related Employee of the Year, this time for District 1.
Ronald Shell Jr., a math interventionist at Oscar J. Pope Elementary in Southeast Lakeland, is the District 1 finalist for Teacher of the Year. Manami Naito, a paraeducator Crystal Lake Elementary School, also in Southeast Lakeland, is the district finalist for School-Related Employee of the Year.
In a Friday news release, the school district said Shell helped students at his school achieve big gains on their state assessments. And he created a math club to provide extra help before and after school
"Thanks to Shell and his fellow OJP educators, the school earned an “A” grade from the state — up from a “C” the year before," the release said.
Shell also served as his school’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports coordinator, overseeing programs and incentives that help keep students engaged and out of trouble.
"As a result, OJP had improvements in student attendance and parent involvement," the release said. "It’s no surprise that they call him 'half man, half amazing.'”
The school district said Naito has an extensive background in broadcast television and education in Japan, and uses those skills as a paraeducator at Crystal Lake Elementary.
"Naito spearheaded the development of Crystal Lake’s instructional TV program, which allows students to showcase their talents and creativity," the district said. "She also works with students on Crystal Lake’s school news show, which helps promote a sense of unity and pride on campus."
As a paraeducator, Naito provides support for traditional and ESE classrooms, and administrators say she is well-liked by students, staff and community members.
Never weary of the work: Polk school district announces teacher and employee of the year for 2023
District 1 includes schools from the Lakeland area:
- Bill Duncan Opportunity Center
- Blake Academy
- Carlton Palmore Elementary
- Cleveland Court Elementary
- Crystal Lake Elementary
- Crystal Lake Middle
- Dixieland Elementary
- George Jenkins Senior
- Harrison Arts Center
- Highland City Elementary
- Highlands Grove Elementary
- Jesse Keen Elementary
- Lakeland Senior
- Medulla Elementary
- Oscar J. Pope Elementary
- Philip O’Brien Elementary
- R. Bruce Wagner Elementary
- Scott Lake Elementary
- Southwest Elementary
- Southwest Middle
- Traviss Technical College
- West Area Adult
The school district started announcing the finalists for its Teacher of the Year and School-Related Employee of the Year awards on Aug. 27, when it announced the finalists from District 7 . Those were Jacqueline Chavira, a second-grade teacher at Polk City Elementary, and Janet Miller, a night custodian at Lake Gibson High School.
Finalists from the other five districts will come over the next few weeks.
The overall winners will be announced at the Inspire Awards presented by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union. The Inspire Awards will be held on Nov. 8 at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Oscar J. Pope math specialist and Crystal Lake paraeducator named finalists for Polk school awards
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