Program Coordinators

name. She is also a respected and recognized individual in our school community.”

Elizabeth Rodriguez

Partners in Education Coordinator

Lancaster Elementary

Southeast Learning Community

Elizabeth Rodriguez embodies a spirit of service and is characterized by her warm, positive, energetic and welcoming demeanor. She interacts with Lancaster Elementary’s students with joy and patience. She always goes above and beyond while supporting families with exemplary customer-service skills and readily makes herself available to provide Spanish translation. Lancaster Elementary’s Partners in Education are provided with substantial volunteering and gift-giving opportunities. Ms. Rodriguez’s leadership and fantastic interpersonal skills are demonstrated as she interacts with community members, volunteers and business partners. While serving as the Partners in Education coordinator, she focuses on meeting the needs of Lancaster Elementary’s students and families.

During the months leading up to the winter break, Ms. Rodriguez secured the support of several Partners in Education that donated more than 200 wrapped toys and gifts for students in the McKinney-Vento Program and families in need.

Another example of Ms. Rodriguez’s excellent leadership abilities has been demonstrated through ongoing collaborative efforts with Alive Church. On one occasion, volunteers received the opportunity to create sensoryfriendly stations within our kindergarten through secondgrade playground. Ms. Rodriguez joyously served as a liaison between school administration and church leadership to oversee the creation of these activities. As a result of her leadership, passion and dedication, the playground has been wonderfully enhanced and provides additional areas for students to play independently or with one another. Student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive!

Lancaster Elementary’s parents and guardians are frequently provided with a variety of opportunities to support their children or larger groups of students. For example, parents who are local business owners or possess specific skills are frequently invited to participate in school events and are encouraged to share their expertise with other families. Ms. Rodriguez has made an effort to build relationships with several parents. Parents mentor, host Zumba classes and provide their professional expertise to Lancaster Elementary’s families.

“Ms. Rodriguez embodies a spirit of service and is characterized by her warm, positive, energetic and welcoming demeanor. She interacts with Lancaster Elementary’s students with joy and patience.”

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM COORDINATOR NOMINEES:

Margaret Johnston

ADDitions School Volunteer Coordinator

Bay Lake Elementary

Angela Delvillar

ADDitions School Volunteer & Partners in Education Coordinator

Bay Meadows Elementary

Laura Ellis

ADDitions School Volunteer Coordinator

Hillcrest Elementary

Tatiana Cozzo

Community Involvement Coordinator

Hunter’s Creek Middle

Fatty Ayala

Community Involvement Coordinator

Liberty Middle

Jacqueline Farrell

ADDitions School Volunteer Coordinator

Sand Lake Elementary

Joanna Emanuel Cabellero

ADDitions School Volunteer Coordinator

Sun Blaze Elementary

Lauren Whittington

ADDitions School Volunteer Coordinator

Thornebrooke Elementary

Districtwide Honorees

Elizabeth Michalski

Outstanding Youth Volunteer Columbia Elementary East Learning Community

Elizabeth Michalski is an energetic, responsible and creative young lady. She enjoys helping others and has a heart of gold, and puts her best effort in all that she does with a smile on her face. When she is given a task or an idea, she runs with it and the teachers know that it will get done correctly and with a creative flair. Her dependability has also been a huge asset to Columbia Elementary.

Elizabeth has been volunteering in one capacity or another for the past five years. As an East River High school alumna and now a UCF student, she finds time to make an impact on many Columbia Elementary students. Elizabeth made alphabet and sight-word flash cards for 80 kindergarten students to use in the classroom and at home by their parents/guardians. The number goes even higher because the flashcards were shared with some of the first graders who needed extra help with their sight words after they finished kindergarten.

Elizabeth also donated her time to videotaping some virtual storytime read-alouds for the teachers to play for their students through Canvas.

“I volunteer as an ADDitions School Volunteer because helping others is what I enjoy. When it involves kids, that makes it even better!”