LCS 2026 Night of Celebration
Dedicated to Excellence in Education
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We’re glad you’re here.
Welcome to Leon County School’s Night of Celebration, where tradition and excellence set us apart.
Serving as the Capital city of Tallahassee, Florida, we stand among the region’s premier K–12 districts, leading the way in academics, championship athletics, and award-winning arts programs. Our schools are built on a foundation of inclusion, diversity, and unwavering support, ensuring every student is empowered to discover their passions and maximize their potential. With exceptional educators, innovative opportunities, and a commitment to preparing students for success in college and careers, Leon County Schools doesn’t just meet the standard — we define it. Tonight we are going to celebrater those that work hard every day to make that a reality.
Teacher of the Year Finalists
Whitney Johnson
Pineview Elementary School
Lois Sellers
Elizabeth Cobb Middle School
Lori Thompson
Gretchen Everhart School
Tara Williams
Kate Sullivan Elementary School
Glenn-Howell Dinstinquished Educator of the Year Finalists
Monica Cuyler
Astoria Park Elementary School
Mary Register
Gilchrist Elementary School
David Schubert
DeSoto Trail Elementary School
Stacy Stallworth
William J. Montford Middle School
School Related Employee of the Year Finalists
Jennifer Bates
DeSoto Trail Elementary School
Sharon Jackson
Gretchen Everhart School
Alexandra Suarez
J. Michael Conley Elementary School at SouthWood
Raquel Symonette
Sabal Palm Elementary: A Community Partnership School
★ Honorees Spotlight ★
Our Honorees Spotlight recognizes each of our schools’ and departments' employees selected for this year's awards. This includes our outgoing retirees, amazing volunteers, and the school's business partners. These employees were selected by their peers for their excellence and leadership in their roles, our volunteers for their service to our students and involvement in our local schools, and the businesses for their support of our schools within their communities.
Elementary School Winners & Retirees
Apalachee School of the Arts
★ Dr. Pam Hightower, Principal
Blondie Bennett-Dupree, GH
Jacqueline Scott, TOY
Marlon Blake Gibson, SREY
Astoria Park Elementary School
★ Oronde McKhan, Principal
Monica M. Cuyler, GH
Raphael Moore, TOY
Maleek Cole, SREY
John Hollenbeck, RETIREE
Bond Elementary School
★ Delshauna Jackson, Principal
Melissa Dantzler - GH
Nicole Ford - TOY
Loreal Bailey - SREY
Brenetta Lawrence - RETIREE
Buck Lake Elementary School
★ Ron Wetherington, Principal
Suzan Bastos - GH
Debbie Mayewski - TOY
Melanie Martin - SREY
Susan Kay - RETIREE
Keith Lewis - RETIREE
Stacey Schmidt - RETIREE
Sheryl Vicks - RETIREE
Canopy Oaks Elementary School
★ Clayton Cloud, Principal
Quinn Roberts - GH
Dan Ring- TOY
Nijmeh Daoud - SREY
Pamela Brasher - RETIREE
Chaires Elementary School
★ Mike Holmes, Principal
Margaret Conner - GH
Ashley Chastain- TOY
Jann Davidson - SREY
Dorothy Gaines - RETIREE
Lillie Hill - RETIREE
J. Michael Conley Elementary School at SouthWood
★ Ben Threadgill, Principal
Jennifer Cranford - GH
Terri Green - TOY
Pierre Smith - SREY
Salvatore Christiano - RETIREE
Desoto Trail Elementary School
★ Michelle Keltner, Principal
David Schubert- GH
Kaylan Wells - TOY
Jennifer Bates- SREY
Kimberly Morris - RETIREE
Sandra Papandrea - RETIREE
Fort Braden PreK – 8 School
★ Todd Lanter, Principal
Omar Quijada - GH
Jennifer Metcalf - TOY
Emily King- SREY
Kimberly Greenfield - RETIREE
Gilchrist Elementary School
★ Dr. Lisa Mehr, Principal
Mary Register- GH
Maddie Powell - TOY
Hannah Kirsch - SREY
Ann Spangler - RETIREE
Hartsfield Elementary School
★ John Olson, Principal
Sophia Perkins- GH
Orion Tennant - TOY
Hawks Rise Elementary School
★ Terri Martin, Principal
Dionne Caines - GH
Shannon Bonn - TOY
Cynthia Staller- SREY
Susan Davis - RETIREE
Joanne Klawinski - RETIREE
Kate Sullivan Elementary School
★ Julie Lawson, Principal
Kenisha Calhoun - GH
Tara Williams - TOY
Dawn Fetrow – SREY
Toylene Railey - RETIREE
Killearn Lakes Elementary School
★ Jenny Blair, Principal
Jessica Rhodes - GH
Holly Pursino - TOY
Michelle DeValle- SREY
Champayne Ricciardi - RETIREE
Oak Ridge Elementary School
★ Michael Landrum, Principal
Rashad Curry - GH
Tiffany Thompson - TOY
Cedric Maxwell - SREY
Donna Schiffer - RETIREE
Pineview Elementary School
★ Carmen Conner, Principal
Rebecca Mello - GH
Whitney Johnson - TOY
Shaquita Waldron - SREY
John G. Riley Elementary School
★ Maurice Stokes, Principal
Shannon McCray, GH
Sheila Barnes-Williams – TOY
Taneria Anderson- SREY
Roberts Elementary School
★ Kim McFarland, Principal
Nicole Parra- GH
Briana Pettway - TOY
Tyler Fulton – SREY
Katherine Douglas RETIREE
Cheryl Nix - RETIREE
Melaine Williams - RETIREE
Ruediger Elementary School
★ Shannon Haire, Principal
Nicole Jackson - GH
Shunteen Cineu - TOY
Paula Lay – SREY
Nicole Jackson - RETIREE
Sabal Palm Elementary School
★ Latoyer Hankerson, Principal
Sherika Arnold - GH
Kayla Saintagne- TOY
Raquel Symonette- SREY
Sealey Elementary School
★ Demetria Clemons, Principal
Adrian Peoples - GH
Lori Paulhus - TOY
Christie Salters – SREY
Melanie Alexis - RETIREE
Vicki Price - RETIREE
Lillie Wright - RETIREE
Springwood Elementary School
★ Sylvia Lynn, Principal
Shanan Kiser - GH
Kacie Lindsey – TOY
Stephanie Cantrell - SREY
W.T. Moore Elementary School
★ William Millard, Principal
Ashley Rees - GH
Heather Garcia - TOY
Warren Watts - SREY
Teresa Rpwe - RETIREE
Gretchen Scott - RETIREE
Woodville PreK – 8 School
★ Cari Molinaro, Principal
Kaleshia Wilson- GH
Jack Goodenough - TOY
Calvin Thomas - SREY
MIddle School Winners & Retirees
Cobb Middle School
★ Logan Crouch, Principal
Maria “Paula” Ziadi - GH
Lois Sellers - TOY
Antonio Stevens – SREY
Geneva Billingsley - RETIREE
Billy Butler - RETIREE
Deerlake Middle School
★ Steven Mills, Principal
Taita Scott - GH
Joe Miller - TOY
Yolanda Guzman Caceda - SREY
Rima Kelley - RETIREE
Leslie Phillips - RETIREE
Fairview Middle School
★ Eileen Mayer, Principal
Shantress Allen - GH
Brittany Adams - TOY
Rosalyn Collins - RETIREE
Jackie Forrest - RETIREE
Paul Lambert - RETIREE
Everett Blakely - RETIREE
Griffin Middle School
★ Kerri Anderson, Principal
Dr. Kisha Jarrett - GH
Sandra Wilkerson- TOY
Ronnie Lee - SREY
Laura Casto - RETIREE
Karen Dorsey - RETIREE
Edward Shulla – RETIREE
Margie Summers - RETIREE
Montford Middle School
★ Tony McQuade, Principal
Stacy Stallworth - GH
Kenneth Horne - TOY
Gabrielle Convery - SREY
Jimmy Mincy - RETIREE
Nims Middle School
★ Deshone Hedrington, Principal
Renaldo Davis, GH
Reshia Dickey – TOY
Andrea Burney – SREY
Janice Johnson - RETIREE
Raa Middle School
★ Dr. Marcus Scott, Principal
Cathy White - GH
Esther Benette - TOY
Shadasia Butler - SREY
Candace Blakely - RETIREE
Alicia Harris- RETIREE
Swift Creek Middle School
★ Jason Koerner, Principal
Rael Cherono - GH
Joy Burke-Marshall – TOY
Jean Kennedy - SREY
Sandra Clary - RETIREE
High School Winners & Retirees
Chiles High School
★ Joe Burgess, Principal
Destin Parmer - GH
Natalie Hand - TOY
Rebecca Viosca – SREY
Jessica Oyster- RETIREE
Amos P. Godby High School
★ Desmond Cole, Principal
Veronica Blount - GH
Chelsea Johnson - TOY
Jimmy Davis - SREY
Matthew Lewis - RETIREE
Leon High School
★ Scotty Crowe, Principal
Martina Taylor - GH
Sarah Marque - TOY
Leah Sawyer - SREY
Keith Lassiter – RETIREE
James Meikenhouse - RETIREE
Brian Poche’ - RETIREE
Lincoln High School
★ Dr. Allen Burch, Principal
Ben J. James - GH
Lindsay Bender - TOY
Tonja Bryant - SREY
Valerie Jones – RETIREE
Ronnie Thompson - RETIREE
James S. Rickards High School
★ Douglas Cook, Principal
Miranda Dobbs- GH
Brandi Gallon - TOY
Melanie Allen- SREY
Joan Bertolaet - RETIREE
Doug Cook – RETIREE
Peter MacWilliam - RETIREE
SAIL High School
★ Sara Hembree, Principal
Lawrence Brown - GH
Rose Cefalu - TOY
Sampson Harris - SREY
Marcia Cone - RETIREE
Lisa Neeley- RETIREE
Maureen Richards - RETIREE
Special Sites Winners & Retirees
Adult and Community Education
★ Regina Browning, Principal
Pilar Walker - GH
Janice Hart – TOY
Bette Washington - SREY
Richard Grandstaff - RETIREE
Early Learning
★ Brooke Brunner, Principal
Laura Arnold - RETIREE
Phyllis Groomes – RETIREE
Karin Huckaby - RETIREE
Gretchen Everhart School
★ Jane Floyd Bullen, Principal
Jakari Wilcoxson - GH
Lori Thompson - TOY
Sharon Jackson - SREY
Barry Ichite - RETIREE
Louise Rhodes - RETIREE
Leon County Virtual School
★ Nikki Bradley, Principal
Kelly Pagan - GH
Ashley Clyatt - TOY
Sarah Beha – SREY
Lee Greenfield - RETIREE
Lively Technical College
★ BJ Van Camp, Principal
Rod Duckworth - GH
Todd O’Neal- TOY
Robbin Paul - SREY
Toni Hutto – RETIREE
Fredia Monroe - RETIREE
Kaye Tyler - RETIREE
Ghazvini Learning Center
★ Amy Alvis, Principal
Niah Hatcher – GH
Kenneth Wright – TOY
Kia Johnson - SREY
Departmental Retirees
Accounting
Mary Cockerham RETIREE
Business Services
William “Billy” Epting RETIREE
Facilities & Construction
Daniel Allbritton - RETIREE
Health Services
Maryann Foy - RETIREE
Human Services
Angelia “Angie” Allbritton - RETIREE
Maintenance
Alvin Coppinger - RETIREE
Eddie Dickey- RETIREE
Ernest Ellison - RETIREE
Ricky Hill RETIREE
Manna Hollis - RETIREE
Thomas Moore - RETIREE
Paula Pierce - RETIREE
Dining Services
Essie Boyd - RETIREE
Harold Ingram - RETIREE
Ricky Jugger - RETIREE
Linda Mathis - RETIREE
Dorothy Rogan - RETIREE
Sharon Times - RETIREE
Retha Wilkins - RETIREE
Purchasing
Staci Coppinger - RETIREE
June Kail – RETIREE
Nancy Scott - RETIREE
School Management
Alfred Washington - RETIREE
Student Services
Mara Shows- RETIREE
Technology & Information Services
Sharee Klein - RETIREE
Cheryl Riles - RETIREE
Transportation
Gwendolyn Blair - RETIREE
Annie Brown - RETIREE
Mercedes Pleas - RETIREE
Janice White - RETIREE
In Memoriam
As we look back on this year, we pause to honor the memory of the colleagues and friends we have lost. They were more than just fellow employees; they were the heart of our teams, the mentors who guided us, and the familiar faces who made our workplace feel like a community.
While we feel the weight of their absence, we also feel the lasting impact of their dedication, kindness, and the unique spirit they brought to everything they did. Their contributions are woven into the fabric of our organization, and their legacy lives on in the work we continue and the stories we share. They are gone from our sight, but they remain forever in our thoughts and will never be forgotten.
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Donna D. Duffee Kojo
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Toni E. Green
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Lena O. Terrell
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Loretha D. Ford
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Samantha A. Bodiford
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Stephanie L. Priest
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Janiece Y. Dickey
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Donald L. Thomas, III
