OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) – The Florida Department of Education has named Edward Lanza, a retired U.S. Army veteran and paraprofessional at Saddlewood Elementary School, as the 2024 School-related Employee of the Year.
Lanza was chosen from among thousands of candidates across the state and was surprised by Marion County Public Schools leaders this morning at Saddlewood Elementary School in Ocala.
Ms. Lanza was named Marion County Schools Employee of the Year by the Marion County Public Education Foundation in December 2023. She then advanced to the state tournament.
Saddlewood Principal Heather Lipilla, who first nominated Mr. Lanza for the Marion County honor, praised Mr. Lanza for helping students, staying late and providing innovative solutions to improve school life. He described him as someone who always “exceeds all expectations every time.'' Today's operation.
Another nominator wrote that Lanza's interactions with students inspire her daily. “He listens to his students and respects their humanity,” she wrote.
Lanza has worked at Saddlewood Elementary School since 2016. He frequently assists in the media center, solving technology problems, overseeing the distribution of his Chromebooks® to students, and fostering a culture of caring among his 1,034 students at the school.
In addition to his school and military service, he is recognized for his life experiences as a former deputy chief of the New York State Volunteer Fire Department and a project manager for a Fortune 500 company.
As Florida's 2024 School Relations Employee of the Year, Mr. Lanza received a special trophy and $10,000 cash prize from the DOE.
This is the second time in eight years that Marion County has named Florida's School Employee of the Year. Back in 2016, then-paraprofessional Abel Garcia of Reddick Collier Elementary School received the same honor. He currently teaches students full-time at Liberty Middle School in Ocala.
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