ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Amid cheers from colleagues, a band of educational prize patrol leaders made surprise visits to announce the three School Related Employee of the Year finalists on Tuesday, December 5th. Adela DellaCroce (Treasure Coast High School), Ja’Mia Gibson (Fairlawn Elementary School), and Jonathan Marcelin (Dan McCarty Middle School) are all contenders to represent the District at the State level. St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) administrators, School Board Members, Education Foundation Board Members, and major teacher recognition sponsors from MIDFLORIDA CREDIT Union were among those on the day’s announcement tour.
Superintendent E. Wayne Gent is proud to honor the commitment of these dedicated employees. He said, “The individuals we recognized today are all deserving. Each plays an integral role in supporting the positive climate and continued academic success that our schools experience. Their service on campus and off campus is superior and has a positive impact to the overall well-being of our community.”
Celebrating school related employees is a program that is supported by the Florida Department of Education in which outstanding education support personnel are recognized for the significant impact they make on their schools and district school systems. Locally, one individual will be selected to represent SLPS at the state level during the Night of the Stars gala scheduled for February 10, 2018.
The Night of the Stars event is an annual event sponsored the Education Foundation of St. Lucie County. President Thom Jones emphasized the importance of the Foundation in advancing K-12 public education in St. Lucie County by increasing the capacity and resources of the district in partnership with key stakeholders. According to Jones, “Our local Education Foundation serves as the conduit for private sector investment and community involvement in our public schools. It also serves as the primary link between local education and regional, statewide and national donors; and it leverages these relationships for the benefit of local education, creating partnerships with businesses and organizations that impact students in the classroom and strengthen cooperation between the private sector and our public schools.”
About the Finalists
Adela DellaCroce
Adela DellaCroce, a 13-year SLPS veteran, serves as a clerk managing meeting schedules, student attendance, and paperwork for the 700 strong junior class at Treasure Coast High School. In addition, she assists with maintaining discipline records, supporting honor roll recognitions, organizing school assemblies, and coordinating faculty meetings. She handles each of these responsibilities with grace and passion. She truly sees the entire school as an organization and understands the different roles that are necessary for it to function effectively.
Her colleagues appreciate the fact that she has a mindset that is constantly focused on how the school can improve services and opportunities for students. With her support, the school has established a campaign for aiding students in need of basic toiletries through Nick’s Necessities and for those who are food insecure, a healthy partnership with the Treasure Coast Food Bank is now viable on campus.
With her ability to network, communicate, and advocate for Treasure Coast High School, Mrs. DellaCroce was a natural for the Volunteer Coordinator and Community Business Partner Liaison. Last year, she coordinated efforts with the Titan’s International Business Academy to create BizCom, an annual showcase for the academies within Treasure Coast High School specifically designed to inform area businesses of the skills and training students develop prior to entering the local workforce.
Ja’Mia Gibson
Ja’Mia Gibson is a caring and dedicated health paraprofessional who is committed to maintaining a safe environment for all students and staff. Having worked in the District for over six years, staff and students count on Ms. Gibson for positive health care including daily TLC along with routine vision and health screenings, maintenance of student health records, follow-up health care, on-campus emergency care, and positive campus support. Her smile is something that is always welcome, especially the first thing in the morning as students arrive on campus.
She also extends herself beyond her required duties and responsibilities by taking on initiatives that support activities such as the Martin Luther King Jr. parade float creation and parade march. Off campus, her good deeds continue. For over six years, Ms. Gibson has volunteered at Daily Bread Storehouse Ministries preparing over 200 meals on Saturdays to help feed those in need. She helps plan, prep, prepare, and serve meals; pass out flyers; and fundraise for the organization. To those with whom she works, they see her as a ray of sunshine – someone who brightens a room. Whether on campus or off campus, her spirit of good will and service to others is a common thread.
Jonathan Marcelin
Mr. Jonathan Marcelin joined the SLPS team two years ago and serves as the Dan McCarty campus monitor responsible for maintaining a positive environment. As a cornerstone of the school, members of the campus find it hard not to get caught up in his enthusiasm for children, enveloped in his warmth, his smile, his constant cheer. He is tireless in his commitment to the well–being of the overall Eagles population, and he wants to ensure that all are soaring to greater heights. On any given day, Mr. Marcelin finds himself serving a variety of roles to assist students. They seek his guidance as a positive and caring adult on campus, ask for his assistance in problem solving, and use him as a sounding board to share progress toward their goals.
Mr. Marcelin also takes part in before- and after- school activities in order to facilitate parent and business partnerships. His fresh and energetic appeal to the community has been the catalyst for recruiting additional members to the school’s PTO and SAC organizations. Once he completes his responsibilities on campus, he continues his service walk in the community through organizations that support youth mentorship and leadership. He dedicates both his professional and personal time to making Dan McCarty as well as St. Lucie County a great place to learn and grow.
About St. Lucie Public Schools
St. Lucie Public Schools is a B rated District with no failing schools proudly serving the students as the second highest ranking School District on the Treasure Coast. The mission of SLPS is to ensure all students graduate from safe and caring schools equipped with the knowledge, skills and desire to succeed. For more information, visit, http://www.stlucieschools.org.
