Awards season in Osceola County is much more than Oscars, Tonys and Grammys.

It’s all related to education.

The nominees have been named for the Osceola School District’s 2013 School-Related Employee of the Year.

There are more than 3,000 school-related non-instructional employees in the school district and 68 of them have been selected by their schools and departments as nominees for the award.

This year’s nominees are: Acclaim Academy – Porter Strudwick; Alternative Programs – Debbie Sullivan; ALCO/Challenger – Carol C. Tudor; Bellalago Academy – Beth Padgett; Boggy Creek Elementary – Hector J. Maisonet-Ruiz; Canoe Creek Charter – Kimberly Funkhouser; Celebration High – Julieta Lues; Celebration School K-8 – Angela Malave; Central Avenue Elementary – Alma Fontaine; Chestnut Elementary School for Science and Engineering – Moises Diaz; Cypress Elementary – Susan Compton; Deerwood Elementary – Diana Cruz; Denn John Middle – Billie Jo Szlezak; Discovery Intermediate – Angel L. Fonseca Santiago; East Lake Elementary – Cassie Tichenor; Flora Ridge Elementary – Linsley Joseph; Four Corners Charter – Dana LeRoux; Gateway High – Thelma Sue Sanborn; Harmony Community – Alfredo Torres; Harmony High – Helen Ann Manning; Hickory Tree Elementary  – Rena’ Avant; Highlands Elementary – Daisy Burgos; Horizon Middle – Luis O. Otero Cruz; Kissimmee Charter Academy – Lou Quinones; Kissimmee Elementary – Alice M. Fitzpatrick; Kissimmee Middle –  Odemaris Suarez Angulo; Koa Elementary – Wilkens Etienne; Lakeview Elementary - Shelly Smith; Liberty High – Edwin De Jesus; Mavericks High – Rafael Tavarez; Michigan Ave Elementary – Eda Coffey; Mill Creek Elementary – Daisy Colon; Narcoossee Elementary – Simone Ciulla; Narcoossee Middle – Sharon Mc Causland; Neptune Elementary – Kirk Kempney; Neptune Middle – Keli Prickett; New Beginnings – Edwin Rios; Osceola County Schools for the Arts – Judith Maria Lowell; Osceola High – Kim L. Fowler; Parkway Middle – Yamil H. Quezada; Partin Settlement Elementary – Myra D. Schaalma; PATHS – Ariel Soto; Pleasant Hill Elementary – Angela Teresa Owens; Poinciana Academy of Fine Arts – Dian Jarvis; Poinciana High – Lymari  Vargas; PM Wells Charter Academy – Nancy Porto; Reedy Creek Elementary – Teresa Annette Norris; St. Cloud Elementary – Ann Graves; St. Cloud High – Omar Rivas; St. Cloud Middle – Jennifer Wiggins; Sunrise Elementary – Sandralee Rodriguez; TECO – Christine Ramirez; Thacker Ave Elementary – Sandra Ortiz; Ventura Elementary – Diane Phillips-Starke; Westside K-8 - Angela Marie Pierre

Zenith – Cindy M. Sinclair; Business and Finance – Bianca Luz Morales; Curriculum and Instruction – Carlos R. Hernandez; Exceptional Student Education – Rodolfo Medina Pagan; Facilities – Katherine Pulla; Human Resources  – Sheila Williams; Maintenance – Jim Sanborn; Media and Instructional Technology – Frances Rivera; Purchasing and Warehouse – Cheryl Jessee; Administration and Student Services – Gwen Gerue; Transportation: Simpson Road Facility – Evandro Fracasso; Transportation: Horizon Facility – Anita C. Nadeau; and Transportation: St. Cloud Facility – Martha Alvarez.

“Congratulations to these outstanding employees for earning such well-deserved recognition,” said Superintendent Melba Luciano.  “Our school-related professionals are the backbone of our district, and they work extremely hard each and every day to support our students and teachers towards the highest student achievement.”

This is the first step in the process to select this year’s School-Related Employee of the Year.

The field of nominees will be narrowed down to the top ten finalists by a panel of judges.

The Osceola School District’s 2013 District School-Related Employee of the Year, along with the district’s Teacher of the Year, will be announced at the Education Foundation’s Education Awards event at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center on March 15.