At the May 27 School Board meeting, Osceola County School District honored its four 2025 Outstanding School Volunteers of the Year in recognition of their exceptional commitment to student learning and success.
Adult Outstanding School Volunteer of the Year — Bettina Grzeskowiak, Celebration High School —CHS has a market for students to “shop” at for nonperishable items. What they were missing was fresh fruits and vegetables, and in stepped Grzeskowiak and Embrace. Every Friday, she and the Embrace Team go to the Second Harvest Food Bank and pick up a box truck full of fresh items to be delivered to several schools, including Celebration High. Each week, several hundred pounds of items are delivered, free of charge, to the school to the delight of students. With a large population of students who live in hotels, this food can literally be a lifesaver. On any given Friday, there are approximately 350-400 students who come through the market during lunch to get food, particularly the fresh fruit and vegetables. Grzeskowiak has also helped Celebration High collect clothing for the opening of the Storm Boutique.
Senior Outstanding School Volunteer of the Year — Silvana Vitale, Adult Learning Center Osceola —Vitale serves as a volunteer daily in two adult ESOL classes, offering consistent and compassionate support to English Language Learners from diverse backgrounds. She has volunteered over 420 hours, averaging 21 hours per week, and has become a cornerstone of the classroom experience. She works directly with students in small groups and one-on-one, providing authentic speaking opportunities and academic support tailored to each learner’s level. She also assists with classroom organization, develops supplemental learning materials, and adapts her support to meet evolving student needs. Students who once hesitated to speak are now participating actively, often crediting their progress to the confidence and support they receive from Ms. Vitale.
Youth Outstanding School Volunteers of the Year — Dalton Gould, Horizon Middle School; Logan Harrolle, Narcoossee Elementary School — As a senior at Gateway High, Gould has balanced school, sports, and social life while volunteering at Horizon. He has given over 150 hours of volunteer service this year, including assisting school staff in preparing the campus for teacher and student return in July. Once teachers returned, he helped move them into classrooms and decorate, and removed trash to assist the custodians. During Open House, he assisted with parking for parents and provided directions to new families.
Harrolle, a St. Cloud High School senior provided his service to Narcoossee Elementary, volunteering during last summer and this school year while prepping for his senior year. He assisted with help on the inventory and distribution of student computer devices. He has also readily helped multiple teachers with setting up their classrooms and moving items for them when they moved classrooms from last school year. When he was not volunteering on campus, he continued to help the fifth-grade team with upcoming events.
Also at that meeting, the School Board officially approved a successor to Jim Hickey, the retiring Harmony High School principal who is wrapping up a 39-year career in education. Jennifer “Laurel” Ramsey has been an HHS assistant principal since 2022, and prior to that held that role at Liberty High and St. Cloud Preparatory Academy.
“Mr. Hickey’s impact on children will last forever,” School Superintendent Dr. Mark Shanoff said. “When you see how he interacts with students, it’s really a beautiful thing to watch. He’s done a remarkable job at Harmony. He came in, kept everything moving and made Harmony a wonderful place to learn. He leaves big shoes to fill.”
Ramsey said she’s humbled for the opportunity to continue Hickey’s work.
“I promise I will continue to do the hard work to ensure Harmony’s success and the students’ success,” she said. “I will always be grateful for (Hickey’s) guidance and helping me once again find my love for education. My Harmony family welcomed me with open arms three years ago, and I truly could not do my job without each and every one of you, who I look forward to working alongside to ensure Harmony High continues to thrive.”
