Pine Island Elementary clerk nominated for Lee’s Support Person of the Year
Pine Island Elementary School has nominated Ms. Rosie Perez for the School District of Lee County Support Person of the Year. Out of 56 school wide nominations, Perez was one of five finalists.
“We are so proud to have her work at PIE and that Rosie reached this level,” said Principal Tom Millins. “She is an outstanding employee that is dedicated to all aspects of Pine Island Elementary School.”
According to Millins, Perez is currently the clerk-typist at Pine Island Elementary and also handles other responsibilities such as coordinator and bookkeeper for the Before School Program.
“Ms. Perez is dedicated to providing a friendly and efficient front office atmosphere,” said Millins. “This is demonstrated through her numerous approaches to helping all stakeholders at P.I.E. She always goes above and beyond with any of her assigned duties. Recently, Rosie was the primary liaison that helped in communication with a school family that lost their home in a fire. She played a key role in communicating with them and local agencies to help in a time of need. This extra effort made such a difference in coordinating these efforts. Going above and beyond is second nature to her. She is an outstanding employee that strives for perfection in all of her responsibilities. She is admired by all stakeholders, including students, parents, faculty and administration. This is evident in her daily interactions with everyone she meets.”
At the start of the 2020-2021 school year, Perez assisted in filling the secretary to the principal role while the current secretary was out on leave. These responsibilities included payroll, the hiring process, advertising and securing substitute teachers. In each of these responsibilities, Millins said, she did an outstanding job. She willingly took additional training associated with this temporary post to gain further professional experience.
“As the new principal, I was so impressed to witness a staff member step up into a new position and challenge herself in this role. I gained much admiration for her during this time both professionally and personally,” Millins said.
Perez has also built a reputation for working well with the faculty, explained Millins, by creating an open line of communication with teachers and students so that she can better accommodate their needs.
“Families often call the school and specifically ask for Ms. Rosie because they are comfortable speaking to her and trust her advice,” he said. “Staff members trust her with confidential information and know that she will handle difficult conversations with grace. These relationships are evident when people speak about her character. Ms. Perez is an exceptional employee who exhibits a high level of professionalism and is dedicated to providing a successful learning environment. She has certainly earned the respect of all stakeholders due to her willingness to go the extra mile with any of her responsibilities.”
For information about Pine Island Elementary School, located at 5360 Ridewood Drive, Bokeelia, call 239-283-0505.