Polk County Public Schools celebrated its top educators and employees Wednesday night. 

  • Polk Schools celebrate top educators, employees
  • Michelle Dinwiddie named Teacher of the Year
  • Margie Foreman named School-Related Employee of the Year

Michelle Dinwiddie, a 10th-grade English teacher at Lake Gibson High in Lakeland, was announced as the 2018 Polk County Teacher of the Year.

School officials say Dinwiddie sets a tone in her classroom that promotes openness and fearlessness. Serving as a role model, Dinwiddie stresses that each student "Be a Pro"--professional, productive, and proficient. 

She also encourages students to display good character and leave her classroom knowing that a tucked-in-shirt, a kind word, a diligent heart, and a capable attitude can take them further than they imagine.  

Margie Foreman, a clinic nurse at James E. Stephens Elementary, was named the district's 2018 School-Related Employee of the Year. 

School officials say Foreman compassionately attends to all of the bumps and bruises, as well as tummy aches and loose teeth at the school.

She also takes care of hungry kids by overseeing a program that sends backpacks full of food home with needy students so they can have something to eat at home. 

Dinwiddie and Foreman were chosen from more than 200 candidates who were nominated by individual schools throughout Polk County Public Schools. 

The two overall winners, along with 12 finalists, received cash awards and other prizes from event sponsors. 

Both winners will move on to compete for state titles. 

Each year, the Florida Department of Education names a Florida Teacher of the Year, choosing an educator who has “demonstrated a superior capacity to inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities.”

The Florida School-Related Employee of the Year award recognizes outstanding education support personnel for contributions to their schools and communities.