A retired United States Army veteran and paraprofessional at an Ocala elementary school is a finalist to receive the Florida Department of Education’s School-Related Employee of the Year award.
Edward Lanza has worked at Saddlewood Elementary School for eight years, often assisting in the media center, helping students with technology issues, and overseeing Chromebook distribution among the school’s 1,034 students.
Because of his efforts and role as a leader at the school, last December, Lanza was named the Marion County School-Related Employee of the Year by the Public Education Foundation of Marion County.
Now, Lanza is among those with a shot to win the statewide competition, the results of which are expected to be announced “in the near future,” according to Marion County Public Schools.
Lanza is the father of a 2021 MCPS Golden Apple teacher. In addition to his school and military service, Lanza has been recognized for his life experiences as a project manager with a Fortune 500 company and former deputy chief in a New York volunteer fire department.
For more information, read about the Florida Department of Education School-Related Employee of the Year award.