Outstanding ADDitions

Kim Lyons

Outstanding Adult Volunteer Blankner School Innovation Office

Kim Lyons has volunteered and contributed more than 1,150 hours at the Blankner School since 2019. With her innovative creativity, she has kept the Blankner School community connected by coordinating the PTSA membership campaigns, maintaining the PTSA shopBlankner.com website, coordinating the Spirit Wear sales and being the co-chair of the room-parent program. On average, Kim volunteers 23 hours per week annually and has impacted most of Blankner School’s 700 students by making sure the schoolchildren, faculty and staff feel connected with her work on the STEAM program and PTSA.

She works closely with the STEAM faculty to ensure supplies are plentiful and future projects are within budget. She acts as a liaison between the STEAM team and the PTSA, ensuring funds are reserved for the school’s STEAM programs.

Ms. Lyons’ regular presence on campus allows her to lend a helping hand wherever it’s needed, from the ADDitions School Volunteer recruitment and parent breakfast events, faculty and staff appreciation lunches, kindergarten orientation and the silent auction fundraiser to collaborating with the Blankner School’s administrative team.

The Blankner School and its community appreciates Kim’s time, talent and dedication.

“Whether near or far, we are all Bulldogs at Heart! I feel complete when I am helping others.”

Donald Dudley

Outstanding Senior Volunteer Lake Weston Elementary Winegard Elementary Southeast Learning Community and School Transformation Office

Donald Dudley is a champion for today’s young scholars! His innovative STEM projects at both Lake Weston (one year) and Winegard (five years) elementary schools have empowered students with the knowledge and confidence to make a positive impact within themselves, in their family, at school and in the community! Students are excited when they know Mr. Dudley is going to be on campus because that means a new and exciting STEM project is in the works! One of the most impactful projects led by Mr. Dudley in collaboration with the University of Florida/ IFAS Extension is mentoring students and growing a vegetable garden. Students learn vital nutrition lessons and how to be self-sustaining in growing their own food. Other projects have included an underwater robot creation to foster understanding of local lake and ocean cleanup efforts. Students have also created small rockets, circuit boards and planned and constructed simple architectural structures. Mr. Dudley also supports the students and families through his participation in our PTA, SAC, family events and annual Teach-In presentations.