Support employees celebrated for going the extra mile
Oct. 28, 2020
The district honored 128 support employees at the annual Certificate of Distinction Award Ceremony. The event celebrates employees who took the initiative to commit extra hours to professional development. The recipients who participated in the “drive by” ceremony received a framed certificate and breakfast. In addition, there was a DJ playing music and the cheerleaders from Largo High provided a celebratory spirit as the recipients arrived at the Administration Building.
The Certificate of Distinction program began in 1998 with a pilot group of 36 recipients. There is not another professional development program of its kind at other school districts in the state. There are two levels of distinction: Level I and Level II. To earn the first level, employees must commit to 65 hours of professional development classes. Level two requires a 152-hour commitment, with 30 of those hours dedicated to community service. Level I completers receive a $275 bonus and level II earns employees an additional $300.