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Anderson Secretary Earns Honor

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 7, 2008

FAIR OAKS - The staff at Anderson Elementary School nominated Stephanie Jones, secretary to Principal Betty Lou Turner, for Hillsborough County's Instructional Support Employee of the Year.

On April 15, she found out she won the top honor, which included $500, tickets to places such as The Florida Aquarium and Busch Gardens, a cruise to the Bahamas and a limo ride.

Turner said Jones' attributes include her attention to detail, her timeliness and the amiable way she leads the other staff members. As well as supporting Turner, Jones is responsible for bookkeeping and participates in discussions with students reading the Battle of the Books selections.

"She is the front face when parents come in, and they feel welcome; they feel comfortable," Turner said. "It's a delightful place to work because of her skills in managing."

When Jones, of Town 'N Country, isn't working, she volunteers at her church, Ministry of Spirit and Truth. She plans to do missionary work with the church this summer in Guyana.

She grew up in Ogden, Utah, and served six years in the Army, where she met her husband, Timothy. They moved to the Tampa area in the early 1990s and have two teenagers, Chanteia and Izaiah.

Q. What do you like about your job?

A. It's a variety of jobs everyday. It's not the same thing everyday.

Q. What do you like least about your job?

A. It's heart-wrenching to see some of the problems facing our kids today, like divorce and other family problems.

Q. What was your favorite subject in school?

A. I don't recall if I had a favorite. I think I enjoyed everything, not to say I excelled at everything, except penmanship.

Q. What did you think when you heard you won the award?

A. I didn't know what to think. I didn't think that it was real.

Q. How did the school celebrate?

A. It was beautiful. The students and staff were outside waiting for me when I arrived from the ceremony. They had a reception, flowers and the students made posters. They gave me a paver with my name on it and a gift certificate. The kids keep saying congratulations to me. They still say it.

Q. What do you like best about Anderson Elementary?

A. I just love Anderson. It's everything. It's family. It's small. As Mrs. Turner says, it's a hidden jewel.

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 835-2114 or jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com.

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