Sarasota County Schools is proud to announce that Mr. Russell Dennison has been selected as the district’s overall 2026 School-Related Employee of the Year. Mr. Dennison has served as a Bus Driver for Sarasota County Schools’ Transportation department for the past eight years.
Mr. Dennison is the first and the last school district team member that the children on his school bus interact with each day. His kindness has the power to help his students start off the day with strength and a smile. His attention to detail, compassion, and commitment to safety, among other skills, ensures that students have a pleasant and safe ride home to recount the highlights of the school day with their loved ones.
Mr. Dennison holds himself to a high standard and is always looking for ways to improve the already exemplary level of customer service and leadership he provides. He serves as a union representative, Road-EO team leader, an SDMT member, and Chair of both the department’s Social Committee and its Employee Recognition Committee. Mr. Dennison’s unwavering commitment to professional excellence encourages other drivers to operate at their best every day in service of our district’s students and families.
Known for his “tireless” efforts to support students and staff members alike, Mr. Dennison works diligently to make sure everyone feels welcomed and valued. When he learned that there were families facing hardships within the Transportation department, Mr. Dennison created and led the Road-EO Holiday Wish Tree. This provided confidential, much needed support to Transportation team members and their families in a way that reflected the individual needs of families but preserved their dignity.
The Florida Department of Education’s School-Related Employee of the Year program annually recognizes outstanding education support personnel for the significant contributions they make to their schools and district school systems. The program honors one state representative and four finalists from the 67 school districts in Florida. All non-certified, non-instructional educational support personnel who serve at the school or district level — such as teacher aides, library aides, bookkeepers, bus drivers, food service staff and custodians, among others — may be nominated.
Sarasota County Schools’ School-Related Employee of the Year program is made possible through the funding and support of many generous sponsors. These schools & organizations are committed to the belief that rewarding and encouraging excellence in service is vital to a strong and successful public educational system. We appreciate their continued commitment to our school communities! Please join us in thanking all of the following sponsors:
Lead Sponsors
Sarasota Ford
Tandem Construction
Platinum Sponsors
Achieva Credit Union
Sarasota Classified/Teachers Association
Shumaker Law
Gold Sponsors
Jon F. Swift Construction
Trane
Silver Sponsors
Florida Blue
Halfacre Construction Co.
Magnum Builders
PBK Architects
Tampa Contract Floors
Bronze Sponsors
Baacke Insurance
Bencor
Gulf States Industries
KidGuard
Sutter Roofing
Sarasota County Association of Educational Office Professionals
Award Sponsors
Sarasota District Administrators
School Based Administrators
School Sponsors
Alta Vista Elementary School
Ashton Elementary School
Atwater Elementary School
Bay Haven School of Basics Plus
Booker High School
Booker Middle School
Brentwood Elementary School
Brookside Middle School
Cranberry Elementary School
Emma E. Booker Elementary School
Englewood Elementary School
Fruitville Elementary School
Garden Elementary School
Glenallen Elementary School
Gocio Elementary School
Gulf Gate Elementary School
Heron Creek Middle School
Lakeview Elementary School
Lamarque Elementary School
Laurel Nokomis School
McIntosh Middle School
North Port High School
Oak Park School
Phillippi Shores Elementary
Pine View School
Riverview High School
Sarasota High School
Sarasota Middle School
Skye Ranch School
Southside Elementary School
Suncoast Polytechnical High School
Suncoast Technical College
Tatum Ridge Elementary School
Taylor Ranch Elementary School
Toledo Blade Elementary School
Triad
Tuttle Elementary School
Venice Elementary School
Venice High School
Venice Middle School
Wilkinson Elementary School
Woodland Middle School