Carol Wilt, the school nurse who was chosen as Alachua County’s School Related Employee of the Year, has been named one of five finalists in the statewide recognition program.

Wilt and her fellow finalists will be honored at a special ceremony in Tallahassee on Tuesday, April 15 during the meeting of the Florida Board of Education. At that event, one of the five finalists will be named Florida’s School Related Employee of the Year.

Wilt says the call from Tallahassee telling her she was a finalist was a complete shock.

“I’m glad I was sitting down when they told me,” she said. “I was completely floored.”

Wilt has been the school nurse at Sidney Lanier for more than 20 years, serving about 130 students with extensive disabilities. Her job includes dispensing medications and other treatments, making medical assessments, administering first aid, monitoring students’ health conditions, and a host of other medically-related duties. Wilt has also been very aggressive in creating and implementing wellness programs for both students and staff at the school, and also involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities, including the school advisory council and the Special Olympics.

“She knows the children extremely well and has a wonderful rapport with them,” said assistant principal Sharon Miller. “She’s very dedicated to their health and well-being.”

Wilt and the other nominees to the local recognition program will be honored at the district’s annual School-Related Employee of the Year reception in early May. Thanks to private donations, each nominee will receive a $110 award representing the fact that they give 110% in their work. As a finalist, Wilt will also receive a $500 award from the Florida Department of Education.

Wilt says she’s honored and humbled by the recognition she’s receiving.

“I was so pleased to be named the district level person, I didn’t think there was any way I would be state finalist,” she said. “It’s a blessing, to say the least.”

“Carol deserves it because of all the things she does for this school,” said Miller of the state recognition. “She’s a true professional.”