Optimist Club of the Beaches

School Excellence Recognition Program (SERP) ’25 – ’26

During the 2023/2024 academic year, the Optimist Club of the Beaches partnered with the Superintendent of Schools, Mark McQueen to launch a Teacher of the Month program to recognize some of the hardest working and most underappreciated members of our community – the teachers of Bay County.  The Teacher of the Month Program built on the weekly recognition program the Superintendent had in place for the 40 schools in Bay County and recognized those teachers who distinguished themselves through their hard work, dedication to teaching and devotion to their students.  During that first year, the Optimist Club presented Teacher of the Month awards to teachers from:

Hutchison Beach Elementary

Callaway Elementary

JR Arnold HS

Margaret K Lewis School

Rutherford Middle School

Waller Elementary

Merritt Brown Middle School and

Parker Elementary

Pictures of the 2023/2024 Teachers of the month are included in the archived photos tab.

     Building on the success of the Teacher of the Year program, we worked with Mr. McQueen’s office to expand the program for the 2024/2025 academic year to also recognize an Administrator of the Month and Support Person of the Month.  This new program is called the School Excellence Recognition Program (SERP).  In addition to providing an award package worth $400 to the Teachers of the Month (which includes $150 of WALMART gift cards, a $200 VISA gift card and a floral arrangement), the Support Person of the Month (which includes teachers aids, clerks, bus drivers and maintenance employees) and the Administrator of the Month (which includes other staff who are not in the classroom) will receive a $100 Visa gift card.

Awards are presented at the Bay County Schoolboard’s second meeting of the month held on the 4th Tuesday at the Ginger T. Littleton Board room on the first floor of the Nelson Building, 1311 Balboa Ave, Panama City.

It is both an honor and a privilege to work with the Superintendent of Schools to recognize those teachers, administrators and support personnel who have distinguished themselves through their performance in the school and in the classroom through the SERP.