Optimist Club of the Beaches

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

Parker Elementary

Building on the success of that initial program, we worked with Mr. McQueen’s office to expand the initiative for the 2024/2025 academic year to also recognize Administrators and Support Personnel under the School Excellence Recognition Program (SERP). Starting in the 2026/2027 school year, and in an effort to make the selection more prestigious, the name of the program was changed  to the Employee of the Month program, and the winner is selected from the outstanding educators, administrators, and support staff in the Bay District Schools System.

The Employee of the Month receives an award package worth $400 (which includes $100 in Walmart gift cards, a $200 Amazon gift card, and a floral arrangement).

Awards are presented at the Bay County School Board’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, located at 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 exceptional performance in the school and in the classroom.

                               The Optimist Club of the Beaches                                      Bay District Schools Employee of the Month ’26 – ’27