Sunlake student earns Outstanding Senior Award
LAND O’ LAKES – Samuel Wu, who attends Sunlake High School, received the Pasco County Schools Outstanding Senior Award for 2025.
He was selected from several seniors throughout the district who had sought that recognition.
Wu ranks first in his class with an almost perfect SAT score of 15.80 and has a 4.71 grade point average.
When he graduates from Sunlake, he will have earned concurrently an associate degree from Pasco-Hernando State College, said Angel Hernandez, who recognized Wu for his accomplishments.
Hernandez is program coordinator for career and technical education at Pasco County Schools.
Wu is also a National Merit Scholar semifinalist, a Carson Scholar and an AP Scholar with Distinction. Also, he is a member of Sunlake’s Student Council and of the F.D.L.E.
He received a $1,000 scholarship from the Pasco Education Foundation Scholarship Program.
Wu said Jan. 14 he wanted to thank everyone supporting him, including his parents, and also “a big thank you to everyone at Sunlake High School especially my wonderful teachers, the staff and my classmates.
Fisher recognized for literary education
LAND O’ LAKES – Lisa Fisher was recognized as the Pasco Literacy Teacher of the Year for the 2024-25 school year.
She was also recently honored as the Florida State Literacy Association’s Teacher of the Year.
“This is such an honor,” Fisher told the school board Jan. 14. “This is my 20th-and-a-half year in Pasco County, 17 of which I served at the secondary level. And so coming down to elementary I can’t accept this without saying what an amazing administrative staff I get to work side by side with.”
She added she was so grateful for the opportunity to serve as a literacy teacher at the elementary level.
Wolin earns Administrator of the Year
LAND O’ LAKES – Vicki Wolin was recognized as Florida Headstart Administrator of the Year.
She has over 35 years of experience in early care and education. Wolin’s roles have included administrative positions, such as assistant principal and even principal.
“One person does not hold the responsibility for all that work,” Wolin said.
She added the team of people in her department had contributed to that success.
“This is for Pasco County Schools and not just for me,” Wolin said.
CareerSource Pasco Hernando enhances education
LAND O’ LAKES – Dr. Lori Romano recognized Jerome Salantino, CEO and president of CareerSource Pasco Hernando, for what the organization had done to expand student experiences across the district to help prepare them for meaningful careers.
Romano serves as the director of career, technical, and adult education with Pasco County Schools.
Last year, the CareerSource Pasco Hernando board provided Pasco County Schools with $47,000 to prepare its students for meaningful careers by incorporating a variety of career exploration programs and activities to help them identify potential career paths, Romano said.
“I’d like to say that I’ve been in workforce development for over 30 years,” Salantino said. “It’s been 15 years of my current role as executive for the workforce board and I’ve never seen the desire to partner, the ability to bring things to the table as a true partner does, and the common goal of helping to meet the workforce needs of the community.”
Salantino added he looked forward to many more years of working together with her and her team.
