Nine Pinellas School employees have been named as finalists for Pinellas Support Employee of the Year. The finalists come in three categories: Direct Involvement (those who spend 75 percent or more of their time with students); Indirect Involvement (less than 25 percent of their time with students); and Limited Involvement (little or no contact with students.) The winners will be announced Jan. 18 in the program, which is sponsored by Achieva Credit Union.

   And the finalists are:

   Direct Involvement
• Lori Gooding, Dunedin Elementary, ESE Associate
• Amy Putnam, Cypress Woods Elementary, High Needs Associate
• Irma Vargas, Skycrest Elementary, Bilingual Assistant I

   Indirect Involvement
• Tameaka Brown, Gibbs High, Office Clerk I
• Essie Sneed, Tomlinson Adult Learning Center, Secretary/Bookkeeper
• Debra Stotts, Largo Middle, Office Clerk I

   Limited Involvement
• Katherine Dickinson, Curlew Creek Elementary, Secretary/Bookkeeper
• Kristy Hayes, Ponce de Leon Elementary, Secretary/Bookkeeper
• Lisa Packard, Administration Building, Clerk Specialist I