Lori Zamniak Awarded 2019 Golden Coconut
A local non-profit is dedicated to giving Fort Myers Beach teachers the recognition they deserve.
Teacher Lori Zamniak was awarded the “Golden Coconut” last week by the Beach Kids Foundation.
The annual award, which began over 12 years ago as a special honor for a teacher at Beach Elementary School, is a Fort Myers Beach version of Lee County’s Golden Apple.
The winner is chosen through a vote by all the teachers at the school.
This year, Zamniak won the tropical trophy and a shiny new beach cruiser to ride around the island.
A graduate of Cayuga County Community College, Niagara University, and University of South Florida, Zamniak started working at the Beach School in 1996, and has taught grades two, three, and four.
Her colleagues describe her as “hardworking, dedicated, and a true advocate for teachers and students.”
She has coached the Book Battle Team for several years, leading her team to victory at the All Lee County Schools Battle of the Books in 2015.
Zamniak has been married for 26 years and has two sons, Trent, a student at Florida Gulf Coast University, and Trevor, a sophomore at Fort Myers High School.
At the ceremony last Friday, Mayor Tracey Gore and Jason Padilla, son of Beach Kids President Linda Beasley, spoke to kids about their experiences growing up on Fort Myers Beach and attending the Beach School.
Beasley presented Principal Manza with $4,000 to go toward scholastic reading materials, with $1,000 being split between the teachers for school supplies, and $1,000 to go toward Beach Bucks, an award program at the school where students earn play cash for good behavior to spend in the school’s “Shrimp Shack”.
The Beach Kids Foundation is dedicated to helping local kids through annual scholarships and their yearly Christmas toy delivery, in partnership with the Fort Myers Beach Fire Department.