Positivity rewarded
Perhaps the best word used to describe Beth Avilez’s personality is “infectious.” It’s hard to experience her positive attitude and not have it rub off on you.
It is one of the many reasons why the bookkeeper at Caloosa Middle School in Cape Coral was named by the Lee County School System as the School-Related Employee of the Year, given to those non-teachers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Avilez, 43, was surprised in the school’s media center Monday by staff, students and representatives from the school system, including the superintendent.
“I came in thinking I would hit the ground running. I thought I was coming in here for something else,” Avilez said. “It humbles you because there are a thousand helping hands in this district and they all have the same purpose. It’s for the students. It’s a family.”
Perhaps the most amazing thing about Avilez is that she has only been an employee at the system for 18 months, having worked as an accountant at a private company for 20 years.
But with her mother and father having been school employees most of their lives, Avilez always wanted to work there, and when the opportunity finally came after years of trying, she jumped at the chance, took the ball and ran with it.
“I never felt super connected to the greater good. Once you have the opportunity to go somewhere where you can make a difference in the lives of people around you, there’s no better feeling,” Avilez said. “It’s funny, but it was when my mom retired that I came to work. It was a changing of the guard.”
Principal Ann Cole nominated Avilez, saying she had an enormous impact on the students, staff and school community, adding that she has changed the entire culture in the building.
“I knew she was going to win because of her personality. She talks to everyone she meets. She’s infectious, you can’t help but love her when you meet her,” Cole said. “There are some people who are just the whole package. That’s her.”
Among Avilez’s accomplishments was to develop a “Wall of Hope” for students in need, collecting $650 in gift cards along the way, and foster partnerships in the community to beautify the campus.
For her work, Avilez won a plaque and a gift basket with lots of swag.
School Superintendent Gregory Adkins said it takes someone very special to win this award with such a small track record in the education field.
“It’s remarkable that someone would come in that short of time and have that large an impact. That’s rare. And when you meet her, that enthusiasm and pride she takes in her work is infectious,” Adkins said.
Avilez has three boys. Pedro and Thomas Delaconcepcion are in the Army, Pedro as a member of an airborne unit and Thomas as a truck driver, and Marvino Avilez, who goes to Mariner High School and plays soccer.
But it was Avilez’s daughter, Nora, a student at Challenger Middle, who was there to witness the moment, which gave the first indication that this would not be a typical day for Beth.
“She’s my other lighthouse. I knew she was here to share something special and it made it all real. I’m glad I got to share this moment with her,” Avilez said.