Trooper Steve Honors Seminole County School Crossing Guards for Appreciation Day

News 6 traffic-safety expert Trooper Steve Montiero honored Seminole County school crossing guards in a short human-interest segment that highlighted their daily responsibilities, pedestrian safety around schools and practical tips for drivers. The piece put local crossing guards into the wider statewide context of formal recognition and safety goals.

The Florida Department of Transportation is urging residents to note its observance: "The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is proud to celebrate Florida School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day on Friday, February 6, 2026, honoring the men and women who are essential to keeping students and families safe while traveling to and from school, especially those who walk or bike." FDOT also noted that "Thousands of dedicated crossing guards across Florida promote safe driver and pedestrian behaviors, helping advance Target Zero, Florida’s mission to bring the number of traffic fatalities and serious injuries to zero."

FDOT highlighted its 2025 award winners as part of the recognition. The agency named Minnie Alexander of the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office as the "2025 Florida School Crossing Guard of the Year." FDOT praised Alexander in specific terms: "Minnie exemplifies professionalism as a school crossing guard through her dedication to safety, reliability, and positive interactions with students, parents, and colleagues." The profile continues that "She ensures that students cross the street safely, teaching them the importance of following rules and paying attention to their surroundings," and that "At the same time, her friendly greetings, smiles, and kind words make children feel welcome and secure." FDOT added that Alexander's "enthusiasm for community involvement, support of student activities, and genuine care for those around her reflect a steadfast positivity that inspires others and brightens the daily lives of everyone she interacts with."

FDOT also named Cheryl Ruckdeschel Huggins of the St. Petersburg Police Department for the "2025 Florida School Crossing Guard of the Year – Extra Mile Award." The agency described Huggins this way: "Cheryl is one of those people that goes through life seeing the needs of others and taking action to get those needs met." FDOT said she "works hard to make a safer environment for the students, checking all her school zones for something that may interfere with a child’s walk to and from school," and that "She educates the students on pedestrian safety, making sure they are walking away with lifetime knowledge of how to stay safe." FDOT noted that "Cheryl has never said ‘no’ to helping and always goes out of her way, whether it is covering posts or generously providing items to her students and colleagues in need." FDOT also referenced a "2025 Florida School Crossing Guard Program of the Year" category though the available material did not list a recipient.

The News 6 segment, which appears on the station's platforms, framed the local work in practical terms: "News 6 Traffic Safety Expert Trooper Steve Montiero is helping to honor school crossing guards in Seminole County as they work daily to get students to and from class safely." Social posts tied to the piece used local tags including "#maitland #orange #seminole #orlando" and the caption fragment "Safety Patrol•Hail to the Crossing Guard."

For Seminole County residents the story ties neighborhood routines to statewide safety goals. Crossing guards perform daily, often unseen, enforcement of school-zone rules and pedestrian practices that FDOT links to its Target Zero effort. That connection underscores policy and budget priorities at the county and state level for school-zone enforcement, training, and staffing.

Readers who want to view the News 6 segment or request station files can find the video on News 6's channels; for assistance with the station's public file call (407) 291-6000. As communities weigh school-safety budgets and volunteer programs this recognition serves as a timely reminder: trained crossing guards and attentive drivers together reduce risks for students and help advance the state's goal of fewer traffic deaths and serious injuries.