Dede Schaffner is a respected advocate of public education and founder/architect of Seminole County Public Schools' nationally recognized Dividends School Volunteer Program.

Ms.Schaffner began her career at the grassroots level as a parent, starting the Dividends Program with 16 other volunteers to broaden the classroom resources for Seminole County students. Under her direction, Dividends grew to more than 18,000 volunteers and provided more than $200 million in donated services to Seminole County Public Schools. The program won four national awards and four Walt Disney World Community Service Awards. She was the founder of the Back to School Fair which provides backpacks with school supplies for children unable to start school each year with needed school supplies. She co-founded Arts Alive in Seminole! an event that highlights the visual and performing arts in our Seminole County Public Schools with the proceeds supporting the arts in our schools. 

Continuing her legacy of providing opportunities for students to achieve their goals,  Ms. Schaffner has established the DeDe Schaffner Rising Achiever Scholarship at Seminole State College. The scholarship is awarded annually to students selected as rising achievers from nine (9) Seminole County High Schools. Funds will be used to pay for tuition, fees and textbooks or any other items included in the cost of education on a semester basis year of attendance.