Henry Merrill, 76, was sitting in a Bagdad Elementary School classroom when superintendent Dr. Karen Barber and staff from the school came into the room holding flowers.
At first Merrill, who is a substitute teacher, thought he might be in trouble, but soon realized Barber was there for a much different reason.
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted education throughout the United States. Students, teachers, parents, and administrators had to adjust to lockdowns, online learning and other disruptions to students, even after reopening schools.
Despite these challenges, the Florida Department of Education announced Jan. 13 that high school graduation rates for the 2021-2022 school year not only met pre-pandemic levels, they exceeded them across the state. Santa Rosa County was no exception.
January’s school board meeting, held Jan. 19, featured several moments of recognition for those who have helped Santa Rosa District Schools in recent months, as well as the naming of a new principal at two different schools.
School safety is a top priority for schools across the country, especially after tragedies like the ones at schools in Uvalde, Texas, and Parkland, Florida.
Last year, Santa Rosa District Schools decided to pursue the implementation of a guardian program, based on the state’s Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program. The program, which is meant to add an extra layer of protection for schools, has not been fully implemented.
Tanya Metzler’s first job was teaching.
She was a 16-year-old Pace High School student and a part-time cheerleading instructor for Santa Rosa Community School.
Santa Rosa Education Foundation has announced the five semifinalists selected from 35 school nominees for Santa Rosa Teacher of the Year. Congratulations to Anthea Amos, Central School, Melody Griffin, Gulf Breeze Elementary, Karen Cody, Navarre High, Tanya Metzler, Pea Ridge Elementary, Michelle Tucker, West Navarre Intermediate.
Many schools talk about being a family of students and staff. But at Avalon Middle School, they truly are.
Danita Johnson, Avalon Middle’s teacher of the year, sees herself as a member of that family.
Johnson, who has taught in both Florida and Kentucky, has spent the past 30 years as both a teacher and an administrator.
Dawn Poggi’s peers picked her to be S.S. Dixon Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year but, as important and impressive as that honor might be, it doesn’t quite capture everything she does for the Patriots.
April Hobbs is right where she needs to be.
The East Milton Elementary School Teacher of the Year was born and raised in Milton, an alumna of Milton High School and the University of West Florida and, for the past nine years, a teacher at East Milton Elementary.
You may notice the rather tall ceiling when you first enter the front doors at Bennett C. Russell Elementary School in Milton. This large height fits in well with the school’s motto, “Soaring to new heights in education.”
