Families of East Milton Elementary School students got a taste of what their children have been learning in school when they came to the March 23 STEAM night event. STEAM is short for science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.

The Santa Rosa County School Board met March 9 at Woodlawn Beach Middle School. A number of issues, including school libraries and a Juul lawsuit, were discussed and appointments were made to county schools.

The future visited Pace for a few hours last week. Pace schools presented the first Patriot Fest – “a community event focused on infusing STEAM activities and lessons into the history of America” – Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Pace High School’s football stadium.

Across the United States, there have been multiple school districts struggling to fill in the gap when teachers take leave or are absent. Substitutes have been in high demand since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In some states, such as New Mexico, they have had to call on volunteers from the National Guard to help cover classrooms.

There are many educational opportunities available to students in Santa Rosa County. Take Stock In Children is one such opportunity. Started in 1995, Take Stock In Children is a multiyear, statewide nonprofit scholarship program in which students are paired with mentors to help them build academic success toward college. It began as a way to combat public school dropout rates.

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.

Lucille Silva Dixon believes she’s on a mission from God. “A vision from God inspired me to pursue teaching,” Dixon told the Press Gazette.

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.

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.