Milton High School played host to the Blackwater Classic Marching Band Festival Saturday, Oct. 4. 2025 marked the eighth year of the festival, which featured bands from as far away as Jackson County.

Santa Rosa Education Foundation is pleased to announce the thirty-seven nominees for Santa Rosa Teacher of the Year.  Nominees were selected by their peers at schools throughout the district. 

The University of West Florida earned its highest position to date the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best College rankings. It placed No. 6 among other Top Public Schools in the Regional South. With this, UWF spends a fourth consecutive year among the top 10 public institutions in the region.

This past school year, S.S. Dixon Primary School raised $26,075 for the American Heart Association as part of the annual Kids Heart Challenge.

The legal case against Kelly Short, the former educator and administrator who resigned from Santa Rosa County District Schools following an investigation into alleged mishandling and stealing of district funds, remains ongoing.

Keith Elliott, the suspended I.T. professional for Santa Rosa County District Schools, has not been terminated. At least, not yet. At their Sept. 9 meeting, the Sant Rosa County School Board voted to uphold the decision to suspend Elliott without pay but didn’t decide on termination of his employment, as Elliott had invoked his right to a hearing.

Since the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the safety of schools has been a top priority for school districts, parents and the State Leg-islature. The recent school shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has renewed calls for more to be done to keep children safe from gun violence at their schools. While a variety of laws are al-ready in the books in Florida, some districts across the state are looking for new ways to thwart potential tragedies.

The University of West Florida recently awarded several scholarships to incoming students, many of whom were residents local to the area.

The University of West Florida held their annual move-in day Aug.  21, helping fresh faces and returning students to their residence halls and dorm rooms in efficient, welcoming fashion.

If you walk into your child’s school, there is a chance you might hear they belong to a “house” or have received a “feather.” Don’t be alarmed. They are partaking in their school’s PBIS program.