According to Santa Rosa County Economic Development, Santa Rosa County is the eighth fastest growing population in Florida with 203,752 current residents.

Of current residents, approximately 23.6% are between the ages of zero and 19. With rapid growth occurring in Santa Rosa the school district is forced to contend with ever evolving facility needs. To meet those needs, Santa Rosa County District Schools has invested in the K-8 school model, which combines elementary level students (K-5) with middle school students (6-8th grade) into one school environment.

East Milton Elementary School third graders donned their bonnets and caps as they portrayed historical Black figures in their Living Wax Museum.

Earlier this month, several members of the Facebook group, “Navarre Locals,” posted about receiving tickets for failing to stop for school buses. In Florida, it is a violation of the law to pass a school bus that is stopped and picking up or dropping off students.

Many of those who posted felt they had been involved in scenarios where they didn’t deserve a ticket. Erica G. made a post Feb. 12 describing an incident in which she failed to stop for a bus at a red light.

In January, Santa Rosa District Schools announced the Sunshine State Scholars for the district. Each high school chose one student to represent the very best of their school’s math and science education.

A cacophony of celebration ignited inside Kayla Stanford’s fifth-grade classroom Tuesday, Feb. 4, as Santa Rosa District Schools Superintendent Dr. Karen Barber and others surprised Stanford with the announcement that she was District teacher of the year.

The announcement came as happy news to teacher and students alike, although for different reasons.

On Feb. 4, 35 high school juniors completed the first-ever Santa Rosa Junior Leadership program. The students were able to get a first-hand look into careers involved in robotics, virtual reality, and cybersecurity.

With the end of snow days came the return of school days. The first week back (Jan. 27 through Jan. 31) also marked the return of literacy week, a period where teachers, library media specialists, and students pay particular attention to reading and language arts education.

In order to meet the required instructional minutes and missed time for weather, the following updates were made to the 2024-2025 school calendar and approved at the February 4, 2025 school board meeting.

Carl O’Neal has long been a resolute educator. This year marks his 59th year teaching and he was named one of five finalists for 2024 Teacher of the Year in Santa Rosa County.

O’Neal teaches a variety of science classes at Santa Rosa Online, the first online public school offered in the county. Principal Jerilyn O’Brien said that they are lacking clubs for students to join, and O’Neal has been instrumental in launching their science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) club.

For the past 17 years, Melissa “Joni” Weaver has been teaching science to middle schoolers. While the topics in science can be academically heavy and, at times tedious, Weaver said she enjoys being able to bring fun into the equation.