District News – Page 4

Classrooms2Careers: Public Defenders Office, Future Lawyers

May 26, 2026 By LEINITIA ROBINSON

St. Lucie Public Schools’ High School students interested in becoming an Attorney or pursuing careers in the legal field participated in an engaging career information session and tour with the Public Defender’s Office. This valuable opportunity was the second session this year. Assistant Public Defender and Felony Division Head Stephen Hooper hosted and arranged for the visit and led an informative session outlining the steps required to become a lawyer. He shared his personal journey to the legal profession and emphasized the importance of career exploration, networking, and effective time‑management skills. Students also learned about internship and volunteer opportunities, including … Read More

Floresta Elementary’s Everglades Club

April 27, 2026 By SARAH NEIL

Students from Floresta Elementary’s Everglades Club proudly hosted a community tree giveaway during Earth Week, promoting environmental stewardship and civic engagement. In partnership with Neighborhood Forest, one of North America’s largest and fastest-growing youth-centered tree planting initiatives, students helped educate families about the importance of trees and local ecosystems. Through this collaboration, 110 Laurel Oak trees were distributed to registered families for planting at home. The event empowered students to lead a meaningful service project while making a lasting impact on the community. Each tree planted supports cleaner air, wildlife habitats, and a greener future for generations to come together … Read More

SLPS Wants to Hear from You!

April 13, 2026 By LAUREN PECZKO

Parents, we would like to know what you think! Please take a few minutes to complete the Family Survey posted on the homepage of the district website, https://www.stlucie.k12.fl.us/family-survey/. We greatly appreciate your participation and feedback, which will assist us with growth and improvement. Thank you! The survey is open until April 22.

FREE/Low Cost Internet Services Sign-Up Event

April 13, 2026 By LAUREN PECZKO

Are you interested in “low-cost” or “no-cost” internet services through Comcast, Internet Essentials? St. Lucie Public Schools in partnership with the St. Lucie County Education Foundation and St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners is hosting a sign-up event on Wednesday, April 15 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the St. Lucie Public Schools District Office in Port St. Lucie. This offer is available to all families with a child currently enrolled in the public school system where Comcast services are provided. This event is RSVP ONLY. Pre-register for this event by calling (772) 429-3660! Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity. … Read More

Florida Prepaid: Open Enrollment is Now Open — Secure Your College Savings Plan

March 30, 2026 By LAUREN PECZKO

Open Enrollment is Now Open — Secure Your College Savings Plan Florida Prepaid’s annual Open Enrollment period is underway, offering families an opportunity to lock in future college costs at today’s plan prices. With recent enhancements, planning for higher education is now more streamlined and affordable. What’s new this year: A redesigned website to guide you through building a personalized savings plan Flexible Prepaid Plan options, including the ability to purchase one year at a time Low monthly payment options starting at just $29 The earlier you begin saving, the greater the long-term benefit. Take advantage of these improvements and … Read More

Classrooms2Careers: Careers in Law, Public Defenders Office

March 9, 2026 By LEINITIA ROBINSON

High school students from St. Lucie Public Schools interested in becoming lawyers or pursuing careers in the legal field were recently invited to participate in a career information session and tour with the Public Defender’s Office. This opportunity was made possible through the support of SLPS Career Coaches, who work to connect students with real-world career exploration experiences. Assistant Public Defender (Felony Division Head) Stephen Hooper hosted the visit and led a comprehensive session on pathways into the legal profession. He discussed what it takes to become a lawyer, shared his personal journey to becoming a licensed attorney, and highlighted … Read More

Classrooms2Careers: Smithsonian Marine Station

March 9, 2026 By LEINITIA ROBINSON

High school students from across St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) had the opportunity to participate in a behind‑the‑scenes tour and information session at the Smithsonian Marine Station. This special Classrooms2Careers experience introduced students to a variety of marine science career pathways and real-world research happening right here on the Treasure Coast. Seven students from Treasure Coast High School (joined by Industrial Biotechnology teacher: Mr. John Williams) and St. Lucie West Centennial High School attended the session, where they explored several cutting-edge research areas, including: Chemical Ecology Benthic Ecology Everglades Restoration Projects Coral Reef Research During the visit, students heard directly … Read More

Classrooms2Careers: Marine & Maritime Career Expo

March 9, 2026 By LEINITIA ROBINSON

Students from St. Lucie Public Schools recently had the chance to explore exciting future opportunities at the 2026 Chart Your Course: Marine & Maritime Career Expo. Held in February, the event was made possible through the ongoing collaboration between the Fort Pierce Yacht Club Foundation and St. Lucie Public Schools. Aligned with the Classrooms2Careers initiative, the expo introduced both 8th graders and high school students to a wide variety of careers connected to the marine and maritime fields. Throughout the day, students met with local businesses, industry experts, and post‑secondary partners. Exhibitors provided hands‑on activities, interactive demonstrations, and informative sessions … Read More

Florida Prepaid’s Annual Open Enrollment is Now Live

March 2, 2026 By LAUREN PECZKO

Open Enrollment is Here — Start Saving Smarter Saving for college just got easier! Florida Prepaid’s annual Open Enrollment is now live, and new tools make planning simple and affordable. Here’s what’s new: A redesigned website to help you build a personalized plan in minutes Enroll now at https://bit.ly/4riHEdN.

Innovation on Display at Regional STEM Fair

February 16, 2026 By Julie Moore

The St. Lucie County Annual Regional STEM Fair took place at Indian River State College in February, bringing together innovation, curiosity, and collaboration from across the district. More than 20 schools participated, sending their best and brightest STEM projects and highlighting the remarkable talent, creativity, and dedication of St. Lucie County students. A total of 98 students submitted 84 impressive projects, representing a wide range of scientific inquiry, engineering design, and real‑world problem‑solving skills. Students confidently presented their work while engaging in thoughtful conversations about their research, design processes, and conclusions. The event was made possible by the support of … Read More

Education’s Shining Stars Announced

February 9, 2026 By LAUREN PECZKO

Broadcast on Saturday, February 7th, St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) and the Education Foundation of St. Lucie County announced this year’s line-up of educational superstars. Jasmine Shepherd from Port St. Lucie High School took top honors as St. Lucie Public School’s Teacher of the Year. Joining her in the winner’s category were School-Related Employee of the Year, Larryton McNealy from St. Lucie Elementary; Distinguished Minority Educator of the Year, Devan Hagans from Port St. Lucie High School; and Outstanding First Year Teacher Brianne Yates from Allapattah Flatts K-8, along with School Resource Officer of the Year Jorge Goz from Chester … Read More

SLPS Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

January 20, 2026 By LAUREN PECZKO

SLPS is so proud of our schools for showing up in full spirit at yesterday’s MLK Parade! Thank you for honoring Dr. King’s legacy with pride and purpose. Here are just a few of the incredible floats and participants who lit up the route.

Welcome to Westwood

January 20, 2026 By LAUREN PECZKO

On Monday, January 6, Westwood Academy proudly welcomed students to their new campus. Our OTL team worked together to support both teachers and students throughout the transition. Thank you to everyone who came out to help make this milestone a success. The beautiful new campus is officially open and ready for a great rest of the school year.

High 5 Your Mentor

January 20, 2026 By LAUREN PECZKO

Recently, the Talent Development Prize Patrol hit the road with one mission in mind: to honor the mentors who make a lasting impact on their mentees. As The Prize Patrol visited schools, mentees had the chance to read their winning entries aloud to their mentors. These heartfelt words captured the gratitude and admiration they feel every day. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Tears flowed as stories of growth, resilience, and inspiration filled the air. This event was more than a recognition; it was a reminder of the power of mentorship. Talent Development deeply values and honors the … Read More

Classrooms2Careers: FCHC Volunteer/Intern Experience

January 12, 2026 By LEINITIA ROBINSON

Celebrating St. Lucie Public Schools’ First Official Florida Community Health Centers Student Volunteer/Intern! Indya Burchell, a senior at Treasure Coast High School, has become the first official student volunteer/intern with Florida Community Health Centers (FCHC)! Indya discovered this exciting opportunity through her father, who works at Fort Pierce Westwood Academy and shared a flyer distributed to the school from the District’s Career Coaches. She reached out on December 1, 2025, interviewed the very next day, and officially began her volunteer orientation on January 5, 2026. As part of the onboarding process, Indya submitted her resume, completed the FCHC application packet, … Read More

Classrooms2Careers – Career Chat: Medical Examiner

December 15, 2025 By LEINITIA ROBINSON

St. Lucie West Centennial High School senior Hannah Lewis is pursuing her dream of becoming a Forensic Pathologist or Medical Examiner. With guidance from her Career Coaches, Hannah had the unique opportunity to meet with Dr. Raman Baldzizhar, Medical Examiner for Circuit Court 19 and a medical student assigned to their office. During this personalized session, Hannah asked insightful questions and received expert advice on the career pathway to becoming a Medical Examiner, including recommended education steps and certifications. She also learned about diverse careers in forensic science and medical fields, gaining valuable knowledge to help shape her future goals. … Read More

SLPS Celebrates the Holidays

December 8, 2025 By LAUREN PECZKO

This past weekend, our Superintendent, Dr. Jon R. Prince, joined by School Board members, proudly represented our district at two festive community events—the Fort Pierce Sights and Sounds Parade and the Port St. Lucie Parade of Lights! We’re grateful for the opportunity to celebrate the season and connect with our amazing community. #CommunityStrong #HolidaySpirit #wearestluciepublicschools

Classrooms2Careers: Mock Trial, Student Experience

November 24, 2025 By LEINITIA ROBINSON

As part of the Classrooms2Careers initiative, students from St. Lucie Public Schools participated in the Mock Trial – Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions program at the St. Lucie County Courthouse. This hands-on experience gave students a unique opportunity to explore careers in law and the judicial system. Students attended with their teachers from Criminal Justice, Law Academy, and related elective courses, representing four high schools: Fort Pierce Central High School – Mr. Wilder Fort Pierce Westwood Academy – Ms. Brown St. Lucie West Centennial High School – Mrs. Baumgarten and Mr. Nichols Treasure Coast High School – Mrs. Cintron-McCray, Ms. … Read More

St. Lucie Public Schools Goes to UNF, FGCU, and FAU in October

November 3, 2025 By KAYLEIGH NEMO

The Office of Teaching and Learning is devoted to exposing SLPS students to college and university campuses. We took a group of seniors to the University of North Florida on October 7th, another group of seniors to Florida Gulf Coast University on October 13th, and our last group of seniors to Florida Atlantic University on October 29th. The students were able to listen to the Admissions Department from each university and discuss admission steps/requirements, as well as unique facts for each institution. The students were then led on a comprehensive tour of each university’s campus. To wrap things up, all … Read More

SLPS to Host Magnet Schools Expo

October 27, 2025 By LAUREN PECZKO

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 LAST NAME BEGINS A-L | 5:30PM-6:15PM LAST NAME BEGINS M-Z | 6:15PM-7:00PM LOCATION: SLPS DISTRICT OFFICE 9461 Brandywine Lane, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986 Join St. Lucie Public Schools for the Magnet Schools Expo! Learn more about the SLPS magnet schools and their programs. Magnet schools include: Fairlawn Elementary, Frances K. Sweet Elementary, Creative Arts Academy of St. Lucie, Fort Pierce Westwood Academy, Lincoln Park Academy, and Samuel S. Gaines Academy. SLPS is currently accepting applications in grades K-12 for the 2026-27 school year. The deadline to apply is November 30.