Category: District News

Superintendent E. Wayne Gent serves as the leader of St. Lucie Public Schools. Prior to assuming this leadership role, he was Palm Beach County’s Superintendent for four years. Mr. Gent is a dedicated educator who has served in a variety of roles including: teacher, coach, principal, State’s Principal in Residence, Area Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Learning Support, and Chief Officer of Administration. In 2014, under Superintendent Gent, the School District of Palm Beach County out-performed Florida and all other large urban school districts with a graduation rate of 84%. Palm Beach was the only large urban district to … Read More

…for your dedicated service to the students, staff, and community of St. Lucie County.

On May 29, 2015, the Transportation Department bid farewell to Terry Smith, an employee with the district for 32 years, and Phil Vitale, both transportation employees. There will be big shoes to fill, as they both had a wealth of knowledge about our district. They will be greatly missed.

Our June STAR (Special Thanks And Recognition) recipients, Robert Hill and Marrissa Parker, were recognized at the board meeting on June 9, 2015. Robert Hill, Port St. Lucie High School gatekeeper, is an amazing person and colleague. Every day he is out at the front of our school greeting everyone who visits our campus. He waves to every single bus, parent, student, staff member and visitor; they all love him. He is the first face of our school and sets the tone for our warm and welcoming environment. He knows a little something about almost everyone, from what kind of dog a person has to when students … Read More

Mr. Terrance Barriner, teacher at Forest Grove Middle School, read the Juneteenth Resolution to the School Board on June 9, 2015. The 19th of June is the freedom forerunner to the 13th Amendment, which implemented freedom for all slaves in the United States, Juneteenth Independence Day completes the cycle of Independence Day Celebrations in America. The Juneteenth celebration commemorates the emancipation of Southern Blacks on June 19, 1865, two and half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The memory of all those who moved from slavery to freedom remains as a lesson for all Americans regardless of their background, race, … Read More

Allapattah Flats K-8 School was recognized at the school board meeting for receiving a 1st place Green Garden Award from the US Green Building Council South Florida Chapter Treasure Coast Branch at its fourth annual Generation Green Apple Awards on May 16, 2015. The Allapattah Flats garden program was the inspiration and has been the perspiration of teacher Rebecca Benton who has coordinated the development of multiple gardens on the school campus. Pictured are, Genelle Yost, Lydia Martin, Patricia Galloway, Rebecca Benton, Ana Rodriguez, and Dr. Donna Mills.

WeatherSTEM was recognized at the board meeting on June 9th for their donation of the Weather Compass to Southport Middle School.  WeatherSTEM is a fun and educational program that benefits the entire community. WeatherSTEM CEO, Ed Mansouri, is donating a program called Weather Compass that combines a number of products and services to create a well-rounded weather experience. The components are: a full service weather station including agricultural sensors; cloud camera; custom web portal that displays weather data and images along with a host of useful engaging weather-related educational resources; and customized Facebook and Twitter pages updated by the weather … Read More

The school board recognized the state science fair participants and winners at the board meeting on May 26, 2015. STE@M related studies are alive and well in St. Lucie. Our students move from being creative to innovative as they explore their hypotheses and put them to the test.  The various fairs unite young scientific minds, showcasing their talents on a stage where community leaders and doctoral level scientists review and judge their work.  After this year’s local science fair, 14 students moved on to the state science fair competition, and from there, three of our young innovators were invited to … Read More

The School Board recognized the participants and winners of the State History Fair at the school board meeting on May 26, 2015. The Florida History Fair (FHF) is an annual, statewide activity that enhances the teaching and learning of history at elementary and secondary levels. This year’s theme was Leadership and Legacy in History.  Because the theme was broad, topics about all time periods and geographic regions were possible. The History Fair provided an opportunity for students to showcase their skills in the form of exhibits, historical papers, and websites as they authentically met numerous social studies and English language … Read More

We the People: Project Citizen, another notable curricular program for SLPS 7th graders.  The project, designed and published by the Center for Civic Education (CCE),  promotes competent and responsible participation in local and state government. The program helps participants learn how to monitor and influence public policy. In the process, they develop support for democratic values and principles, tolerance, and feelings of political efficacy. Entire classes of students work cooperatively to identify a public policy problem in their community. They then research the problem, evaluate alternative solutions, develop their own solution in the form of a public policy, and create … Read More

The Board recognized West Gate K-8 Principal Robert Cranmer for efforts involving Autism Awareness Month (April) and his continued support. Pictured are, Genelle Yost, Robert Cranmer, Valentia Whyte, Lisa Landis, Esther Guzman, Donna Mills, and Bill Tomlinson.

On May 12th the School Board recognized Walmart Distribution Center for its partnership with St. Lucie Public Schools and the creation of the West Gate K-8 Reading and Inclusion Garden. Pictured are, Donna Mills, Edward Madrid, Genelle Yost, Joe Wallace, and Bill Tomlinson.

Mrs. Barbara Bennett and Mrs. Belkis Madera were recognized as May’s STAR (Special Thanks And Recognition) Award recipients at the school board meeting on May 12, 2015. Mrs. Barbara Bennett, 3rd grade teacher at Frances K. Sweet Elementary, was nominated by a parent of one of her students. The parent stated how happy and pleased she was with her daughter’s academic achievements and the great improvements Camila has made in reading and comprehension. Camila was super happy to get the “Star Reader Shirt” and said that she try for the next shirt. Thank you Mrs. Bennett, for giving your students … Read More

At the school board meeting on May 12th, Karen Knapp, Monte Kosoff, Horace Webb and Roxanne Wells from United Way of St. Lucie, presented plaques to the schools with the highest student and employee campaign fund raisers for 2014-2015. The winners in the Highest Student Campaign were West Gate K-8 ($1,028); SLW Centennial High ($979); Frances K. Sweet Elementary ($503); and Southern Oaks Middle ($335). The winners in the Largest Employee Giving were SLW Centennial High ($1,735); West Gate K-8 ($1,616); Morningside Elementary ($1,455); and Southport Middle ($816). The Largest Campaign Overall, Student and Employee Combined, went to West Gate … Read More

Students who participated in the Louder Than A Bomb (LTAB) Poetry Spoken Word Competition at Nova Southeastern University were recognized at the school board meeting on April 28, 2015. LTAB was founded on a student-centered, educational philosophy geared toward young people ages 13-19. The “trick of the poetry slam is to use the guise of competition to attract interest in the telling of stories through the written word.” The most critical component of LTAB is the year-around, meaningful instruction inside the classroom with teachers who create and facilitate a safe space for individual and collective self-expression. LTAB bridges gaps between … Read More

Stephanie Isaacs, 7th Grade Civics Teacher at St. Lucie West K-8 School, and Anne Powell, 7th Grade Civics Teacher at Forest Grove Middle School, were two of 25 teachers selected from throughout Florida to attend the Supreme Court of Florida’s Justice Teaching Institute March 22-26 to learn about the state courts using a case study method. Teacher participants explored the courts and the Constitution in a four-and-a-half-day program with all seven justices serving as faculty. The Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc., coordinated the program and provided instructional assistance. This year’s emphasis was on examining the structure and function of … Read More

A presentation was given by Mr. Bill Tomlinson, Executive Director for Student Services & ESE, at the school board meeting on April 28th recognizing April as Autism Awareness Month. He thanked Mr. Robert Cranmer and his staff for organizing the walk for Autism Speaks with such a great success. Karen Kozak, from the Fire District, spoke of their work with the children to interact with the firefighters and the fire truck. They also taught children about calling 911 and fire prevention, and look forward to their continued support and partnership with St. Lucie Public Schools. In the featured picture are, … Read More

Mr. Matt Boyd, Treasure Coast Golf Course Superintendents Association President, was recognized at the April 14th school board meeting for donating 10 tablets valued at $3000. The tablets have been used to support student differentiated learning needs. Ms. Laure Goss, speech-language pathologist, described what the learning tool has meant for student acquisition of knowledge. Mrs. Laura Kilburn, parent of Logan Kilburn a student from St. Lucie West Centennial High School who received one of the tablet, expressed her thanks and stated how this has benefited her child. Pictured are, Laure Goss, Dr. Donna Mills, Matt Boyd, Laura Kilburn, and Genelle Yost.