Category: District News

The St. Lucie County School Board recognized the week of November 11 – 15, 2013, as National School Psychology Week at their meeting November 12. The proclamation noted that school psychologists are trained to assess student and school-based barriers to learning, as well as individual strengths, utilize data-based decision-making, implement research-drive prevention and intervention strategies, evaluate outcomes and improve accountability. The school board and superintendent acknowledged that the community should recognize the vital role school psychologists play in the personal and academic development of children. Pictured, from left, are School Board chairman Debbie Hawley, school psychologists Ruth Anne Loepp and … Read More

Keiser University recently donated 10 Apple G4 computer systems, complete with a 19″ monitor, tower, keyboard, and mouse to be utilized in the television production Career and Technical Education program at St. Lucie West Centennial High School. Students will be able to use the technology in their career curriculum, as well as to produce live and videotaped programming for the school. Pictured, from left, are Keiser University Senior Community Relations Coordinator Linda Fitzpatrick, Centennial High School assistant principal Tom Kalament, with Keiser University’s Dean of Academic Affairs Jane Quattrocchi driving the cart loaded with some of the equipment ready to … Read More

The St. Lucie County Education Foundation awarded grants exceeding $83,000 at the November 12, 2013, meeting of the St. Lucie County School Board. The grants were for classroom, school-wide, and district-wide projects and were distributed to 11 schools and the district curriculum and instruction department. Pictured are, from far right, Education Foundation executive director Jim McKenzie and president Brian Garcia, Superintendent Genelle Yost, School Board chairman Debbie Hawley, and representatives of the schools and department personnel receiving the grant funds.

Richard Gray of Lincoln Park Academy and Kathleen Ems of St. Lucie West K-8 School were recognized as St. Lucie Public Schools’ Social Studies teachers of the year for 2013 at an awards dinner during the Florida Council for the Social Studies 56th annual conference October 26 and 27 in Daytona Beach. St. Lucie’s honorees, as well as recipients from other Florida school districts, are selected from principal nominations at the elementary, middle, and high school level for their outstanding professionalism, instructional practices, and ability to build student-teacher relationships. Ms. Ems was recognized for high expectations for all students and implementation … Read More

The St. Lucie County School Board approved a resolution recognizing October as Hispanic Heritage Month at their October 22, 2013, school board meeting. The month is set aside in Florida to recognize the proud history and rich culture of Hispanic Americans. This year, 2013, marks the 500th anniversary since Juan Ponce De Leon’s arrival in Florida’s East Coast, a significant milestone unlike any other state in the United States. The resolution encourages all St. Lucie school district students and employees to participate in activities that recognize the Hispanic community’s significant influence in St. Lucie County’s past, present and future. Pictured, … Read More

Frances K. Sweet Elementary School principal Juanita Wright and Treasure Coast High School assistant principal Henry Sanabria were recognized and congratulated at the October 22, 2013, St. Lucie County School Board meeting. The administrators have been selected as the 2013 Outstanding Principal and Outstanding Assistant Principal, respectively, for St. Lucie County Public Schools as part of a Florida Department of Education recognition program. Both of these administrators are applauded for their exemplary contributions to our students, school and our community. Pictured, from left, are Superintendent Genelle Yost, Principal Wright, St. Lucie School Board chairman Debbie Hawley, Assistant Principal Sanabria, and … Read More

The local schools with teams earning the most for the recent Bowl for Kids Sake event to benefit Big Brothers, Big Sisters were honored at the October 8, 2013, St. Lucie Coounty School Board meeting. Pictured, from left, are Superintendent Genelle Yost, Christy Nuccio and Barbara Bennett of F. K. Sweet Elementary, second place winners; School Board chairman Debbie Hawley; Rivers Edge Elementary principal Cindy Cobb, third place winners; Weatherbee Elementary principal Michael Hitsman, fourth place winners; WestGate K8 principal Robert Cramner, fifth place winners; Rachel Heddings, Chief Operating Officer from Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell, … Read More

St. Lucie West K-8 eighth grade students have found a unique way to learn about the Pythagorean theorem, by putting their problems down on the sidewalks around school! Not only did the students in Carol Matulonis’ class learn about the mathematical theorem, but students viewing their artwork were able to see how it works. Pictured, from left, are Marie Saint-Fleury, Eli Renteria, Alexis Henke, Kayla Manso, Guerna Lormejuste, Ashley Masabanda, and Brianna O’Day.

Karol Carvelli, Volunteer Coordinator at Palm Pointe Educational Research School at Tradition, recently met with all the volunteers for this school year to orient them on the new on-line application system.  They also reviewed the volunteer expectations at the school while enjoying morning coffee and sweet rolls.

Communications giant AT&T and over 200 other companies are urging drivers to pledge not to text while driving. September 19, 2013 was designated as a national “Drive 4 Pledges Day”. Drivers across the country were asked to sign pledges to refrain from texting while driving. The St. Lucie County School Board adopted the “Drive 4 Pledges Day” proclamation at its September 10, 2013 meeting. Pictured, from left, are Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell, School Board Chair Debbie Hawley, Deputy Sheriff Shirley Lindstadt, AT&T Regional Director Cathy McKenzie, AT&T Strategic Account Manager Nancy Vinez. Standing behind the group is Superintendent Genelle … Read More

On Tuesday, September 17 four Culinary Institute of America (CIA) chefs presented CIA at St Lucie West Centennial High.  Over 92 high school students from St Lucie West Centennial (SLWC), Fort Pierce Central, and Martin County High participated in four workshops: Chef Donald Sedivy-CIA Graduate and local Chef working in prestigious Private Clubs demonstrated a Garde Manger appetizer (chopped fresh veggies showcasing Florida tomatoes, mangos, avocados, and lump crab meat); Chef Harrison Kantor-2013 CIA graduate prepared an ethic dish of Falafel with Tahini Sauce; Chef Arnym Solomon-CIA Trustee Emeriti prepared Caribbean Style Stews; and Chef Jacqui Pressinger- CIA Assistant Director … Read More

Three St. Lucie principals were selected to participate in the Florida Department of Education’s Commissioner’s Leadership Academy conducted by the Council for Educational Change.  The Academy is made up of 25 of the highest performing principals in the state of Florida.   The intent is to build upon the skills of proven leaders so that they can serve as role models and coaches for others. Participants will return to their districts able to expand their area of influence and improve others’ ability to increase student achievement.  Southport Middle School Principal Lydia Martin and Palm Pointe Educational Research School Principal Debbie Snyder … Read More

The School Board recognized various school sites for their award winning VPK programs. The schools that were awarded the VPK Gold Seal Award are Bayshore Elementary, C.A. Moore Elementary, Ft. Pierce Magnet School of the Arts, Lakewood Park Elementary, Lawnwood Elementary, Northport K-8, Mariposa Elementary, Parkway Elementary, Samuel Gaines Academy, Savanna Ridge Elementary, St. Lucie Elementary, Weatherbee Elementary, and White City Elementary.

St. Lucie County middle school students from Southern Oaks and their teachers were recognized for achieving first place in the national competition of the Zero Robotics Challenge held on the International Space Station on Tuesday, August 13, 2013. The students recognized were Jaeger Johnson, April Vasquez, Maria Blaszkiewicz, Grisel Cabrera, Hansly Ledger, Michael Lefrancois, and Brooklynne Pimpo. The teachers who facilitated the teams are Kevin McInerney and Brian Jones. Also pictured are School Board Chair Debbie Hawley, Superintendent Genelle Yost, and Assistant Superintendent Kerry Padrick and Principal Lisa Sullivan. Congratulations!

Marcella Bianco, Wellness Program Manager FL Department of Health, along with two SWAT youth members, Vance Taylor and Victoria Binner gave a presentation to the School Board on September 10, 2013. SWAT members, SWAT advisors and partnership members were recognized for their accomplishments with the new Tobacco Free Environment Policy #2.90 that was recently passed on July 23, 2013.

St. Lucie County students rank number one in the nation for the Middle School Zero Robotics Challenge held on the International Space Station on Tuesday, August 13th. Two teams of students participated in the 5-week summer program held at Southern Oaks Middle School. Kevin McInerney and Brian Jones facilitated the teams to learn about and write programs that could control satellites in space.  The participants competed with 26 other teams across the nation to win a technically challenging game by programming their strategies into a SPHERE satellite.  A series of elimination tournaments were conducted with astronauts on the International Space Station and the event was … Read More

Two additional candidates for Superintendent of Schools will visit St. Lucie County on August 29, search consultant Jim Huge informed the St. Lucie County School Board. Ronald Scott Fritz, currently chief Academic Officer for the Orange County, Florida, School District, and Constance Ann Jones, currently Executive Director of School Development for the Lee County, Florida, School District, have joined the list of potential successors to Michael Lannon, who retired June 30, 2013, after a decade of service leading St. Lucie Public Schools and a 45-year career in public education. Former Deputy Superintendent Genelle Yost is the Interim Superintendent until a … Read More

Kudos to the St. Lucie Public Schools Human Resources Department, which has experienced another busy summer season providing excellent customer service for over 500 new hires including full-time, substitute, and summer school positions. Processing includes reviewing applications, scheduling drug screens, and completing finger printing for background screening as well as data entry of each newly hired employee into the Skyward system. Pictured is finger print specialist Lynn Louderback, right, assisting a new employee in the process.

The St. Lucie Public Schools Student Assignment department has experienced another busy summer, providing customer service to thousands of parents and students in the registration process for the new school year. Pictured is Cynthia Howard assisting a parent registering her child. Ms. Howard is a bus driver during the school year but helps during this very busy time for the department.