Category: District News

Two students from Treasure Coast High School graphic arts programs, Kiersten Pauline and Victoria Willis, were recognized at the May 22, 2012, St. Lucie County School Board meeting for their winning logo design selected for the school district’s Employee Wellness Program. Pictured, from left, are teacher Joseph Randazzo, Kiersten Pauline, assistant principal Nikki Kalvaitis, Victoria Willis, School Board chairman Carol Hilson, wellness program manager Carlye Fabrikant, and Superintendent Michael Lannon.

The St. Lucie County Education Foundation Teachers of Excellence Utilizing Technology committee selected three educators to receive a Dell Computer for their grant application. The teachers were selected based on their unique utilization of technology in the classroom to engage students and improve student achievement, and were presented their laptops at the May 22, 2012, St. Lucie County School Board meeting. Pictured with their new Dell laptops, from left, are 2013 Teacher of the Year JoAnne Trubisky from Windmill Point Elementary, who also received the laptop as part of her awards from the Education Foundation, Diane Buchholz from Port St. … Read More

The Florida History Fair awarded Port St. Lucie High School history fair school coordinator and 10th-grade world history teacher Valerie Arendas with the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award, Senior Division, for her many years of dedication to National History Day activities at her school. The Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award recognizes outstanding National History Day educators. Each state selects a junior and senior-division recipient, who receive a $500 cash prize. The names of these individuals are advanced for competition at the national level. Junior- and senior-division winners of the national Behring Award each receive $10,000. Pictured, … Read More

Ten St. Lucie County Schools eighth grade students were recently awarded valuable incentives for future success with President’s Challenge/Take Stock in Children scholarship awards held recently at Indian River State College.  Through an application process, all the selected scholarship recipients sign a contract agreeing to maintain good grades, to stay out of trouble, to stay away from drugs and alcohol and to graduate from high school. Those who meet the challenge will receive a scholarship towards tuition only to attend IRSC for two years, followed by two years at IRSC or another Florida public college or university. Pictured, front row, from left,  German Torres … Read More

Neha Reddy, a sophomore at Lincoln Park Academy, was one of 1,549 high school students from 68 countries, regions, and territories to display their independent research and compete for over $3 million in awards at the recent  International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) held in Pittsburgh, PA.  Her project was titled  ” Influence of Genetic Variation of Brazilian  Peppertree  Schinus terebinthifolius on the Survival of a Biological Control Agent Pseudophilothrips ichinianden. The Intel ISEF is the premier global science competition for students in grades 9–12. Congratulations to Neha for representing Lincoln Park Academy and St. Lucie Public Schools in this prestigious competition.

The United Way of St. Lucie County presented awards for the 2012 campaign at the May 8, 2012, meeting of the St. Lucie County School Board for the campaign that netted over $55,700. The awards included: Highest Student Campaign, Elementary, Lakewood Park; K-8, Palm Pointe Educational Research School at Tradition; and High School, Tresure Coast High School. In the largest Employee Giving site, for Elementary, Morningside Elementary; Middle School, Southport Middle School; for K8 School, Northport K8 School; and for High School, Treasure Coast High School. In the Largest Campaign Overall, for Elementary, Lakewood Park Elementary; Middle School, Southport Middle School; … Read More

The community is invited to enjoy a showcase of hundreds of science projects created by some of our district’s youngest budding scientists in kindergarten through fifth grade at the 2012 St. Lucie Public Schools Science Showcase on Saturday, May 19 from 10 AM to 3 PM at Southern Oaks Middle School, located at 5500 N. E. St. James Drive, Port St. Lucie. The event is central to the school district’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) initiative and an opportunity for the community to appreciate the STEM resources available in St. Lucie Public Schools. This free community event will also … Read More

The third annual Family Reading Festival, sponsored by the St. Lucie County Reading Council, drew approximately 3,000 visitors on Saturday, April 21, at Digital Domain Park. “We are so happy that so many people came to the event to celebrate literacy, and that we could put books in the hands of families to take home to enjoy,” remarked Vince Scotto, fifth grade teacher at Manatee Academy and incoming council president. There were puppet shows, an author’s alley with authors signing their books, Mother Goose reading to children, and a book exchange, as well as the VIP area where children could read to … Read More

Winners of the sixth annual Samuel S. Gaines African American History essay contest were recognized at the April 10 St. Lucie County School Board meeting. Pictured, left to right, are: Assistant Superintendent Dr. Christine Taylor; Emily Perez, St. Lucie West Centennial High School, first place high school division; Julia Genkinger, first place middle school division; Chelsea Licea, St. Lucie West Centennial High School, second place high school division; Terra Ford, Manatee Academy K8, second place middle school division; Nicole Acevedo, Manatee Academy K8, third place middle school division; Hope Johnson, Samuel S. Gaines Academy K8, first place elementary division; Christopher Piedra, … Read More

Fort Pierce Central High School dean Bonita Monica Williams, Forest Grove Middle School teacher Christine Santos-Nurse, and Fort Pierce Central High School student and future pediatritian Sabrina Valencia LaFrance were honored by the International Haitian Inter-Cultural Association, Inc . (IHICA) service organization at a recent celebratory event. The honorees were selected for their academic careers, altruism, philanthropy, and service to others. Pictured, from left, are IHICA board members Tybule and Saphir St. Louis, Bonita Williams, and IHICA volunteer Robert McCorrison.

What do exotic animals, a bicycle rodeo, and costumed characters have in common? They’re just a few of the dozens of free activities parents and children can enjoy together at the sixth annual Family Fun Fair presented by The Early Learning Coalition of St. Lucie County in partnership with the Parent Academy of St. Lucie County. Pictured from last year’s event is face painter Hilary Newton with Anthony Ferraro. The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 21,  at John B. Park, formerly known as Lawnwood Sports Complex, 1302 Virginia Avenue in Ft. Pierce. It is a local celebration of the … Read More

Three new teachers achieving National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) status were recognized at the March 13, 2012, St. Lucie Public Schools board meeting. Pictured, from left, front row, are Hall Riediger, father to Jean Emerson, Alan Emerson holding daughter Grace with NBCT Jean Emerson, NBCT Theresa Brandifino, Joseph Brandifino, and Jill Prisco, president of the National Board Certified Teachers of St. Lucie County. Back row, from left, Garden City Early Learning Academy principal Teri Barenborg, Superintendent Michael Lannon, school board members Kathryn Hensley, Debbie Hawley and Dr. Donna Mills, school board chairman Carol Hilson, and school board member Troy Ingersoll.

Lincoln Park Academy senior Todd Condon is one of only six students statewide selected for the prestigious honor to speak at the opening ceremony of the 57th State Science and Engineering Fair in April in Lakeland, Florida.  Todd will speak in front of 850 science fair participants, their parents and coordinators.  Todd was selected because of his ability to communicate his science research in a manner that suits scientists and lay persons alike.  Todd has participated in Science Fair every year since sixth grade, he has been to state competition four times and international competition twice.  He has been a role model to numerous … Read More

Superintendent Michael Lannon recognized the work of Instructional Technology and Communications departments in earning a Sunny Award, a national distinction for government agencies who strive to provide easy access and transparency of information through their web sites for stakeholders. This is the second year in a row St. Lucie Schools has earned the distinction, one of only 13 school districts in the state so recognized. Pictured, from left, are Directof of Communications Janice Karst, School Board Chairman Carol Hilson, Superintendent Michael Lannon and Assistant Superintendent for IT Terence O’Leary. Not present but included in the honor is district webmaster Samantha … Read More

St. Lucie Public Schools is featured in the March, 2012, edition of the national education publication District Administration as an example of effective educational reform. St. Lucie is recognized for its adoption of the framework of educational researcher Robert Marzano in establishing a teacher evaluation system that provides more specific guidance on successful elements of instruction, as well as the professional development for teachers and administrators in the observation process. A photo of Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Susan Ranew, and Lawnwood Elementary School principal D’Jion Jackson, performing a classroom observation was included in the article.

The St Lucie County Schools Facilities and Maintenance Department has identified seven scholarship winners from 2011 Summer Youth Internship Program.  They include John McDonald, Ft. Pierce Westwood, $2,000; Sandra Luxama, Ft. Pierce Central, $1,500; Tedra Turner, Port St. Lucie High, $1,000; Austin Fountain, Ft. Pierce Central, $500; La’Metria Bivens, Ft. Pierce Central, $500; Iman Hall, Ft. Pierce Central, $500; and Rafael Chavez, Ft. Pierce Central, $500.  For the past four years the Facilities Department has raised all funds needed to support the Summer Internship Program, primarily through their biggest fundraiser, their Annual Golf Tournament. Through the dollars that are raised, not only are student … Read More

Exceptional education teacher Mary Joann Trubisky from Windmill Point Elementary School was announced as the 2013 Teacher of the Year, and Weatherbee Elementary School behavior technician Francesca Petrocelli was named 2012 School Related Employee of the Year for St. Lucie County Public Schools at the annual Night of the Stars celebration held February 25, 2012, at Lincoln Park Academy, co-sponsored by the school district and the St. Lucie County Education Foundation. Both winners will continue on to regional competition. Also honored were Outstanding First Year Teacher Kelli Siters of Port St. Lucie High School and Distinguished Minority Educator Harry Belafonte Williams … Read More

Southport Middle School received funds for the first wave of books to update the Media Center with new and high interest information for students.  Corrine Earley and her husband Jim of Earley Learning Systems Inc. spent some time at Southport helping to shelve about 20 boxes full of new books. Pictured, from left, are Anita Mattia, Daniel Otero, Corrine Earley, Angela Mas and Jim Earley.

Calvary Compassion Church members, a group of caring Treasure Hunters, will be recognized by the Board for a variety of contributions. They organized three huge events for Garden City Elementary, C.A. Moore Elementary and the families of Big Brothers/Big Sisters. They successfully put on a wonderful Fall Festival for families that was held on October 22, on Garden City’s campus. They also coordinated a Thanksgiving dinner give-away for these same families as well as Christmas gifts and needed items. This group of caring people organized everything as well as coordinated the various agencies and volunteers.  

The district winners in three categories — Youth, Adult, and Senior — volunteers for the year were honored at the February 14, 2012 St. Lucie County School Board meeting. The Youth Volunteer of the Year is Taylor Currie serving at Floresta Elementary School; the Adult Volunteer of the Year, Priscilla Vitagliano serves at Garden City Early Learning Academy; and the Senior Volunteer of the Year, William Arnold who serves at Northport K8 School, is pictured with, from left, Deputy Superintendent Sandy Wolfe, School Board chairman Carol Hilson, Arnold, Northport volunteer coordinator Lynne Gruszka, and principal Glenn Rustay.