Category: Press Releases

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL – St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) is proud to share the Florida Department of Education’s (FDOE) announcement that Dan McCarty Middle School Assistant Principal Samantha Piscopo was named as one of the State’s five finalists for the 2019 District Assistant Principal of the Year!   “To be recognized as a State finalist is a great honor,” said Superintendent E. Wayne Gent. “Ms. Piscopo is an outstanding instructional leader who helps set the pace for student achievement and promotes a learning environment focused on excellence.”   Piscopo is an educational veteran who exhibits a spirit of relentlessness … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY – Fort Pierce Westwood High School has earned the first College Board AP®Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science Principles. Schools honored with the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award have expanded girls’ access in AP Computer Science courses. Out of more than 18,000 secondary schools worldwide that offer AP courses, Westwood is one of only 685 to accomplish this. “We’re honored by this recognition and are proud of our female students studying computer science for their achievements,” said Principal Joseph Lezeau. “We’re committed to continuing to provide our female students … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY – On Saturday March 2, 2019, four Fort Pierce Central High School students, Sarahi Fraga, McClintock Hoeffner, Luz Martinez, and Hope Thomas, won third place in the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association’s 19th Annual Management Competition, sponsored by the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality & Tourism. In this statewide competition, participating teams demonstrate their knowledge of the restaurant and foodservice industry by developing a new restaurant concept and presenting it to a panel of judges at a simulated business exposition.  The teams also submitted a written proposal for review, and presented their concepts of … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — The 31st Annual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Fair was host to over 240 middle and high school student projects. In the wide array of quality projects submitted, judges identified the top projects in each category based on rigorous rubrics accessing content and process.   PLACE AWARDS   Animal Science ANIM Junior Division 1st Place – Emma Farr LPA 2nd Place – Farzeen Chagani LPA 3rd Place – Makinsie Hanson MAN   Senior Division 1st Place – Malaica Ashley LPA 2nd Place – Dakota Robinson TCHS 3rd Place – Alicia Torres TCHS   Behavioral & Social … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY – Fort Pierce Central High School’s Wrestling Team won its first Regional Wrestling Title since 1995. The 3A Region 3 Champs qualified 11 athletes for the state tournament. That is the most qualifiers in school’s 49-year history, and it ties for the most in St. Lucie County History.  Coach Seidel said, “It’s well deserved for the athletes that put their blood, sweat, and tears into it.  I am so proud of what they have accomplished so far.”  The Cobras will travel to the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, FL on Friday and Saturday for the state tournament. … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL – St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) announced that 25 schools of distinction are recognized as Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) Model Schools – an increase of three from last years’ pool of honorees.  The University of South Florida (USF), manager of the PBIS Project for the State of Florida, provided Executive Director of Exceptional Student Education Bill Tomlinson with notification of this elite cadre of schools.  He said, “This positive trend is a reflection of the focused efforts the District is making in schools to support the needs of all children both academically and behaviorally … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Food, Nutrition, and Wellness has awarded select schools as recipients of the HealthierUS School Challenge. The HealthierUS Schools Challenge is a voluntary certification initiative created to promote healthier school environments through the encouragement of nutrition and physical activity. Silver Awards CA Moore Elementary Lakewood Park Elementary Lawnwood Elementary Mariposa Elementary Parkway Elementary Savanna Ridge Elementary St. Lucie Elementary Weatherbee Elementary White City Elementary Windmill Point Elementary Bronze Awards Bayshore Elementary FK Sweet Elementary Fairlawn Elementary Floresta Elementary Morningside Elementary Rivers Edge Elementary Village Green Elementary Schools … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY – St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) continues to bring opportunities to students for college and career success. On January 24, the school district hosted 18 historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) and Hispanic serving institutions (HSI) at the 3rd Annual HBCU/HSI College Fair. Students entered the fair prepared with resumes, test scores, and a mindset of moving on to the next level.  With over $5 million in scholarships offered that day, students were not disappointed. SLPS Superintendent E. Wayne Gent said, “Events such as this have the potential to change lives for our students, and we are … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL — In a live broadcast from Lincoln Park Academy on Saturday, February 9, 2019, St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) and the Education Foundation of St. Lucie County announced this year’s line-up of educational superstars. Makeda-Ione Brome took top honors as St. Lucie County’s Teacher of the Year. She is an instructional mathematics coach at Fort Pierce Westwood High School.  Joining her on the stage during the Night of the Stars gala were School Related Employee of the Year Dorothy Hall from Chester A. Moore Elementary School, Distinguished Minority Educator of the Year Sabrina Faniel from West … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL – Andrew Gekoskie, Instrumental Music Teacher at Creative Arts Academy of St. Lucie (CAST) was recently selected as a Conn-Selmer VIP by the Conn-Selmer Education Division as one of the leading music educators in the country.  The six music educators selected from throughout the country collaborated regarding methods and current music education practices.  In addition, the VIP’s were able to tour the factories of Conn-Selmer which make brass, percussion, and woodwind instruments, all still handmade to this day.  The artisans making the instruments shared their techniques and displayed their pride in making exceptional musical instruments for … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL — In a competitive academic competition, local high school teams competed for top honors and individual team members vied for a seat on the prestigious Team St. Lucie – an elite six-member team representing the School District at the 34th Annual Commissioners Academic Challenge scheduled for April 11-13, 2019, at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn. Lincoln Park Academy, coached by Paige McMahon, won first place in this year’s local competition.   Maria Battaglino Hernandez (Lincoln Park Academy), Ryan Lu (Treasure Coast High School), Alan Senkus (St. Lucie West Centennial), Madeleine Sosa (Lincoln Park Academy), Callie Zheng (Lincoln Park … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL – St. Lucie Public Schools announces its intent to participate in the Afterschool Meals Program, a subcomponent of the Child Care Food Program.  The Afterschool Meals Program is designed primarily to provide nutritious snacks and/or meals to children in participating afterschool programs.  Snacks and/or meals will be available at no separate charge to children attending the site listed below, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Site: Performance Based Preparatory Academy 2909 Delaware Avenue, Fort Pierce, FL 34947 About USDA In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL — Fashioned after a red-carpet celebration, the three St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) Teacher of the Year Finalists were announced today and supported with a backdrop of cheers from the surprised candidates’ students and colleagues. Makeda-Ione Brome (Fort Pierce Westwood High School), Cheri V. Maxon (Southern Oaks Middle School), and Jami Williams (St. Lucie West K-8 School) were overjoyed as a throng of delegates from St. Lucie’s Education Foundation, School Board, and MIDFLORIDA Credit Union showered them with congratulations. SLPS Superintendent E. Wayne Gent said, “This is a great honor.  Our teacher-of-the-year finalists represent a dedicated … Read More

PORT St. LUCIE, FL – Cierra Yuhas, a sophomore at Port St Lucie High School will be a Delegate to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Lowell, MA on June 23-25, 2019. The Congress is an honors-only program for high school students who want to become physicians or go into medical research fields. The purpose of this event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country who aspire to be physicians or medical scientists, to stay true to their dream and, after the event, to provide a path, plan and resources to help them … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL – St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) is proud to announce that the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has awarded 32 schools with the Golden School Award and 13 schools with the Silver School Award. These awards are presented annually to both public elementary and secondary schools with exemplary volunteer programs that recruit, train, and place school volunteers. “We appreciate the community support we receive in our school centers.  Our District is experiencing growth because our students receive high quality instruction from their dedicated classroom teachers, a rigorous curriculum, and community support specific to the needs of … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL – For the second year, St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) boasts a graduation rate above 90 percent with 1.7 percent growth this year landing the District at 91.8 percent – well above the State average. All comprehensive high schools in the District scored at or above 91.7 percent with an overall average of 96.5 percent. “This is a monumental accomplishment.  All demographic groups continue to perform at high levels as more and more students graduate each year.  This is vital to support college and career opportunities for our students and will continue to aid economic development … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL – St. Lucie Public Schools announces its intent to participate in the Afterschool Meals Program, a subcomponent of the Child Care Food Program. The Afterschool Meals Program is designed primarily to provide nutritious snacks and/or meals to children in participating afterschool programs.  Snacks and/or meals will be available at no separate charge to children attending the site listed below, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Site: Dale Cassens Education Complex 1905 S 11th Street, Fort Pierce, FL 34950   About USDA In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL –  St. Lucie Public Schools announces its intent to participate in the Afterschool Meals Program, a subcomponent of the Child Care Food Program.  The Afterschool Meals Program is designed primarily to provide nutritious snacks and/or meals to children in participating afterschool programs.  Snacks and/or meals will be available at no separate charge to children attending the site listed below, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Site: Dale Cassens Education Complex 1905 S 11th Street, Fort Pierce, FL 34950 About USDA In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL — St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) is designated as a silver-level Florida Healthy School District for a second consecutive term. The Florida Partnership for Healthy Schools, Florida Action for Healthy Kids, Florida Association of District School Superintendents, and Florida Healthy Kids Corporation recognized the District’s honor during the December School Board Meeting. The criterion for recognition as a Florida Healthy School District is the Florida Healthy School District (FHSD) Self-Assessment Tool that focuses on district infrastructure, policy, programs and practices identified from national and state guidelines, best practices and Florida statutes.  Child Nutrition Services Director Deborah … Read More

FORT PIERCE, FL – Over 600 St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) students received food, clothing, and supplies from generous members of the Elks Lodge #1520 in Fort Pierce.  The December 12th delivery schedule started out promising to serve 3 schools, but as donations poured in, the number of schools quickly grew to 13. This growth mirrors the growth in the number of students who benefit from the Elks Backpack Program which supports students throughout the year.  According to Lenny Smallacombe, organizer of the Elks support program, “Who would have thought we would have the ability to support so many children.  … Read More