Category: Press Releases

FORT PIERCE, FL –  Anthony Knighton, a graduate of Fort Pierce Central High School is currently attending Southern Illinois University (SIU) where he was named as a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award.  Weighing in at 246 and clearing six feet by two inches, this defensive end from Fort Pierce, Florida set SIU freshman records and led all MVFC freshmen in sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (11.0) this season.    Knighton finished 11th in voting among the elite group of final contenders being considered for the Jerry Rice Award.  This award, named for the renowned Hall-of-Famer credited by many … Read More

St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) is proud to share the Florida Department of Education’s (FDOE) announcement for Principal of the Year finalists.  Lawnwood Elementary Principal Traci Wilke is named as one of the three finalists!   Superintendent E. Wayne Gent stated, “Mrs. Wilke is exemplary in every facet of educational leadership.  She is passionate about providing the very best learning environment for her students, committed to supporting her staff, and engaged in participating in the community she serves.  She has blazed a trail of success with her past educational experiences, and I foresee a future equally as productive with regard … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL – St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) announced that 22 schools of distinction are recognized as Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) Model Schools – an increase of seven 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 Student Services and Exceptional Student Education Bill Tomlinson with notification of this elite cadre of schools. “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 … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY – St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) is ranked fifth overall in Florida and is the highest ranking district on the Treasure Coast with an overall graduation rate of 90.1 percent. Data released today by the Florida Department of Education shows that for the third year in a row, the District continues to demonstrate positive growth. “This is a historic and unprecedented measure of success for the School District and for the community,” said Superintendent E. Wayne Gent.  This surge represents a hike from 45th to fifth in the state as well as another 3.3 percent gain from … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY – St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) officials are looking forward to hosting what promises to be a gateway to college opportunities for hundreds of high school seniors on Monday, January 22, 2018.  The School District will host the second annual Historically Black College/University (HBCU) and Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) College Fair for its students.  With over 17 major institutions slated to attend at Samuel S. Gaines Academy, excitement is escalating about pending on-the-spot scholarship opportunities and prospects for local students to attend prestigious programs.   SLPS Superintendent E. Wayne Gent has been a major motivator behind the … Read More

FORT PIERCE, FL – C.A. Moore Instructor Nardi Routten stood before the Florida Cabinet this week with six other Florida educators of distinction as Governor Rick Scott recognized them with the Shine Award. This prestigious award is presented to teachers and administrators in Florida who make significant contributions to the field of education. According to a press release issued from the Florida Department of Education, Governor Rick Scott said, “I am proud to present these outstanding educators with the Governor’s Shine Award and thank them for their commitment to ensuring students reach their full potential. The educators honored today represent … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL – The holiday lights will shine a little brighter on the employees of St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) this season as all eligible personnel will receive a $250 bonus on December 22, 2017.  This news comes at the close of a positive meeting on Tuesday evening with the School Board and its Union partners. The School Board proposed this bonus to show their appreciation for the dedicated team of professionals who demonstrate a commitment to supporting and nurturing this community’s most treasured resource – its students.  Superintendent E. Wayne Gent said, “Our Board places great value … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Amid cheers from colleagues, a band of educational prize patrol leaders made surprise visits to announce the three School Related Employee of the Year finalists on Tuesday, December 5th. Adela DellaCroce (Treasure Coast High School), Ja’Mia Gibson (Fairlawn Elementary School), and Jonathan Marcelin (Dan McCarty Middle School) are all contenders to represent the District at the State level. St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) administrators, School Board Members, Education Foundation Board Members, and major teacher recognition sponsors from MIDFLORIDA CREDIT Union were among those on the day’s announcement tour. Superintendent E. Wayne Gent is proud to honor … Read More

FORT PIERCE, FL –  New York’s BFA Photography & Video School of Visual Arts selected the works of gifted student artists from Fort Pierce Central High School for an exhibit entitled 2017 America. Fourteen students from Ms. Heather Blackmon-Gordon’s classes have their works on display at the SVA Gramercy Gallery in New York City.  The total exhibit features a wide range of artistic perspectives from over 30 states. Blackmon-Gordon said about her students, “I enjoy giving them the opportunity to showcase their talents and compete at a national level.  Exhibitions such as this provide recognition for my students and the … Read More

  FORT PIERCE, FL – Forest Grove Middle School moves on as a national finalist in Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow Contest, a program that encourages students to solve real-world issues in their community using classroom skills in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). Principal Monarae Miller-Buchanan stated that Ms. Cole’s 6th, 7th and 8th grade MOA Prep classroom is one of 255 national finalists chosen based on their STEAM proposal to address pollutants contributed by urban runoff that affects local waterways, Indian River Lagoon and the ocean. “Our students are passionate about applying their skills and challenging one another … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL – St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) is extending the adoption of an innovative mobile device app and website entitled Here Comes the Bus.  Five more schools are coming on board with this user friendly tool that allows parents and authorized caregivers to view the real-time location of their child’s school bus on a smartphone, tablet or computer. Transportation Director Don Carter explained that while five schools (Fort Pierce Magnet School of the Arts, Lawnwood Elementary, Mariposa Elementary, Savanna Ridge Elementary, and West Gate K-8) are included in the early phase of the roll-out plan, the District … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL – A work skills opportunity that began percolating last year for students in the St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) Exceptional Student Education (ESE) program is brewing again this year with bold expectations.  On Tuesday, November 28, the student-run enterprise known as Student Perks will begin selling coffee, pastries, fresh fruit, and signature brand tumblers in a kiosk on the first floor breezeway of the Board of County Commissioners Administration Building located at 2300 Virginia Avenue in Fort Pierce. The grand re-opening is slated for 9 AM. Patrons working in the Administration Building as well as customers … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL – With over 5,400 employees, St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) was recognized as one of St. Lucie County’s Best Places to Work. This announcement came amid cheers from staff members at the 16th Annual Best Places to Work St. Lucie County Awards Ceremony held on November 1st and hosted by the St. Lucie County Human Resources Association and Personnel Dynamics. Superintendent E. Wayne Gent accepted the award on behalf of the District, and commended the dedicated team of professionals whose mission it is to support students saying, “You win with the right people.”  SLPS Director of … Read More

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – Kimberly Albritton was recently notified by the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC) that she has earned the Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) credential.   Albritton, St. Lucie Public Schools coordinator for business services, was among 82 professionals who successfully completed the CPPB examination.  Initially established in 1979 as the Professional Public Buyer (PPB) certificate program and expanded in 1991 to a full-scale certification, this prestigious certification is an outstanding honor for individuals employed in the public procurement profession and is an asset to their specific division of government.  Chief Financial Officer Tim Bargeron lauds … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL – On Saturday November 11, test drive a new Buick and help St. Lucie West Centennial High School located at 1485 Cashmere Boulevard in Port St. Lucie receive up to $10,000. Garber Buick GMC in Ft. Pierce will have new Buick vehicles at the school for this Test Drive Event from 8:00am-3:00pm.  For each 2-3 minute Test Drive, Buick will donate $10.00.  When the event exceeds 100 test drives, Buick will double the donation to $20.00.  The goal is to reach the maximum donation of $10,000 for the day! Participants will sign-in at the front of … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY –  Social Studies educators from Pensacola to Key West made their way to Palm Harbor, Florida for the 60th Annual Florida Council for Social Studies Conference. Amid their peers, St. Lucie Public Schools educators were honored for teaching excellence. In an awards dinner celebration that carried the conference theme of “Honoring the Past, Preserving the Present, and Shaping the Future,” Nikki Gomez (Rivers Edge Elementary), Lauren Kappler (Westgate K-8), and Lea Ann McCaffrey (St. Lucie West Centennial High School) were recognized for their efforts and strengths in teaching that they bring to their profession and share with others.   … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL –  Principal Juanita Wright along with Frances K. Sweet Elementary (FKS) students and staff invite veterans to the 9th Annual Veterans Day Celebration slated for Friday, November 3, 2017.  This time-honored celebration of distinguished service men and women is held on the school’s campus located at 1400 Avenue Q in Fort Pierce. Event organizers Helena Grapsy, Tammy Davis, and Barbara Bennett encourage veterans interested in participating in the ceremony to meet ten minutes prior to the 9 AM kick-off in order to line up for a parade of appreciation that will wind through the FKS campus. The … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY – Lincoln Park Academy, Palm Point Research School at Tradition, and West Gate K-8, have been distinguished by the Florida’s State Board of Education as Schools of Excellence. To be eligible, schools must have an A or a B for each of the last three years and rank in the 80th percentile in their school type or grade grouping for at least two of the most recent three years. “All three schools boast rigorous academic programs and cater to multi-age groups,” explained Chief Academic Officer Dr. Helen Wild. “Lincoln Park serves grades 6 – 12 and both … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY – Wide eyes, smiles and tributes to the efforts of school staffs were the common threads that bound Principal Traci Wilke and Assistant Principal Marcy Luckey as they were surprised with the news that they are this year’s Outstanding Principal and Assistant Principal for St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS). Superintendent E. Wayne Gent and an entourage of well-wishers visited Wilke at Lawnwood Elementary and Luckey at St. Lucie Elementary to share the accolades. “Outstanding school leaders set the pace for school achievement,” said Superintendent Gent.  “They are definitely focused on creating learning environments in which every child … Read More

ST. LUCIE COUNTY – St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) and PNC Bank are united in a partnership to join with over 2 million others across the globe on October 19, 2017, to highlight the importance of literacy and Read for the Record. This is an annual campaign that includes classrooms, libraries, community centers, and homes in which children and adults read together in this worldwide shared reading experience to support children having the opportunity to enter kindergarten prepared to succeed.   According to Early Childhood Coordinator Dr. Mary Huffstetter, on Thursday, a cadre of PNC employees will join with SLPS … Read More