Indian River State College is launching a new program, Project STAGE, designed with the goal of supporting students with intellectual disabilities (ID) and their families while students pursue education and gainful employment in their chosen occupation. Project STAGE, short for students transitioning to academics and gainful employment, is now accepting applications for students. Students with ID often have many resources available to them while enrolled in the K-12 system but few resources when they enter into the postsecondary environment. Project STAGE offers a sequence of courses to provide specialized career education for students with intellectual disabilities who, in addition to … Read More

St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) need look no further.  District officials found what they were looking for in Project SEARCH – a supportive and collaborative community-based program providing students with disabilities real world work experiences in high-turnover, entry-level positions with an end goal of securing employment after a year-long internship. SLPS Director of Exceptional Student Education and Student Services Bill Tomlinson explained that his team was overjoyed to learn the Developmental Disabilities Council of Florida accepted SLPS’s application to cover start-up fees and licensing for the Program.  “Through an agreement with Martin Medical Center and Tradition Medical Center, our District … 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

Participants and winners of the 2014 Project Citizen State Finals were recognized at the June 10th School Board Meeting. St. Lucie West K-8’s seventh grade team that was led by Ms. Stephanie Isaacs won 3rd Place in the State’s Project Citizen Showcase with their project entitled, Water Pollution Solution. Two other SLC teams that were in the top five were: West Gate K-8, with their project entitled, Residential Rehabilitation Center, and Palm Pointe with their project entitled, Puppy Mills Bite. The judges were very pleased with the portfolios, and were impressed with the depth of knowledge displayed and how all … Read More

St. Lucie Public Schools seventh graders don’t just talk about perceived problems in the community; they seek solutions and find ways to put their plans into action in the Project Citizen Showcase. As seventh grade students work to identify a problem in their community, research public policy, contemplate solutions to the problem, and create an action plan, they enjoy an outstanding opportunity to work collaboratively and learn about government through a new lens.  It gives them great perspective on how they can be contributing members of society and change-makers. Distinguished judges from area municipalities, research centers, and community organizations speak … Read More

Seventh grade problem solvers from across the District will converge on the Kight Center at IRSC on Friday, January 20, to compete for top marks on their ideas influencing change in public policy as they present their Project Citizen proposals.  The judging will take place from 9 AM to noon by a host of local dignitaries. Project Citizen is an annual Civics showcase whereby students in Civics classes work in teams, identify a public policy problem in their community, research the problem, and after evaluating possible solutions to the problem, propose a public policy that could serve as the solution.  … Read More

This year’s Project Citizen Showcase took place at IRSC’s Kight Center.  Teams of 7th graders from across the District came together to discuss their civic-minded projects with judges and vie for an opportunity to move on to the state-level competition. About Project Citizen: Project Citizen is a curricular program for middle, secondary, and post-secondary students, youth organizations, and adult groups that 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. … Read More

We the People: Project Citizen is an annual academic event organized by Florida Law Related Education, Inc. which explains the project as “a curricular program for upper elementary and secondary students designed and published by the Center for Civic Education (CCE) that 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.” Seventh graders from across the District convened at IRSC’s Kight Center in January to share their projects with judges … Read More

St. Lucie West Centennial Culinary students made Walking BBQ Packs with fresh cabbage from the WEST Prep (Fort Pierce Westwood High School) Agritechnology Program garden! Yum!  

St. Lucie Public Schools obtained a Math/Science Partnership (MSP) grant focused on increasing science content knowledge. This grant provided twenty-five teachers with the opportunity to participate in the U-Futures program. Nine of these teachers continued, and through the grant along with the generosity of the University of Florida, they completed their Master of Arts in Education (MAE) in Science Education free of charge. This cadre of professional educators worked diligently to complete the rigorous coursework required for this degree. Superintendent E. Wayne Gent and School Board Members celebrated their accomplishment at the January School Board Meeting. Congratulations are extended to: … Read More

Please join us for the Procession of the Species parade to be held in downtown Ft. Pierce Saturday, October 27th at 10:30am. Gather your friends, classmates, club or band members, teammates, etc., and join the fun! This is no ordinary parade! The Procession of the Species is a delightful, colorful and musical celebration of nature! Check it out: https://youtu.be/ksNe1YRZI1I It’s FREE, but registration is required.   For more information and to register go to www.StLucieProcession.com or call (772) 785-5833.

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