Education Archive

Heather Owens is in her 22nd year as a teacher at Woodlawn Beach Middle School.

And for the first time, she is the school’s teacher of the year, though she has been nominated for the honor several times in the past.

Emily Simon is esteemed to be the West Navarre Primary School teacher of the year. Or is it e-STEAM-ed?

Simon, who has been teaching since 2010, is the science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics teacher for her school. The class is a special course, similar to art, music and physical education.

Hurricane Isaias threw Santa Rosa County into a tailspin.

Between efforts to restore power, remove debris and reopen roads, bringing children back to school was not the top priority. Despite initial plans to open schools again Wednesday, Oct. 14, the Santa Rosa County School Board voted instead to reopen Monday, Oct. 19.

The state standards for science education are undergoing a rewrite.

Florida’s current Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for Science were adopted by the State Board of Education in February 2008. The current framework is structured around earth and space science, physical science, life science and the nature of science, namely the role of theories and laws in scientific understanding.

Emily McCallum has been leading a classroom for five years. It will be six years in January.

The third-grade teacher was recently named Oriole Beach Elementary School’s teacher of the year. This is her first time holding that title.

Santa Rosa County was back in the classroom Monday, Oct. 19, marking the first time since Wednesday, Oct. 7, that school had been held in the district.

Santa Rosa County District Schools report that student attendance across 36 campuses reached 93.7 percent on the first day back following Hurricane Isaias.

Tia McHugh has been teaching for 17 years and has loved every minute of it.

A second-grade teacher at East Bay K-8 in Navarre, McHugh was recently named teacher of the year by her colleagues. The news came Sept. 11.

Pirates on the Panhandle, a social group that organizes fundraisers for local charities and nonprofits, recently set their sights on Soundside High School’s exceptional student education (ESE) student-athletes.

Wednesday, Oct. 7, members of the social group were joined by Soundside High faculty and students for a check presentation. The check, worth $7,500, was presented to the school to support the school’s unified sports program and its Special Olympics activities.

Santa Rosa County public schools will reopen Wednesday, Oct. 14, under a state directive, even though Hurricane Isaias damaged several campuses, including Milton High School, where the storm tore open the gym’s roof.

Out of an abundance of caution, all Pensacola State College locations will close, and classes will be canceled beginning at 4 p.m. today, Thursday, due to Hurricane Isaias. The College will remain closed Friday, Oct. 9, and Saturday, Oct. 10. The closure includes all classes, events, campus activities, and online courses.