Feb 14, 2023
Take Stock In Children helping students throughout Santa Rosa
There are many educational opportunities available to students in Santa Rosa County. Take Stock In Children is one such opportunity.
Started in 1995, Take Stock In Children is a multiyear, statewide nonprofit scholarship program in which students are paired with mentors to help them build academic success toward college. It began as a way to combat public school dropout rates.
Feb 7, 2023
Henry Merrill named substitute teacher of year
Henry Merrill, 76, was sitting in a Bagdad Elementary School classroom when superintendent Dr. Karen Barber and staff from the school came into the room holding flowers.
At first Merrill, who is a substitute teacher, thought he might be in trouble, but soon realized Barber was there for a much different reason.
Feb 2, 2023
Pensacola State dedicates FPL Innovation Center
The new Florida Power and Light Company Innovation Center in the Pensacola State College Charter Academy can take a student from the middle of an African savanna where they are surrounded by zebras and elephants to inside the human body to learn up close about biology.
Jan 31, 2023
All-County Honor Band has two performances
Santa Rosa District Schools celebrated middle and high school students who were selected to the All-County Honor Band during two performances Saturday, Jan. 28, at Pace Assembly of God’s auditorium.
The middle school band was conducted by Ann Leffard, who has taught music education at schools in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties. The high school band was conducted by John Folsom, who recently retired after 45 years of full time band directing in Alabama and Georgia.
Jan 31, 2023
Staudt named All Sports Association Award winner
Caitlin Staudt had no idea as she wrapped up a test in one of her classes on a Friday morning in late January that she was in for quite the surprise.
Members of the Navarre High administration, including athletic director Scott Murphy and Principal Kasie Windfelder, as well as officials from the All Sports Association walked into the classroom Staudt was in and presented her with the ASA’s Female Scholastic Award winner for 2023.
Jan 25, 2023
Karen Cody of Navarre High named county teacher of year
Karen Cody, a math teacher at Navarre High School, was named Santa Rosa County teacher of the year Wednesday, Jan. 25.
Santa Rosa District Schools Superintendent Dr. Karen Barber, school board members and Santa Rosa Education Foundation members delivered the news to Cody’s classroom.
Jan 24, 2023
Santa Rosa graduation rates exceed pre-pandemic levels
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted education throughout the United States. Students, teachers, parents, and administrators had to adjust to lockdowns, online learning and other disruptions to students, even after reopening schools.
Despite these challenges, the Florida Department of Education announced Jan. 13 that high school graduation rates for the 2021-2022 school year not only met pre-pandemic levels, they exceeded them across the state. Santa Rosa County was no exception.
Jan 24, 2023
School board honors two, appoints four to new positions
January’s school board meeting, held Jan. 19, featured several moments of recognition for those who have helped Santa Rosa District Schools in recent months, as well as the naming of a new principal at two different schools.
Jan 17, 2023
Gaetz announces nominees for military academies
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz spoke eloquently of the character and quality required to be nominated to one of the nation’s military academies at a ceremony Tuesday at Navarre High School.
Jan 17, 2023
Guardian program in Santa Rosa schools moving ahead despite delay
School safety is a top priority for schools across the country, especially after tragedies like the ones at schools in Uvalde, Texas, and Parkland, Florida.
Last year, Santa Rosa District Schools decided to pursue the implementation of a guardian program, based on the state’s Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program. The program, which is meant to add an extra layer of protection for schools, has not been fully implemented.