Jackie Pratscher hasn’t had her name on a billboard since she won a speech contest in fifth grade. Today, more than 15 years later, her name is displayed on the board outside of Holley-Navarre Intermediate School honoring her as the school’s Teacher of the Year.
Sitting in Ashley Kesterson Hall’s classroom, it’s tough to get a straight answer out of her. Not that she’s dodging questions – quite the opposite, actually. She’s jumping from topic to topic, her excitement contagious.
In the last five years, tuition at the University of Florida increased by more than 44 percent. Across the state, 30 hours at UF costs an in-state student $6,312.90, while Florida State University costs $6,506 and the University of South Florida costs $6,409.70. That’s a $2,000 increase from five years ago.
Earlier this month Santa Rosa County Commissioners decided to make costly but much-needed improvements to the county’s antiquated emergency communication radio system. That upgrade, estimated to cost $7.2 million, will not only improve communication among first responders but will also aid school officials during crises.
For three night, seventh-grader Ariana Mewell camped out at a sea turtle nest on Navarre Beach ready to help the hatchlings make their way into the ocean.
It’s a different approach. Instead of dividing, one classroom at Holley Navarre Primary is multiplying. As of Oct. 8, a few lucky kindergartners got the opportunity to learn from two teachers in one classroom.
