Education Archive

Outfitted with traditional chef uniforms including toques (chef hats) and double-breasted jackets, a group of six Santa Rosa County students stepped up to the plate to create simple but delicious dishes as part of the 2024 Future Chefs Challenge.

The Santa Rosa Education Foundation invited every school in the Santa Rosa School District to nominate one teacher for the 2024 Santa Rosa Rookie of the Year award.  All full-time teachers in their third year or less of teaching were eligible for this award.  This included total teaching experience, not just in Santa Rosa public schools. 

Santa Rosa County School Board held a special meeting Thursday, March 14, to approve a bargaining agreement between Santa Rosa District Schools and Santa Rosa Professional Educators, the union which represents instructional staff such as teachers. The approved contract will see a 3.87% average salary increase for teachers in the district.

Introduced to Hawaiians by the Portuguese in the 19th century, the ukulele has become a staple of the island’s sound. The unique instrument, which employs four nylon strings around a small, guitar-like body, is also quite popular beyond the 50th state.

Going into their March 6 negotiation with Santa Rosa District Schools, David Godwin of the Santa Rosa Professional Educators said the two sides were at an impasse over a contract for instructional staff. Santa Rosa Professional Educators is the union which represents instructional staff such as teachers in the county’s public schools. While neither side has budged much in contract talks, SRPE brought forth a new proposal to try and garner a compromise with the district.

On Dec. 30, 2022, Pace High School unexpectedly lost a valuable long-time staff member and former student. Bridget Hall Head was a member of the first graduating class at Pace High School and an employee at the school for 24 years. Over the last two decades, she served as the principal’s secretary. Now the principal, Stephen Shell wants to honor her in a permanent way. On March 7, he attended the Santa Rosa County School Board meeting to request a building, currently known as Freedom Hall, be named for Head.

Holley Navarre Middle School is sending 13 students to the state science fair following the regional West Panhandle Science and Engineering Fair at UWF. The regional science fair saw 24 HNMS students compete.

Throughout February, Santa Rosa District Schools held three different career expos across the county for students and families to explore opportunities in various career fields.

February is CTE month, which recognizes the importance of career and technical education in schools around the nation. In Florida, CTE programs are a growing trend.

Understanding how to handle your finances can be a game changer in your life. According to the University of Kansas, financial wellbeing, which is often tied to financial literacy, can be a determinant of one’s health. Generally, the worse off financially, the worse health wise.

In addition to combating drugs in the community through law enforcement, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is taking the fight to the elementary school level.