Topping The Teacher List
These three teachers are Marion County’s 2018 Social Studies Teachers of the Year. Chosen by their peers, Jamie Grace (Harbour View Elementary), Keishana Clemons (Osceola Middle) and Brian Stephenson (Belleview High) will also be recognized at the state level later this month in Orlando. All three show a passion for teaching social studies content and promoting social students throughout their schools and communities.
District Captures High Honors
Public Relations Director Kevin Christian and Superintendent Dr. Heidi Maier traveled to Jacksonville recently to accept four honors bestowed on the district by the Florida Public Relations Association. The district captured an Award of Distinction for its annual school calendar publication, a Judges Award for its ALICE Protocol training video and a Golden Image Award for that same video. Christian, who is accredited in public relations (APR) and a certified public relations counselor (CPRC), was also named the 2018 recipient of The Doris Fleischman Award from among FPRA’s 1,200+ members.
Presenting With Precision
Forest High School’s JROTC Color Guard presented at a Tampa Bay Bucs pre-season game at Raymond James Stadium. The incredible honor puts these practiced students in front of tens of thousands of fans. Participating cadets included Kaileigh Skinner, Matthew German, Brandon Villagomez, Natalie Wetz, Aaron Zapata-Chaux, Joel Tompkins and Jared Jensen.
Remembering, 17 Years Later
Forest High’s JROTC marked the 17th anniversary observance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Principal Elizabeth Brown placed a wreath at the flagpole on campus, while cadets marked the occasion with drawn sabers, a 21-gun salute, full dress uniforms and remarkable poise and compassion for the entire student body, many who weren’t even born when the World Trade Center Twin Towers collapsed in 2001.
Oakcrest Opens The Bark Bus
Take cute puppies and kittens, put them on a bus with young children who have books in their hands, give them 20 minutes together and you’ll hear students reading aloud to animals who lavish the one-on-one attention. That’s the whole reason behind the Bark Bus, a new venture from the Humane Society of Marion County. The organization also partnered with Oakcrest elementary to open the Bow-Wow Reading Room when the bus is visiting other schools.
Singing With The Nation
Students at Maplewood Elementary shared an experience of national proportions—they sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” with thousands of other students in hundreds of other schools across the country. The annual National Anthem Sing Along started as a simple patriotic exercise but has grown into an annual national experience. Music teacher Suzanne Schmittling led her class and even uploaded their own video performance so others around the country could enjoy!
