Melanie Johnson Is Kingsfield Elementary School Teacher Of The Year
January 31, 2023
Melanie Johnson was named Kingsfield Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year.
Johnson has taught for 29 years and is currently a third grade teacher.
NorthEscambia.com is continuing to spotlight Teachers of the Year from the North Escambia area during January.
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Escambia Volunteer Firefighter Named Florida’s Mother Of The Year
January 30, 2023
An Escambia County volunteer firefighter has been named the Florida Mother of the Year by the American Mothers organization.
Cheyann Smith, a mother of two, has served with the Beulah Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue since March 2018.
She joined the Air Force in 2012, where she took note of a mental health crisis in the military. She went back to school in hopes of aiding her fellow airmen. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s and is currently working on a doctorate of psychology.
“This is a monumental honor because those two little girls are my world,” said Smith. “Everything I do, I do for them. I hope they understand from the example I’ve set that as long as they work hard, stay committed, have self-discipline, and have good time management skills, they can be whatever they want to be when they grow up. My ultimate goal in life is to raise strong, independent, kind human beings and be a mom that my children can be proud to call their own.”
She led several humanitarian drives before starting her own nonprofit Beacon — Be the One to Light the Way. The organization is dedicated to providing relief to individuals with food and housing insecurities.
Smith will be recognized during the American Mothers National Convention in Omaha, Nebraska, this April.
Tate FFA, Ag Students Take Part In Literacy Week At Jim Allen Elementary
January 26, 2023
The Tate High School FFA chapter helped kick off Literacy Week at Jim Allen Elementary school.
Tate FFA officers, students from the agriculture communications class, ag teachers and FFA advisors partnered with Jim Allen Elementary to introduce the agriculture literacy program through Ag in the Classroom.
Agriculture students and FFA members shared a part of Florida agriculture with the first grade classes. Students read and shared the book “The Cattle Tale”. Students learned about Florida cattle ranch history and production practices highlighting the past, present and future industry trends. Students also worked on group activities with first graders centered around the book.
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Bratt Elementary Cuts The Ribbon On A New Book Vending Machine
January 25, 2023
Bratt Elementary School kicked off Celebrate Literacy week by cutting the ribbon on a new book vending machine.
Students will read to earn tokens that can be used to “purchase” books. Monday, top accelerated reader scorers in each grade level were the first to use the new book vending machine.
“A love for books is one of the greatest ways we can instill in our children a lifelong desire to learn and grow,” Principal Amy McCrory said. “We want their world to be enlarged even after they leave our school by this love for books that was first planted in their minds here at Bratt Elementary . It is our hope that this book vending machine will be an innovative tool to spark this love.”
The vending machine was funded by the Bratt Elementary School PTA and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
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Jimitre McMillan Is Escambia Westgate’s Teacher Of The Year
January 23, 2023
Jimitre McMillan was named the Escambia Westgate’s Teacher of the Year.
NorthEscambia.com is continuing to spotlight Teachers of the Year from the North Escambia area during January.
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Two EREC Team Members Complete Certified Journeymen Linemen Program
January 21, 2023
Two Escambia River Electric Cooperative team members are now certified journeymen linemen.
Kyle Strickling and Tyler Prescott completed the rigorous lineman apprenticeship program through the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association.
“We are very proud of the hard work and time spent by these guys,” says Ryan Campbell, CEO of EREC. “Without the exceptional dedication and commitment of these hardworking men, we simply would not have the reliable electricity that we need for everyday life.”
Becoming a journeyman lineworker can take more than 7,000 hours of training because working with high-voltage equipment requires specialized skills, experience, and ongoing mental toughness. Shortcuts are not an option and there is no room for error in this line of work.
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Christin Love Is Molino Park Elementary’s Teacher Of The Year
January 20, 2023
Christin Love was named the Molino Park Elementary School Teacher of the Year.
NorthEscambia.com is continuing to spotlight Teachers of the Year from the North Escambia area during January.
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Escambia’s Teacher Of The Year Is Angela McFarland Of WFHS
January 19, 2023
Angela McFarland of West Florida High School has been named the Escambia County Public Schools Teacher of the Year.
McFarland joined the district in 1996 as a Pine Forest High business teacher. After spending four years in the same position at Washington High, McFarland was hired as a business and multimedia teacher at WFHS in 2009. She has also taught with the Escambia Virtual Academy since 2020.
“Mrs. McFarland’s contributions to Escambia County Public Schools epitomize the dedication, flexibility and innovation so necessary to prepare our students for a successful and meaningful future. She is truly an invaluable asset to her students, her school and this community as a whole,” said Superintendent Tim Smith.
She will now represent Escambia County in the state Teacher of the Year competition.
NorthEscambia.com is continuing to spotlight Teachers of the Year from the North Escambia area during January.
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Donna McMillan Named Northview High School Teacher Of The Year
January 17, 2023
Donna McMillan was named the Northview High School Teacher of the Year.
McMillan has taught for eight years, including four years as a reading teacher at Northview. She also coached basketball for three years.
NorthEscambia.com spotlighting Teachers of the Year from the North Escambia area. The county’s overall teacher of the year will be named in late January.
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Northview’s Olivia Doyle Selected For Florida All State Honors Band
January 17, 2023
Olivia Doyle, a freshman member of the Northview High School Tribal Beat Band, was selected to perform with the Florida All State Honors Band at the Florida Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference in Tampa this past weekend.
RELATED: Tate Showband’s Olivia Morehouse Performing With Florida All State Honors Band
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