Celebrating A ‘Groovy’ National School Lunch Week (With Gallery)
October 14, 2022
Friday is the final day of National School Lunch Week celebrations in the Escambia County School District.
Students have enjoyed lunch specials that included “The Bomb Burgers”, “Flower Power Broccoli”, “Slammin’ Chicken”, “Tie Dye Smoothies” and “Peace Out Pineapple” during the “groovy” celebration.
For a photo gallery, click here for a look inside the school lunch programs at Bratt Elementary, Kingsfield Elementary, McArthur Elementary School, Molino Park Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle School, and Northview High School.
Daily school lunch menus are available online at ecsd-fl.nutrislice.com.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Visit Century And Molino Libraries, Camp Fire For Fire Prevention Week
October 13, 2022
Escambia County Fire Rescue visited West Florida Public Libraries locations across the county and the Camp Fire daycare during Fire Prevention Week.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue visited the Molino Branch Library on Wednesday, and the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue visited the Century Branch Library on Wednesday and the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center on Tuesday.
Children enjoyed story time with a firefighter and had a chance to tour Molino’s Engine 18 and Century’s Engine 5.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com and courtesy photos, click to to enlarge.
Northview High Names Students Of The Month
October 11, 2022
Northview High School has named their Students of the Month for September. They are freshman Jackson Simmons and sophomore Maggie Scott. They are pictured with Principal Michael Sherrill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Public Schools Foundation Awards $78,458 To 32 School Projects
October 10, 2022
The Escambia County Public Schools Foundation has awarded Grants for Excellence totaling $78,458 to 32 local school projects.
Tate High School was awarded four grants, more than any other school in the district.
Instructional coach Kristin Maum was awarded $4,932 to purchase iPads and Apple Pencils for the Tate High School math department. She is thrilled that her grant was chosen because now “math teachers can easily model how to solve math problems while also moving around their room to check on individual students. They’ll be able to ensure that each and every student in their classroom understands what they are doing and they’ll be able to quickly adjust their instruction based on students’ needs.”
Reading teacher Carla Urquhart was awarded $2,000 to purchase flexible seating options for her students. “This will have a positive impact on the students who have ADHD, Autism, and other individualized needs often seen in the Intensive Reading Classroom. Most students need to fidget or move in order to focus on tasks such as listening, reading, or writing. The opportunity for flexible seating helps the student to determine which seat works best for them and allows them to get the most out of their time in the classroom,” she said.
Theater teacher Lauren Williams was awarded $1,961 to purchase digital media equipment for both her English Language Arts classes and her drama classes. She is so excited to use the grant cross-curricularly: “iPads, tripods, and green screen equipment will allow my students to film play trailers to promote our mainstage shows. It will also help theater students learn about film acting and short films. Students in my English classes can record things such as persuasive commercials to learn about rhetoric.”
Fine Arts teacher Elerene Walters was awarded $2,000 to purchase high quality cameras and printers for her art classes. This will allow students to practice real-world skills: “Students will learn how to scan and print artwork and how to print digital art and photography. These are skills that will help them get jobs at online companies like Shutterfly and Minted. This project will even help students who want to pursue a career in art because they will be able to create a portfolio for College Board, art scholarships, Gallery Nights, and as a professional artist.”
The grants are intended to support innovation in the classroom and enhance the quality of education for students.
Here is the complete list of Grants for Excellence recipients for the 2022-2023 school year:
High Impact Grant Recipients
- Briana Leatherwood — Warrington Middle School
- Matthew MacGregor — West Florida High School
- Kristin Maum — J.M. Tate High School
- Wayne Menges — L.D. McArthur Elementary School
- Molly O’Connor — Roy Hyatt Environmental Center
- Jared Stanley — Hope Horizon
- Erin Steinmetz — Booker T. Washington High School
- Patricia Swanz-Reiners — N.B. Cook Elementary School
- Miranda Williams — Cordova Park Elementary School
Teacher Opportunity Grant Recipients
- Adam Bretschneider — Roy Hyatt Environmental Center
- Elizabeth Brown — Ransom Middle School
- Liberty Davis — R.C. Lipscomb Elementary School
- Catheryn Grantham — Escambia High School
- Barbara Guarino — Pine Meadow Elementary School
- Tally Hawthorne — R.C. Lipscomb Elementary School
- Jacquelyn Johnston — Byrneville Elementary
- Andrea Lowery — Hellen Caro Elementary School
- April Matteis — West Florida High School Department
- Erica Minchew — Kingsfield Elementary School
- Rachel Odom — L.D. McArthur Elementary School
- Elizabeth Shaw — L.D. McArthur Elementary School
- Bernadette Smith — Global Learning Academy
- Cindy Speed — Ransom Middle School
- Rachel Stallworth — Ferry Pass Middle School
- Stefany Tompkins — Booker T. Washington High School
- Mary Beth Tubbs — Kingsfield Elementary School
- Carla Urquhart — J.M. Tate High School
- Bradley Vinson — West Pensacola Elementary School
- Elerene Walters — J.M. Tate High School
- Lauren Williams — J.M. Tate High School
- Erica Zink — Pleasant Grove Elementary School
- Candice Zolnoski — C.A. Weis Elementary School
Grants for Excellence are funded by the Escambia County Public School Foundation and matching grant funds from the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program. Grants are available for teachers of students in grades K-12.
High Impact Grants were funded between $2,000 and $5,000. Teacher Opportunity Grants were funded from $500 to $2,000.
Pictured: Escambia County Public Schools Foundation Grants for Excellence were awarded to four Tate High School teachers. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Students Of The Month Treated To Pizza Party
October 9, 2022
Bratt Elementary School’s Students of the Month enjoyed pizza with the principal during recent party. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Holds Fall Festival (With Photo Gallery)
October 8, 2022
Byrneville Elementary School held their annual Fall Festival Friday night at the school.
The family fun fundraiser had plenty of games, a silent auction, vendors, a hayride, haunted house, karaoke and more.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names Students Of The Month
October 6, 2022
Ransom Middle School recently named their Students of the Month for August. They are Drew Crutchfield and Addyson Estes, both eighth graders. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia, AL, Teacher Wins $100,000 From Harbor Freight Tools For Schools
October 5, 2022
Jason Blackwell, a high school industrial maintenance teacher at Escambia Career Readiness Center in Brewton, Alabama, has been named a grand prize winner of the 2022 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence, winning $30,000 for himself and $70,000 for his program.
“It means a lo not only to me to but to my school and my community,” he said. “Sometimes we don’t have a lot of home around here, and this is going to bring a whole lot of home and dreams to fruition.
It’s a great feeling to see one of our teachers from the Escambia County Public Schools, get this award,” said Escambia County (AL) School Superintendent Michele McClung. “And we’re very appreciative of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools for seeking out those outstanding teachers and especially in a non-traditional school setting to come to a career readiness center and award a career technical education teacher for their excellence and teaching is outstanding.”
His experience in the skilled trades began when his father, a tradesman, told him, “if you listen to me, I’ll teach you everything I know.” Blackwell did just that, learning and following in his father’s footsteps. But in 2012, Blackwell was in a wreck that changed his life – he could no longer do much of his trade work that required intense physical labor. However, he was soon approached with an opportunity to teach, and he decided he wanted to share with others the knowledge his father had shared with him. With 20 years of experience and certifications across multiple trades, Blackwell has taught several different courses in his nine years in the classroom – all with the same goal to empower and support his students.
Blackwell encourages his students to take ownership of their learning and work collaboratively to solve problems. First-year students partner with more experienced students, and all take on leadership roles throughout the year. There are group competitions within their student-run company, and Blackwell teaches financial and project management, with students in charge of estimating costs, procuring materials, planning the schedule, and performing and evaluating the work.
Blackwell also works to ensure his students have opportunities beyond his program. He partners with community colleges to provide pathways for dual enrollment and last year established a career route into a nationally-recognized, certified apprenticeship program in industrial maintenance. His class also helped create the first competency-based apprenticeship for commercial drivers in Alabama. His program is an example throughout the state, with a 100%pass rate for the class and an 80% pass rate for National Center for Construction Education and Research and Manufacturing Skill Standards Council certifications. His students also have a 70% completion rate from 2-year college. His classes won the SkillsUSA Chapter of Distinction Gold and Silver in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Beyond teaching them technical skills, Blackwell strives to support his students in all their endeavors. In his rural area, many students come from challenging backgrounds. Blackwell attends their sports games and takes them to meet industry partners for breakfast. He connects with each student individually and mentors them across all aspects of life. In Blackwell’s program, they have an opportunity to complete school improvement projects and participate in various community service events after school and on the weekends. He and his students work together to make a positive impact in and out of the classroom.
Blackwell has a bachelor’s degree in Career and Technical Education from Athens State and is currently pursuing a master’s in Education from the University of Alabama. He won the SkillsUSA Alabama High School Advisor of the Year in 2020 and 2021.
Photos courtesy Harbor Freight Tools for Schools for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ReImagine Cantonment Blesses Those In Need With Food, Clothing And Hope (With Photo Gallery)
October 2, 2022
The hearts and lives of hundreds of area residents in need were touched during ReImagine Cantonment at Carver Park on Saturday.
The faith-based event included a 20,000 pound food giveaway, lunch, fishing lessons with free fishing rods, baby diapers, HIV testing, clothing, haircuts and health tests. Absolutely everything was free. There were also free children’s activities, including train rides, inflatables, face painting, games, popcorn, and a coloring contest with three participants winning a new bicycle. There were also plenty of free hugs and prayers.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
ReImagine Cantonment is a project of Doers of the Word Ministry and was sponsored by numerous churches and other organizations, including NorthEscambia.com.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Students Gather For ‘See You At The Pole’
September 29, 2022
Students across the area took part in the annual See You at the Pole event Wednesday.
Students gathered as school began to pray in the non-denominational event. See You at the Pole is a national student-initiated, student organized, and student-led event. Students prayed for their school, friends, teachers, government and the nation.
At Tate High School, the SYATP is sponsored by First Priority and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
About 50 students gathered for the First Priority STATP at Beulah Middle School where they prayed for the community, the nation and its leaders, the school, teachers, peers, parents and friends.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Pictured top: See You at the Pole at Northview High School (top), Tate High School (below) and a unique view (pictured bottom) of SYATP at Beulah Middle School student Harrison Vernier, publicist for the First Priority Group. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
