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.
Wendy Meredith Named Escambia Extension Expanded Food & Nutrition Manager
September 27, 2022
Wendy Meredith is the new program manager for the Escambia Extension Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).
Meredith is no stranger to Extension or EFNEP as she has served as a nutrition educator for 13 years teaching adult clientele across Escambia County. In her new role, she will supervise and train youth and adult nutrition educators as well as work directly with sites who will benefit from EFNEP programming.
Firefighters, Nonprofit Pay Special Visit To Cantonment Girl Fighting Rare Kidney Cancer
September 25, 2022
Escambia County Fire Rescue and Guardians of the Ribbon – Lower Alabama Chapter recently paid a special visit to the home of Natalee Hoffman in Cantonment.
Natalee is battling a rare kidney cancer called Wilm’s tumor on her left kidney.
Engine 4 and crew from the Cantonment Fire Station took part in the event.
The nonprofit Guardians of The Ribbon use a pink fire truck to spread word of their awareness campaign for women as they fight cancer.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Why Not Just Cook S’mores In A Solar Oven? These Bratt Fourth Graders Did.
September 23, 2022
When it’s a hot day in Florida, why not just cook s’mores in a solar oven? Fourth grade students at Bratt Elementary School did.
They constructed solar ovens and successfully cooked s’mores outside, all in the name of STEM (science, technology, engineer and math) education.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Registration Underway For Tri-City Children’s Choir
September 21, 2022
Registration is underway for the second season of the Tri-City Children’s Choir (TCCC), a regional initiative of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus.
TCCC welcomes young singers in grades 1-6 who reside in Century, Flomaton, Jay and the surrounding areas.
The choir will one again be under the direction of Holley Driver, a Century-based music teacher.
Singers will meet weekly on Thursdays from 4:30 until 5:15 p.m from October 6 to December 15 at Century First United Methodist Church, 530 Church Street. A performance is scheduled for December 16. TCCC is a tuition-based program and costs from $15 to $65 per week. Families may choose the weekly amount that works best for their household finances, and scholarships are also available.
For more information on joining the choir, or make a contribution, visit www.tricitychoir.org.
Driver directed the TCCC during their first season this past spring. She taught music in the Escambia County School District for over 15 years, served as the choral director at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino for nine years, and teaches in her own studio.
If you need more information, call Driver at (850) 324-6182.
Pictured: A May 2022 by the Tri-City Children’s Choir. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
