Education Archive

High school graduation season in Okaloosa County started at 6 p.m. on May 16 at Laurel Hill School and ended shortly before 9 p.m. Friday night at Crestview High School held the last ceremony of the year.

The ceremony started at 7 p.m. under a bright May early evening sun. By the time it was over, the sun had set on May 24, 2024 just as it had on the high school career of the students.

Okaloosa School District Superintendent Marcus Chambers and School Board Member Linda Evanchyk had the privilege of engaging in conversation with several students last week at Baker High School.

Chambers said it was evident that these students hold a deep affection for their K-12 school, seeing it as a nurturing environment that paves the way for future growth and academic excellence.

As the 2024 school year wraps up, Laurel Hill School principal Lee Martello was again amazed that another year is in the books.

“The school year has gone by very quickly,” she said. “This time of year is such a special time, not only for the students, but for so many people in the community. This school is the heart of the community.

It’s doubtful if any members of the Baker Class of 2024 have ever heard the Seals and Croft song, “We May Never Pass This Way Again,” that was a favorite of many students in Class of 1974. But with each speech and memory shared, they echoed the sentiments of the song from a half century ago.

In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, the County Music Association (CMA) Foundation partnered with 30 Country Music stars to surprise music teachers nationwide that they were selected as a Music Teacher of Excellence. Florosa Elementary Music Teacher Sarah Theres was surrounded by co-workers when the announcement was made on Tuesday, May 7, via a special congratulatory video by Country artist Caitlyn Smith that she was selected as a 2024 CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence (MToE).

Joining The Baker School volleyball team in bringing home top honors in the 2023-24 school year, The Baker School band finished the year with a championship performance of its own receiving the first Superior rating in the program’s history at last month’s state competition in Tallahassee.

On Tuesday, April 16, the Northwest Florida State College Raider Arena hosted the 50th annual Anne T. Mitchell Senior Honor Award Reception. The event recognized 591 high school seniors from Baker, Choctaw, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Laurel Hill and Niceville High Schools who will graduate with honors in May. These students have achieved a weighted GPA of 3.75 or higher, which designates them as summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude.

Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Randall Joiner was right at home in the outdoor education class at Crestview High School.

In a display of academic prowess, Team Okaloosa, comprising eight talented high school students, secured the top spot in the prestigious Commissioner’s Academic Challenge (CAC) held April 10 -April 13.

Crestview High School’s buildings trade class recently attended the Future Builders Association of America State Summit with three CHS students earning leadership awards for the way they work with others and the potential for future excellence in the building and construction industry.