Education Archive

Superintendent of Okaloosa County Schools, Marcus Chambers, gushed about the future of education in the north end of the county Feb. 5.

Chambers described the countless additions being made to improve the latter half of this school year along with what is to come.

While students at Crestview High School learn math, science, English and other graduation requirements, some are also learning how to become entrepreneurs. As part of the Career in Technical Education program at CHS, students learn under the guidance of George Stakley, who has been head of the entrepreneurship course for the past five years.

For many students in Northwest Florida, they have never seen snow in their life. Many who live in the area assumed that they would never see snow here, with most having gone through hurricanes during the summer, but nothing would compare to what they just experienced.

If you walk through the halls of Crestview High School, students are taking courses in a variety of different subjects, including trade courses. Better known as “CTE” around the school, the courses teach students career and technical skills that provide them with the opportunity to earn nationally recognized industry certifications.

For her entire life, Southside Primary School Teacher of the Year Kaitlyn Thomason, knew she wanted to be a teacher. She would pretend to play school in her bedroom with her stuffed animals when she was a kid.

It has been a long journey to get where Northwood Elementary School teacher of the year, Joe Ballreich, is now. He began teaching in 2018, but his first career was something much different.

It was a night to remember for students of all ages at Lakewood Christian School on Dec. 19. Students ranging from Pre-K to high school participated in the school’s Christmas program at Praise Power and Compassion Ministries in Crestview, featuring classic songs such as “Joy to the World” as well as the production of their play, “We Three Spies.”

Teaching is in Elizabeth Irby’s blood. Now in her 18th year of teaching, Irby has used the knowledge and warmth gained by her family of educators and medical professionals to be the teacher of the year at Bob Sikes Elementary School.

Desiree Angiletta, Shoal River Middle School’s teacher of the year, has always wanted to be an educator. However, life was not easy for Angiletta. Tragedy struck in the fifth grade when she was injured in a car accident, leaving her to be home bound for three months. Angiletta broke her femur, a severe injury that caused her pain both physically and emotionally.

Jessica Amador took a different career path than most elementary school teachers, but the path has led to her peers nominating her as their teacher of the year at Riverside. Amador began her career in business. She earned a degree in event management from the University of Central Florida and went on to work in the industry in Orlando for six years.