Last Wednesday, Laurel Hill School officially unveiled its new multi-purpose building with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Alongside Laurel Hill Principal, Lee Martello, there were three members of the Okaloosa County School Board present in Brett Hinely, Tim Bryant and Parker Destin.

The Okaloosa County School District Title I Department, alongside Beachside Community Church, will present a free, in-person for parents and guardians titled “Parenting Through Emotions”, which will take place on Friday, April 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event will be held at Beachside Community Church (200 Racetrack Road NW, Fort Walton Beach).

It was a special day on March 28 for Crestview High School social studies teacher Jennifer Lang as she was given the “Thank A Teacher” award by HCA Healthcare. The award is even more special considering Lang’s background.

The Okaloosa County School District was awarded the Purple Star District of Distinction on Monday, March 24, at a county school board meeting. With the distinction, Okaloosa County becomes only one of five districts out of 67 in the state of Florida, to earn the honor.

Coming out of high school, students are offered many different career paths whether it be going to a four-year college, two-year college or working right away among other things.

For Crestview High School students, the automotive class in the Career and Technical Education program gives them a chance to work in the auto industry right out of high school.

On Tuesday, March 11, Crestview High School emergency medical response students simulated a mass casualty event on campus. Students had to act out a scenario where a tornado touched down in Holt and then moved over the city of Crestview.

Friday, Feb. 28, the Okaloosa County School District and HCA health care partnered together to present Kirsten DeLaRue, a fourth and fifth grade teacher at Bob Sikes Elementary, with the “Thank A Teacher” award. DeLaRue received a $250 check in recognition of her hard work.

Shalytha Payne-Blevins, an English teacher at Crestview High School, was selected as a runner-up for the Okaloosa County School District teacher of the year.

Payne-Blevins was recognized for the award at the county’s annual Teacher of the Year Award banquet on Feb. 13.

Seven years ago, tragedy struck in Parkland, Florida with a school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

After this, the state legislature established the Mental Health Assistance Allocation, which was within the Florida Education Finance Program, to provide funding for school districts to expand to establish school-based mental health care.