Student Spotlights – March 2025

Beulah FFA placed third for compass and pacing, and ninth in the state overall among middle schools. Team members and their individual scores were:
Becca DeCoux — 12th
Luci Graham — 26th
Addyson Creighton — 32nd
Braxton Williams — 36th

Escambia County Public Schools is proud to recognize Ms. Kelly Reed, Kindergarten teacher at Global Learning Academy, as this year’s ECPS Teacher of the Year.

Students from Booker T. Washington’s Health Science Academy visited the school board workshop and shared details of their program and its real-world benefits. The model infants used by the students were purchased by the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation’s Grants for Excellence program, partially funded by the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program through the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations. Here at ECPS, we are equipping some outstanding young people with technical skills needed to be successful in the workplace and in life.

Speaking for the host of our Voices United in Education Podcast, Meredith Hackwith Edwards, the 2025 event was not only educational, but delightfully entertaining. Around 350 people attended again this year! Chris Welch won the $250 door prize drawing and Episode 119, Snoezelen Center at Escambia Westgate School won $250 for the best exhibit. We want to give a big shout out and special thanks to everyone who participated and took advantage of this year’s event. Click here (https://www.voicesunitedineducation.com) to stay informed by listening to our weekly podcast.

Creative Learning Academy’s basketball program showcased exceptional talent and skill at the recent Catholic Youth Sports League (CYSL) tournament in February. Twelve CLA teams, encompassing both boys and girls teams from grades 2nd to 8th, participated in the competition, demonstrating athleticism and determination across all age groups. Several of CLA’s teams advanced to the semifinals, marking a great showing for our players and coaches.
Two of CLA’s girls’ teams demonstrated outstanding performances. The CLA Girls 4th-5th Grade Gold team emerged victorious in the CYSL Girls 4th-5th Grade Silver League, while the CLA Girls 6th-8th Grade team clinched the championship in the CYSL Girls 6th-8th Grade Gold League. This year’s success is a testament to these teams’ hard work, dedication, and the strong coaching within the CLA basketball program.
Creative Learning Academy’s participation in the CYSL allows students to engage in interscholastic athletic competition in basketball, flag football, tackle football, soccer, volleyball, and track and field. CLA is committed to promoting sportsmanship, respect, and teamwork to all of our student athletes, which was clearly demonstrated throughout the tournament. Creative Learning Academy celebrates the achievements of these basketball players, recognizing that they are all “Dragon Strong”!

Eight additional schools in Escambia County have been added as Purple Star Schools of Distinction by the Florida Department of Education for their support of children of military families for the 2024-25 school year through the 2026-27 school year.
“We encourage every school in the state to strive to better serve military families and earn the designation,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday afternoon. “I am proud to recognize these schools and school districts for their efforts to support our military families and earn the Purple Star designation.”
The most recent schools to achieve this honor are:
Beulah Middle School
Ferry Pass Elementary School
George Stone Technical College
Kingsfield Elementary School
Navy Point Elementary School
Pensacola High School
Ransom Middle School
Redeemer Lutheran School (Private)
There are now 28 total schools in Escambia County recognized as a Purple Star School of Distinction.

Our Middle School program provides a week-long internship opportunity, allowing students to gain real-world experience in various careers.
This year, our 8th-grade students explored a diverse range of professions, including finance, construction, pet grooming, AC repair, the medical field, law, and even restaurant ownership!
Pictured is a MSP student learning the ins and outs of running a local restaurant with Jen Knight, owner of End of the Line Café.

During the Escambia County District’s holiday food drive, Escambia County Public Schools collected the equivalent of 16,837 meals for Manna Food Pantries. The food will feed neighbors in need during winter, when donations tend to slow.

Aletheia Christian Academy offers several Advanced Placement courses for Upper School students. Students in AP Computer Science got up close and personal with the inner workings of computers last month. They studied the history of computers and learned how storage devices have developed from paper punch cards to micro SD cards. They even dissected a computer tower to see how computers are made.

Each year, Montessori School of Pensacola 7th-grade students step into the role of a teacher, immersing themselves in our Entry, Primary, and Lower Elementary classrooms for a week.
We asked them about their experience, and here’s what a few had to say:
“I didn’t realize how much standing and cutting teachers do!”
“It’s interesting to see all the different ways students need help.”
“Being a teacher is tiring! You have to be resilient and find time to teach, help, and manage everything else for the kids.”
Pictured is a MSP 7th-grade student giving a sound lesson to three Primary students.

Pensacola State College Charter Academy student Benjamin Bentley won as the top champion at the Incubate Northwest Winter Debate tournament. Bentley also received the Eleanor Roosevelt Leadership Award for his performance. Bentley advanced through three rounds, placing as a top finalist in each one, including the preliminary town hall, the semi-final roundtable, and the final town hall round. The PSC Charter Academy celebrates Bentley’s achievements, noting his dedication and skill throughout the tournament.

Math is more than just numbers—it’s about relationships, engineering, and recognizing patterns. That’s exactly what The Mess Hall brought to life for our Kindergarten – Lower Elementary students! Through hands-on experiences, they explored math in a fun, interactive way and had a blast learning.

Lipscomb Elementary School hosted “Constructing Young Minds Career Dress Up Day” in celebration of Literacy Week. Escambia County Sheriff’s Office joined community leaders for Celebrate Literacy Week and deputies, among other professionals, read to students and shared insights about their careers.

Florida’s high school graduation rate rose to 89.7%, and most Escambia County high schools exceeded that improved number for the 2023-2024 school year. The 2023–2024 statewide high school graduation rate represents the highest rate in Florida history, with the exception of the pandemic school years in which graduating classes were exempt from statewide, standardized assessment requirements stipulated in state law.The overall graduation rate for Escambia County Public Schools was 84.2%, up from 80.5% in 2022-2023 and 78.4% in 2021-2022.

Escambia County Public Schools Superintendent Keith Leonard recently named 13 high school students to the 2024-2025 Superintendent’s Student Council, comprised of student leaders from each high school in the district.
Natalie George – Tate High
Aiden Bramblett – Tate High
Braden Glick – Northview High
Maddie Driskill – Northview High
Randelaysia Grier – West Florida High
Chrissie Fuller – West Florida High
Delaria Pogu – Pine Forest High
Westin Rhymer – Washington High
Da’Rieon Gilbert – Washington High
Grace Guerrier – Pensacola High
Alex Kinney – Pensacola High
Payten Sim – Escambia High
Xandria Smith – Escambia High
The group will meet with the superintendent several times throughout the school year to help keep district leadership in tune with the students’ perspectives, priorities, and issues.

Students enrolled in marine science classes at Booker T. Washington and West Florida Technical high school students are learning to design and construct artificial reefs that may eventually be used to help the area’s marine life.
About 140 students are enrolled in marine science classes that incorporate a new Artificial Reefs Curriculum into coursework. The pilot program – a collaboration between Escambia County, the Escambia County school district, Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) and Sea Grant Florida – started in October at the schools.
The Artificial Reefs curriculum is funded by a $50,000 grant from the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA). Additional funding is being sought from other sources, said Robert Turpin, manager of the Escambia County Marine Resources Division.

Kindergarten and First Grade students at Aletheia Christian Academy celebrated the 100th day of school at the end of January. These students enjoyed showing what they’ve learned in 100 days with many fun activities: Counting by 10’s to 100 with goldfish, getting creative with 100 marshmallows, 100 exercises, making hats, showing off their creativity with posters, and even writing about what they would be like when they are 100 years old.