Student Spotlights – October 2025

Congratulations to Global Learning Academy Principal Lalla Pierce, who was voted Best Boss by InWeekly’s Best of the Coast. GLA was also named 2nd best place to work.

At a recent School Board meeting, members of the Northview Lady Chiefs state runner-up softball team were recognized for their incredible season. Several members of the team were unable to attend due to a volleyball game (multi-sport athletes).

Every year on the first Sunday following Labor Day, there is a National Grandparents Day. Grandparents are our heritage and the essential members of our families so Pensacola Catholic High School also celebrates our grandparents with a special Mass on the first Friday of every September. This year’s Annual Grandparents Mass was on September 5. All CHS grandparents were invited to this special occasion. This year’s Mass was presided over by Father Luke Farabaugh, Pastor of St. Thomas More in Pensacola and a 2006 Alumnus of Catholic High School. Various students who had grandparents in attendance participated as Lectors, Music Ministers, Eucharistic Ministers, and Gift Bearers. Following the Mass, a reception was held for grandparents and their grandchildren. Catholic High looks forward to this special event each year, at which we honor our students’ wonderful grandparents!

The Rally Club of Pensacola Catholic High School is a student-led organization that works closely with the Rally Foundation, affiliated with the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, to raise money and awareness to help win the fight against childhood cancer. This Club meets throughout the school year to raise awareness and funds to donate to this worthy cause. This year, for the first time, the Rally Club held a ‘Change for Rally’, creating a friendly competition between the classes at CHS. For one week, students were asked to bring their loose change and donations from their friends and family! The coins, and even some dollar bills, were tallied, leaving the Freshman Class with bragging rights and the privilege of a Jeans Day. The total collected by all classes was a whopping $2,208.81. The Rally Club also took donations during the Grandparents Mass reception and at the Crusader football game against Godby on September 5. Total funds raised to date equal $2,508.81, and the Club is excited to have a good start on their yearly goal of $5,000. During halftime of the football game, the Club invited ‘Rally Families’ who have a family member who has survived childhood cancer to celebrate in a small program that educated fans about the local efforts at the Children’s Hospital. This year’s Rally Club Officers are President Kate Johnson, VP Abi Barzacchini, Treasurer Reed Rhodes, and Secretary Alana Woodward.
Pictured from left to right – Jillian Lacour, Meredith Moulton, Avery Taylor, Kate Johnson, and Abi Barzacchini.

Every year as part of the Senior Religion Curriculum during the first semester, students are assigned a project to create an object that displays the Four Core Values of Catholic High. Those Core Values are Selfless Love, Commitment to Excellence, Personal Integrity, and Commitment to Service. Students have a great time tapping into their creative sides to present something that is unique. Senior Religion teachers, Rebecca Carter and Carol Cox, select the most unique projects that are displayed throughout the year in one of the glass trophy cases in the school’s gym foyer. Some projects that are unique but oversized remain in the classrooms.
Pictured with projects from left to right – Chase Miller, Lillian Day, and Madison Walker.

Creative Learning Academy’s Forrest Johnson has been awarded the prestigious Blue Heron Educator Award from North Carolina Outward Bound for 2025. This national award celebrates teachers who embody Outward Bound’s mission of fostering growth, resilience, and discovery through challenge and connection. Johnson was among a select group of educators across the country recognized for their ability to inspire students both inside and outside the classroom.
The Blue Heron Award represents a collaboration of six Outward Bound schools across the nation. Inspired by a program launched at the Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School, the award recognizes educators who confidently lead, nurture compassion, and encourage transformative learning. Outward Bound has always partnered with educators across the country to step beyond the classroom, and this award highlights teachers who, like Johnson, embody the spirit of adventure and connection that Outward Bound stands for.
At Creative Learning Academy, Johnson teaches 7th and 8th grade English, where his thoughtful approach and unique style foster a strong sense of creativity and community. Through unique electives like handmade bookmaking, sci-fi literature, and his much-loved “Walks in the Forest with Forrest,” Johnson blends academic discovery with a love for exploration and the outdoors. Known for his calm demeanor and supportive guidance, he helps his students learn, grow, and find joy in the journey – qualities that make his recognition with the Blue Heron Educator Award both meaningful and well deserved.

Escambia County Public Schools Foundation is proud to be a recipient of a Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) EmPOWERing STEM Educators grant, supporting the advancement of STEM-focused professional learning for teachers in Escambia County. This statewide initiative strengthens math and science instruction through peer-to-peer collaboration and classroom innovation.
The FPL EmPOWERing STEM Educators program increases teacher knowledge of effective, standards-aligned instructional strategies while encouraging the practical implementation of innovative approaches in the classroom. The emphasis on educator-led learning communities allows teachers to share best practices and deepen their impact through collaboration.
“The support from FPL allows us to invest directly in our educators’ professional growth and sends a strong message that their work matters,” said Jo McArthur, Executive Director. “When teachers feel valued and are given meaningful opportunities to collaborate and innovate, it not only improves instruction—it helps us retain great teachers in our classrooms.”
The Consortium of Florida Education Foundations manages the program, which helps local education foundations across the state share resources, strategies, and support to ensure meaningful implementation. Since 2018, FPL has partnered with the Consortium to invest more than $600,000 in this initiative, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to improving STEM education statewide.
“For the last 100 years, FPL has been committed to powering strong communities. Our investment in STEM education is a way to spark innovation and opportunity for the next generation,” said Sarah Marmion, FPL senior manager of education outreach. “By supporting our teachers through these grants, we’re empowering them with the resources they need to inspire students and cultivate the problem-solvers and innovators of tomorrow.”

Recipients of Construction Career Days Scholarships were honored at a recent School Board meeting.
Recipients included:
Jack Boutwell, Northview High School
Tyler Gilmore, Northview HighSchool
Keith Washington, West Florida High School
Alec Clarke, Tate High School
Randelaysia Grier, West Florida HIgh School
Markavia Johnson, Northview High School
Miller Richards, Tate HIgh School
Jaquan Richardson, Northview High School
Jackson SImmons, Northview High School
Randy Williams, Tate HIgh School

Every year, our Middle School students venture off to Camp Beckwith in Alabama for an unforgettable overnight adventure. During their time away, they’re challenged to step outside their comfort zones, build trust with one another, and conquer exciting outdoor tasks. These experiences push them to grow in ways that can’t always be learned inside a classroom. The memories made at Camp Beckwith last a lifetime.

To celebrate National Senior Center Month, our neighbors at Summer Vista planned a fun and festive week—and they were eager to include our students. One of the highlights was chair volleyball. Two of our volleyball teams had a blast tossing a beach ball around with their senior friends, while other residents and students cheered them on from the sidelines. What a joyful way to connect generations through play.