Student Spotlights – August 2026

The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) released district and school grades today, and Escambia County Public Schools has achieved a district grade of ‘A.’ Eighty-three (83) percent of ECPS schools upheld or exceeded past years’ performances. Overall, 19 ECPS schools earned a letter grade of A, 16 schools earned a letter grade of B, and 17 schools earned a letter grade of C. No ECPS schools earned a grade of D or F. This marks a third year of increases in the number of A and B schools in the district.
At the middle school level, ECPS earned five As, three Bs, and one C. All nine middle schools increased or maintained their school grades.
“We are proud of our schools and their dedicated efforts,” said ECPS Superintendent Keith Leonard. “These excellent school grades reflect the commitment of our students, teachers, administrators, and support staff. In addition to the progress we have made, we remain focused on continuous improvement. Thank you to our students, staff, parents, community members, and our actively engaged school board. Achieving our goals requires the collective effort and collaboration of all stakeholders.”
Blue Angels Elementary, Lipscomb Elementary, Montclair Elementary, Beulah Middle, Ernest Ward Middle and Tate High each raised their grade from Bs last year to As this year. Scenic Heights Elementary increased from a C to an A. Montclair Elementary has increased its grade from an F to an A in three years. Lincoln Park Elementary, Longleaf Elementary, Ferry Pass Middle, and Workman Middle all raised their grades from Cs to Bs, while Navy Point Elementary had the greatest increase in points, with their school grade increasing from a D to a B.
Mathematics scores increased at rates surpassing the recently announced state increases, with the Middle school Algebra pass rate now leading the state average increases by 6% and 9th grade algebra pass rate matching the state average for the first time.
Escambia County Public Schools’ middle school acceleration rate was again among the highest in the state, increasing from 87% to 89%. The middle school acceleration rate measures proficiency on high school level courses taken by middle school students, such as Algebra and Biology, as well as high school level industry certifications earned by middle school students. For the first time, the middle school Algebra EOC pass rate exceeds the state average.
More information on school accountability can be found at https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/accountability-reporting/school-grades/.

Creative Learning Academy’s Sarah Smith spent part of her summer in Washington, D.C. as one of only 60 educators nationwide selected for the prestigious Supreme Court Summer Institute. Now in its 31st year, the Institute is open to teachers in law-related and civic education and is co-sponsored by Street Law, Inc. and the Supreme Court Historical Society. Sarah’s selection followed a highly competitive application process, highlighting both her commitment to civic education and Creative Learning Academy’s dedication to preparing students to be informed, engaged citizens. During the Institute, Mrs. Smith studied recent U.S. Supreme Court cases in depth and learned innovative, interactive methods for bringing those cases – and the constitutional issues involved – into her classroom. Sessions were led by Supreme Court advocates, reporters, scholars, and educators, providing Sarah with a rare opportunity to learn directly from experts who observe and shape Supreme Court practice. Teachers who attend this Institute leave there with confidence to discuss controversial issues and Supreme Court decisions with students, and begin introducing Supreme Court cases in their classrooms.
Mrs. Smith is eager to share this experience with her students and to the CLA community at large. She plans to incorporate new case studies, simulations, and discussion techniques into her lessons, helping learners better understand how the Supreme Court works and why its decisions matter in everyday life. In addition, she will be available to present workshops on teaching about the U.S. Supreme Court and to share how her training can support civic education across the local educational landscape.

Among the honors presented during Pensacola Catholic High School’s Commencement Exercises, none more fully captures the school’s mission and spirit than the Pro Deo et Patria Award. Named after the school’s motto, which translates from Latin as “For God and Country,” the award has been presented for the past 43 years to a graduate who most consistently exemplifies the ideals of Catholic High. Selection of the recipient is especially meaningful because it comes from those who know the students best. Each year, members of the senior class and the faculty cast individual votes to identify the classmate who most fully embodies the values that define the Catholic High experience. The Pro Deo et Patria Award recognizes a student whose actions and character reflect the school’s Core Values of Selfless Love, Commitment to Excellence, Personal Integrity, and Commitment to Service. More than an academic or extracurricular honor, it celebrates a young person who has lived these principles daily and demonstrated what it truly means to do all things “For God and Country.” Congratulations to the 2026 recipient of the Pro Deo et Patria Award, Michael Baroco, who was presented the award by Principal Sister Kierstin Martin. On a historical note, Michael Baroco is the fifth member of the Baroco family to receive the Pro Deo et Patria Award, joining Cathy Baroco Landry ’87, Tom Baroco ’93, Maria Baroco ’19, and Joey Baroco ’21.

On Wednesday, June 17, The Health Ambassadors from C.A. Weis Elementary School got to tour the UWF college campus and eat in the cafeteria. The students learned a lot and had so much fun. The ambassadors said it was their first of many college visits.

Pensacola Sports recently recognized the top outstanding seniors who have excelled in their respective sports on and off the field in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and awarded scholarships. A selection committee, made up of educators, community leaders and Pensacola Sports board members, carefully reviews each anonymous application, honoring those whose character, leadership and achievements truly stand out.
2026 Senior Scholar-Athlete Award Winners:
 Overall Boys Senior Scholar-Athlete ($5,000 Scholarship): Colton Guillot, Catholic High School
 Overall Girls Senior Scholar-Athlete ($5,000 Scholarship): Abby Vernier, West Florida High School
 Multi Sport Girls ($500 Scholarship): Kaylie Mitchell, Tate High School
 Multi Sport Boys ($500 Scholarship: Bowen Iorg, Pace High School
 Baseball: Clayton Sanders, Pace High School
 Boys Basketball: Sergio Robinson, Milton High School
 Boys Cross Country: John McAuley, West Florida High School
 Football: Caden Jasso, Catholic High School
 Boys Golf: Ian Morris, Catholic High School
 Boys Lacrosse: John Lagergren, Catholic High School
 Boys Soccer: John Zeravsky, Catholic High School
 Boys Swimming: Linden Mason, Pace High School
 Boys Tennis: Guy Ormsby, Gulf Breeze High School
 Boys Track: Markiece Kramer, Pace High School
 Boys Weightlifting: Roan Strom, Navarre High School
 Wrestling: Garrett Ferguson, Gulf Breeze High School
 Cheerleading: Brea Lyle, Jay High School
 Girls Basketball: Chamiah Francis, Central High School
 Girls Cross Country: Charlotte NeSmith, West Florida High School
 Girls Flag Football: Haley Dasinger, Pace High School
 Girls Golf: Lillian Day, Catholic High School
 Girls Lacrosse: Ella Adams, Catholic High School
 Girls Soccer: Lily Rodriguez, Catholic High School
 Softball: Mylee Frazier, Jay High School
 Girls Swimming: Taylor Clements, West Florida High School
 Girls Tennis: Maya Chavan, Catholic High School
 Girls Track: Trinity Jordan, Escambia High School
 Volleyball: Sydney Sutter, Gulf Breeze High School
 Girls Weightlifting: Abigail Butler, Navarre High School
 Multi Sport Girls: Kaylie Mitchell, Tate High School
 Multi Sport Boys: Bowen Iorg, Pace High School
Pensacola State College awarded 25 individual sports winners with a one-year $900 renewable scholarships
Special Scholarships
Dr. Alec Kessler Memorial Foundation Scholarships ($1,000)
 Ruby Seacrest, Washington
 Lawson Killingsworth, Washington
 Darnell Thomas, Catholic
 Avril Clarke, Gulf Breeze
 Breanna Shaw, Navarre
UWF Scholarship ($1,500)
 Brody Bruce, Navarre

Escambia County 4-H brought home a double victory from the 2026 Florida State 4-H Meat Judging Contest, securing first place finishes in both the intermediate and senior divisions. The state competition, held at the University of Florida in Gainesville, challenged participants across several rigorous categories. Competitors were required to identify forty retail meat cuts, evaluate and place retail, primal, and carcass classes, deliver oral reasons, and complete a comprehensive written test.
In addition to the team victories, Escambia County members dominated the individual standings. Charli McClendon earned the title of Senior High Individual, while Rhett Harcourt was named the Intermediate High Individual, making them the top-ranked meat judging 4-H members in the state of Florida. Other notable individual performances in the senior division included Tucker Padgett in second place, A.T. Bridgers in fourth place, and Andrew Wiggins in fifth place. In the intermediate division, Mallory Mahoney secured second place and Ella Gilmore took third place, while Rahlina Dodson finished in sixth place.
The senior team—comprising Bridgers, McClendon, Padgett, and Wiggins—previously competed at the Western National Roundup in Denver in January 2026. Following their state success, they have now qualified to represent Florida at the National 4-H Meat Judging Contest this coming October. This national event will take place at Kansas State University, with the formal awards ceremony hosted at the American Royal in Kansas City, Missouri.
Sponsored locally by the UF/IFAS Extension, the 4-H meat judging program is designed to develop critical life skills through activities related to the processing of beef, pork, and lamb. Participants learn to evaluate retail identification, factors affecting meat quality, and various cooking methods, gaining a deeper understanding of the scientific principles behind nutritional value and consumer appeal. According to organizers, the program also emphasizes foundational life skills, including effective decision-making, critical thinking, goal setting, and teamwork.

National History Day’s annual competition was held June 14-18th as a culmination of state and regional competitions, where 3000 students in grades 6-12 shared their presentations about historical topics.
This year, NHD focused on the theme, “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.” Five Escambia County Public Schools students attended this 51st competition at The University of Maryland outside of Washington D.C.
Pensacola HS students Peyton Chester and Lucy Mitchem competed in the Senior Group Exhibit category with their entry, “Streetcar Strike of 1908,” and Josh Ibrahim and Clayton White competed in the Senior Group Documentary category with their documentary, “From Rubber to Restaurants to Ratings: The Michelin Guide.”
Dillon Seamans of Ernest Ward Middle School competed in the Junior Individual Exhibit Category with his exhibit, “Potato Blight; British Blame and Irish Change.” Dillon was recognized in the Top 10 in the Nation for his category.
Congratulations to all of our competitors.

Cox Communications and the Escambia County Council of PTAs/PTSAs (ECCPTA) came together to recognize 52 remarkable students during the annual Cox Inspirational Student Hero Awards and ECCPTA Students of the Year Awards.
The students were honored for demonstrating strength, resilience, and perseverance while overcoming significant personal hardships. From navigating medical challenges and family loss to persevering through difficult personal circumstances, each student has remained committed to personal growth while inspiring classmates, educators, and school communities.
Students were selected by a committee of school leaders across Escambia County for their ability to persevere through adversity while showing measurable improvement and positively influencing those around them.
During the ceremony, each honoree was presented with a personalized engraved medallion and certificates of honor from United States Senators Ashley Moody, Rick Scott, United States Representative Jimmy Patronis, Florida State Senator Don Gaetz, and Florida State Representatives Alex Andrade and Michelle Salzman. The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners presented a proclamation congratulating all the honorees.

Local “kidpreneur” and author Uriah Crouch has been sharing the results of his hard work by participating in local markets throughout the spring and summer. Through his business, Read Write Dream, Uriah has published three books so far. He even recruited his brother, Obadiah, and sister, Dora, to help with illustrations making it a great family project!
Uriah hopes his books will inspire other children to explore both writing and entrepreneurship. To learn more about Uriah and his books, visit linktr.ee/readwritedream.

When classes began in early August, Pensacola Catholic High School welcomed 195 freshman students and approximately 20 transfer students. Over the summer, Mrs. Peyton Finelli, Freshman and Sophomore Guidance Counselor, with the assistance of members of the CHS Student Ambassadors, hosted six sessions of the New Crusaders Workshop. The purpose of this optional program is to help students feel more comfortable with CHS before the start of the school year. Each four-hour session gave incoming freshmen the opportunity to meet fellow students, become familiar with the campus, and gain an early understanding of what to expect when classes began. During each session, students toured the campus, learned how the class schedule works, played fun trivia games that introduced them to Catholic High’s history, and received helpful tips on note-taking and study skills. They also participated in an interactive discussion about the differences between middle school and high school. Mrs. Finelli launched the New Crusaders Workshop in 2023, and it has grown in popularity each year. Participants left excited and better prepared to begin their freshman year as Crusaders.

What an incredible day at the Orange Frog Workshop. Recently, educators from across our district came together to discover the power of positive leadership, intentional relationships, and the science behind creating happier, more successful schools.
From meaningful conversations to plenty of laughter, we were reminded that happiness isn’t just a feeling, it’s a strategy that can transform classrooms, strengthen teams, and positively impact every student we serve.
Thank you to everyone who invested in this professional learning experience and embraced the opportunity to grow together. The energy in the room was contagious, and we can’t wait to see the Orange Frog mindset ripple through our schools this year.
Here’s to choosing optimism, building connections, and making every day a little brighter.

One of the most meaningful traditions of Pensacola Catholic High School’s Commencement Exercises is the presentation of the Chris Gallman Sportsmanship Award, given annually in memory of Chris Gallman, a member of the Class of 1999. Chris was an outstanding student-athlete who excelled in both basketball and track. In May 1998, only days after winning the District Championship in the high jump at the conclusion of his junior year and shortly before he was to compete at the State Track Meet, Chris passed away unexpectedly from an undiagnosed heart condition. His sudden death deeply affected the entire Catholic High community. While Chris was admired for his athletic abilities, he is remembered even more for the person he was. He had an infectious smile, a kind word for everyone, and a genuine concern for others. He embodied sportsmanship, humility, compassion, and selflessness in everything he did. In the months following his passing, students, faculty, coaches, administrators, and parents united to establish an award that would honor Chris’s legacy and ensure that the qualities he exemplified would continue to be celebrated at Catholic High.
Each year, the Chris Gallman Sportsmanship Award recognizes a senior who best reflects those same attributes of kindness, character, and exemplary sportsmanship. The recipient is selected through input from members of all 21 CHS varsity athletic teams, the coaching staff, and the faculty. This year’s selection process resulted in two recipients, as it was simply too difficult to choose just one athlete. Through their participation in varsity athletics, these student-athletes clearly demonstrated the same qualities that Chris embodied—a commitment to team unity and integrity over personal accomplishment, along with the selfless spirit of sportsmanship by which he lived.
Congratulations to Ella Adams and Colton Guillot for being selected to receive this year’s Chris Gallman Sportsmanship Award, presented by Athletic Director Matt Adams.

The Wildcats set a new program record with 11 wins. They won their first state playoff game in program history and Escambia County history in the Region 1-2A quarterfinal.