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Thanksgiving Greetings from Superintendent Millay |
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Superintendent John D. Millay shares his gratitude and Thanksgiving wishes for our community in the first episode of Martin Minute with Millay.
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CDC Tips for Holiday Gatherings |
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Traditional Thanksgiving gatherings with family and friends are fun but can increase the chances of acquiring or spreading COVID-19 or the flu. Follow these tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make your Thanksgiving holiday safer:
Wear a mask
- Wear a mask with two or more layers to stop the spread of COVID-19.
- Wear the mask over your nose and mouth, keeping it secure under your chin.
- Make sure the mask fits snugly against the sides of your face.
Maintain social distance
- Maintain a social distance of at least six feet from others who do not live with you.
- Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread COVID-19 or the flu.
- Keeping 6 feet (about two arm lengths) from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
Wash your hands
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Keep hand sanitizer with you and use it when you are unable to wash your hands.
- Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Monitor your symptoms
- Continue to review our daily symptom screening tool, being mindful of the health and wellness of all members of your household:

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Don't forget to bookmark our COVID-19 dashboard, which provides comprehensive data on positive cases and quarantine status by date, school and grade level. View the dashboard here.
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Martin Moments of Gratitude: MCSD's Thanksgiving Countdown |
The Martin County School District has had many things to be thankful for this year. As you prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with your loved ones, we invite you to join us in remembering the following 2020 Martin Moments of gratitude!
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Volunteers, Community Partners Honored During Annual Recognition Ceremony |
The Martin County School District held its Volunteer & Community Partner Recognition Ceremony on February 25, 2020, at Stuart Middle School. The annual event is held for the purpose of recognizing outstanding volunteers and community partners from each school site for their dedication and commitment to the success of students. More than 80 volunteers and community partners were recognized for their contributions during the 2018-2019 school year. Read more...
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South Fork High School TV Production Teacher Named CTE Teacher of the Year |
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South Fork High School Television Production teacher Karen Kane received all of the “Monday Motivation” one could ever need on February 10, 2020, as District and school leaders surprised her with the news she had been selected as the Martin County School District’s Career & Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year.
Ms. Kane has led South Fork’s Academy of Television Production for more than 10 years. An industry veteran, she worked as a camera technician on various film production crews in Hollywood, California, prior to deciding to become an educator.
“Since Ms. Kane’s arrival at South Fork, the daily news production has greatly improved in both quality and digital content,” said Lana Barros, the District’s Coordinator of College & Career Readiness. “She’s introduced state-of-the-art equipment into her classroom and studio, and students have excelled under her leadership. In addition to the daily newscasts, many students have participated in local contests and produced additional projects, including the yearly graduation ceremonies.” Read more...
To learn more about the Career & Technical Education programs offered in District-operated schools, please click here.
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Fifteen Schools Earn Florida PBIS Model School Designation |
Fifteen Martin County School District-operated schools have been recognized for their work in implementing a school-wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) framework. PBIS is a set of strategies based in behavioral and biomedical science that enhance students' quality of life while also reducing problem behaviors. National research shows that full implementation of this framework leads to improved student outcomes. Read more...
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District Celebrates 2019-2020 Employees of the Year |
Twenty-six outstanding employees were honored during the Martin County School District's annual Employee of the Year Ceremony on February 5, 2020. The event was held at Indian Riverside Park in Jensen Beach, Florida.
Part of the Florida Department of Education's (FLDOE) collection of employee appreciation programs, the Employee of the Year program recognizes outstanding educational support personnel for the significant contributions they make to their schools or departments.
Ms. Juana Pablo, an English Language Learner (ELL) Paraprofessional at Warfield Elementary School, was named the District's overall Employee of the Year during the ceremony. A valued member of the Warfield school community since 2014, Ms. Pablo is known for her reliability and willingness to assist her colleagues whenever she is needed. Read more...
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District, MCEA Reach Tentative Agreement |
The Martin County School District has reached a tentative agreement with the Martin County Education Association (MCEA) to modify the 2017-2020 collective bargaining agreement for instructional employees. Tentative economic modifications recorded in the agreement include a one-time 3% stipend for all instructional personnel based on the staff member’s base pay during the 2019-2020 school year, and a one-time stipend funded by Florida’s Best & Brightest Award Program for instructional staff who received an “Effective” or “Highly Effective” evaluation during the 2018-2019 school year and were not otherwise eligible for a Best & Brightest award under any of the other program criteria.
In addition to the one-time stipends listed in the tentative agreement, teachers will continue to receive salary stipends from funds generated by the half-mill property tax increase that was approved by Martin County voters in August 2018. Stipend awards range from $1,800 to $7,800 and are based on educators’ years of instructional experience. Martin County educators are also eligible for supplements for holding advanced degrees and stipends for their involvement in additional programs, such as coaching sports teams or sponsoring clubs. Read more...
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Martin County Seniors Nominated for 2020 Pathfinder Scholarship Awards |
More than 60 of the Martin County School District’s top-performing high school seniors were honored for their academic achievements during the Palm Beach Post's annual Pathfinder Scholarship Awards Ceremony.
Now in its 37th year, the Pathfinder Awards program recognizes 54 of the best and brightest seniors in Martin and Palm Beach counties who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in academic, vocational and athletic categories. One of the largest and most comprehensive high school scholarship programs in the state, the Pathfinder Awards program grants nominees the honor of competing against their peers for more than $170,000 in college scholarships. More than 540 seniors were nominated for consideration in this year’s awards program. Read more...
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District, Schools Earn Recognition for Environmental Stewardship and Conservation Efforts |
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The Martin County School District has received significant recognition for its environmental stewardship and practices related to conservation and sustainability. The U.S. Department of Education recognized the District as one of just 11 districts across the nation to receive its prestigious 2020 Green Ribbon School award on April 22, 2020, and 17 schools were recognized as 2020 Green Schools by Florida Atlantic University’s Pine Jog Environmental Education Center the week of April 13. Read more...
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Young Artists Honored for Creative Tag Art |
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The Martin County School District partnered with the Martin County Tax Collector's Office to host the second annual Kids Tag Art (KTA) competition. All fifth-grade art students participated in the competition, using their artistic talents to create vanity license plates and keyfobs for purchase by the community. Nineteen exemplary artists were presented with special awards for their creations during a ceremony at the Children's Museum of the Treasure Coast on Wednesday, February 5, 2020.
All proceeds from tag art and keyfob sales are donated back to District elementary schools in support of arts-related programs. To purchase a vanity plate or keyfob, please click here.
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Warfield Elementary School Leader Named Finalist for Assistant Principal of the Year Award |
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Warfield Elementary School Assistant Principal Angela "Angie" Gilbride received the surprise of a lifetime in May, having been named one of three finalists for the Florida Department of Education's 2020 Outstanding Assistant Principal Achievement Award.
Established in 1997, the Outstanding Assistant Principal Achievement Award program recognizes Florida's exemplary assistant principals for their contributions to their schools and communities. The program honors leaders who have utilized teamwork and leadership skills to increase student performance, promote safe learning environments and establish partnerships with parents and community members. School districts are invited to nominate one assistant principal to be considered for the award each school year.
A proud graduate of the Martin County School District, Ms. Gilbride has spent 10 of the last 15 years serving as both a teacher and administrator at Warfield Elementary, developing a strong rapport with families and the surrounding Indiantown community because of her dedication to cultural awareness and understanding. Read more...
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S.P.A.M. Robotics Team Earns Recognition for Exemplary Leadership, Outreach Efforts |
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Members of Martin County’s FRC Team 180 S.P.A.M., or S.P.A.M. (Speed, Power and Maneuverability) as it is affectionately known throughout our community, were excitedly preparing for one of the first events of the 2020 FIRST Robotics Competition season when the announcement came over the loudspeaker – COVID-19 had led to the indefinite suspension of FIRST events. While the immediate feeling amongst those in attendance at the Orlando Regional Competition was one of disappointment, the sentiment quickly changed to elation with the news that the team had been named the recipient of the prestigious Chairman’s Award.
The most prestigious award presented by FIRST, the Chairman’s Award is presented to teams that best represent a model for other teams to emulate and best embody the mission of FIRST. It was created to keep the central focus of FIRST Robotics Competition on the ultimate goal of transforming the culture in ways that will inspire greater levels of respect and honor for science and technology, as well as encouraging more of today’s youth to become science and technology leaders. In 22 years of competition, S.P.A.M. had only won the award one time prior – in 2016. The 2020 team – made up of students who attend each local high school as well as several students who are homeschooled – believes that their well-known dedication to the FIRST philosophy of “gracious professionalism” and extensive community outreach assisted them in achieving the honor a second time.
“S.P.A.M. has always spread STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and FIRST awareness within our community and will continue to do so for the life of our team,” students wrote in their nomination essay. “We cultivate a growth mindset throughout our team set around building both robots and relationships with our community.” The purposeful balance between scientific discovery and character development has made the program a popular choice for Martin County students looking to build friendships while also exploring the STEM fields. Read more...
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District Selects 2020-2021 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year |
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The Martin County School District named its 2020-2021 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year on November 13, 2020, honoring two veteran educators with the awards.
Allysa Eberst of Port Salerno Elementary School was named Principal of the Year and Willie Gore of Hobe Sound Elementary School was recognized as Assistant Principal of the Year. Read more...
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Honoring Educators: District, Education Foundation of Martin County Name 2020-2021 Teachers of the Year |
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The Education Foundation of Martin County and the Martin County School District are proud to announce the 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year nominees.
The award recipients for each level, as well as the overall 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year, are scheduled to be announced early next year by the Education Foundation of Martin County. Congratulations to the outstanding nominees:
Kelly Francke - Bessey Creek Elementary School
Ashley Ciliberti - Citrus Grove Elementary School
Barry Bicksler - Clark Advanced Learning Center
Michael Fourquet - Felix A. Williams Elementary School
Robert Beasley - Hidden Oaks Middle School
Crystal Brandt - Hobe Sound Elementary School
Natalie Rzeznik - Hope Center for Autism
Kimberly Skerven - Indiantown Middle School
Maryann Williams - J.D. Parker School of Science, Math and Technology
Jamie McNealy - Jensen Beach Elementary School
Jennifer Ali - Jensen Beach High School
Leigh Anne Pike - Martin County High School
Coli Escher - Murray Middle School
Heather Swindler - Palm City Elementary School
Vanessa Muto - Pinewood Elementary School
Kate Logan - Port Salerno Elementary School
Melissa Pastor - SeaWind Elementary School
Wendy Schepman - South Fork High School
Juanita Johnson - Stuart Middle School
Vanessa (Dayus) Lake - Treasure Coast Classical Academy
Rachael Sharp - Warfield Elementary School
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MCSD Retains Academically-High Performing School District Designation |
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Martin County’s rich tradition of academic excellence continues, as the Martin County School District has been named an Academically High-Performing School District by the Florida Department of Education. The District is one of just 17 school districts - and the only district on the Treasure Coast - to earn this prestigious award.
The Academically High-Performing School District designation is based on school/district grades and financial audit reviews for the 2018-2019 school year and class size compliance during the 2019-2020 school year. Read more...
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Dr. John D. Millay Takes Office as District's First Appointed Superintendent of Schools |
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Dr. John D. Millay was sworn into office as the Martin County School District's twelfth Superintendent of Schools on November 17, 2020. Succeeding former superintendent Laurie J. Gaylord, who retired on November 16 after serving two elected terms, Dr. Millay has taken office as the first appointed superintendent in the history of the District. Read more...
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