John D. Millay, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
On behalf of the Martin County School Board and myself, I want to thank all of our students, employees and families for their commitment to excellence this year.

While 2021 has certainly presented many challenges, it has also offered many opportunities for growth. Collectively, we have risen to the occasion and continued to pursue our mission of educating all students for success.

It is my hope that the next couple of weeks will be a time that our families and employees can relax, refresh and reflect. I look forward to 2022 with enthusiasm, remaining grateful for the opportunity to continue serving this excellent school district and community.

Happy Holidays!
District, Education Foundation of Martin County Honor 2021-2022 Teachers of the Year
The Martin County School District and Education Foundation of Martin County are proud to announce that Felix A. Williams Elementary School’s Jessica Urbay has been named the District’s 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year. The winner was announced during the Education Foundation of Martin County’s Teacher of the Year Awards Celebration on Friday, December 10, 2021, at the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center in Port St. Lucie. The event was presented by Audi Stuart, Infiniti Stuart, and Alfa Romeo Stuart. 

In addition to honoring the District’s 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year, winners were recognized in the Elementary, Middle and High School categories:  

Elementary Teacher of the Year – sponsored by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union

Jessica Urbay, Felix A. Williams Elementary School, 3rd Grade Teacher** 
**Winner of the 2021-2022 Martin County School District Teacher of the Year Award


Middle School Teacher of the Year – sponsored by Publix Super Markets Charities

Laura Bianco, Hidden Oaks Middle School, English Language Arts Teacher


High School Teacher of the Year – sponsored by Keiser University

Jeanine Bushman, South Fork High School, Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Support Facilitator




Superintendent John D. Millay caught Ms. Urbay's reaction to being named the District's Teacher of the Year. Watch the video...
Florida High School Athletic Association Names Fall 2021 Academic Team Champions
Earlier this month, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) announced its Fall Academic Team Champions of the 2021 season. Each Martin County high school earned a top-ten finish in more than one sport. Twelve MCSD teams, including all three football teams, were named among the state's top five academic performers in their respective classes.  

The FHSAA Academic Team Champion recognition program honors teamwork not only in competition but also in the classroom. The program recognizes teams in each of the FHSAA’s sanctioned and recognized sports, naming an Academic Team Champion in each classification. To qualify, a school’s individual sports team must have a grade point average of at least a 3.0 on an unweighted 4.0 scale. The teams’ grade point averages are then compared to all other schools in the state with similar enrollment sizes.

"Our student-athletes continued to demonstrate their dedication to excellence by being named among the state's top-performing schools in their respective classes," Superintendent John D. Millay shared. "This remarkable accomplishment is reflective of their commitment to setting themselves apart not only on the court or playing field but in the classroom as well."


Stellar Spellers Shine During Annual Middle School Spelling Bee
The Martin County School District held its fourth annual Middle School Spelling Bee on December 7, 2021. Mr. Jeff Bolbach, Coordinator of Exceptional Student Education, and Ms. Debra Stull, Coordinator of Title I/ESOL, served as judges for this year’s competition.  Ms. Ely Parsons, who previously served as the District’s Coordinator of College & Career Readiness prior to her retirement, was the enunciator for the Bee.

Ten outstanding spellers from each of the District's five middle schools participated in ten rounds of competition via Zoom, tackling the spelling of words such as "invertebrate," "bravado," cerebellum,” “preposterous,” and “demonstrable." The winning word was "subconscious."

 Congratulations to the following winners:

  • Nina Goyal - First Place - Hidden Oaks Middle School

  • Bella Valade - Second Place – Hidden Oaks Middle School

  • Aiden Smart - Third Place – Stuart Middle School

  • Yesenia Mercado-Calderon - Fourth Place – Stuart Middle School

  • Lucas Orellana - Fifth Place - Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School
S-U-C-C-E-S-S: Students Shine During 56th Annual Lillian A. Dassori Elementary Spelling Bee
Sayvel Bernal of Hobe Sound Elementary School took first place in this year's Lillian A. Dassori Elementary Spelling Bee. She is pictured with her proud principal, Dr. Dianne Memmer-Novak.
The Martin County School District held the 56th annual Lillian A. Dassori Elementary Spelling Bee on Tuesday, December 14, 2021. Mr. Larry Green, retired principal; Mr. Willie Gore, assistant principal at Hobe Sound Elementary School; and Ms. Debra George, Coordinator of Title I, served as judges for this year's competition. Ms. Shannon Blount, Coordinator of English Language Arts (ELA), was the enunciator for the Bee.  

Outstanding spellers from each elementary school participated in the competition via Zoom, tackling the spelling of words such as "incendiary," "hexagonal," "impudent,” “abracadabra,” and “orthographize." The winning word was "equator."

 Congratulations to the following winners:

  • Sayvel Bernal - First Place - Hobe Sound Elementary School

  • Selah LeMay - Second Place – Palm City Elementary School

  • Siri Scornavacca - Third Place –  Crystal Lake Elementary School

  • Jordan Hernei - Fourth Place – Jensen Beach Elementary School

  • Christan Mailackel - Fifth Place - Pinewood Elementary School
Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School Student's Art to Hang in Florida Capitol During 2022 Legislative Session
Eden Harris, an eighth-grader at Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School, created this landscape piece that was selected as the winner of the Martin County School District's 2021 Art in the Capitol competition.
Earlier this year, the Martin County School District held its 2021 Art in the Capitol contest, a visual arts competition for middle school students. A panel of elementary and high school art teachers judged this year's entries.

Eden Harris, an eighth-grade student at Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School, took first place in the competition. In November, Rep. John Snyder (District 82) visited the school to receive Eden's award-winning piece, which will hang in the Florida Capitol during the upcoming legislative session. Eden was honored for her accomplishment during the Martin County School Board meeting held on December 14, 2021.

Click here to view the art created by finalists in this year's competition.  
Four Schools Recognized for Implementation of MTSS Framework
Four Martin County schools have been recognized for their efforts to build and sustain a multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) framework. MTSS refers to all instructional strategies, interventions and other resources implemented by school teams to help all students achieve. Effective MTSS builds culturally responsive academic and behavior supports to create effective environments that address a range of student needs.  

The Florida MTSS Recognized Schools program honors schools for their work in building and sustaining their MTSS. The Martin County School District accounted for 20% of recognitions received throughout the state for the 2020-2021 school year.  

Congratulations to the following schools:

  • Bessey Creek Elementary School
  • Jensen Beach Elementary School
  • Palm City Elementary School
  • Warfield Elementary School

To learn more about the Florida MTSS Recognized Schools program, please click here. 
Keep Your Child Growing Strong With MCSD's Winter Wisdom Learning Resources
In a season filled with joy, fellowship and cheer, there is one small phrase that no parent wants to hear - "I'm bored!"

Never fear, families! The Martin County School District's Curriculum & Instruction Department has compiled handy, age-appropriate resources to help you keep your child engaged with learning throughout the holiday season. Click here to learn more...
Creativity on Display: Schools, Departments Participate in Holiday Decorating Challenge
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The Martin County School District's Employee Wellness Program recently held its annual holiday decorating contest. Employees were asked to design nutcrackers as individuals or groups for a chance to win Amazon gift cards courtesy of our medical insurance provider, Florida Blue! All members of Team MCSD were invited to vote for their favorite creations.

Congratulations to our winners:

1st place – The Material Girl in the 80s (Denise Chesler, Jensen Beach High School)

2nd place – Believe in Kindness in the 60s (Valerie Hall and Team ESE, Exceptional Student Education)

3rd place – The 60s - Beatriz Maisonet-Otero, Stuart Community Adult High School


Fictional Characters (click here to view all entries)
1st place – Alice in Wonderland (Jessica Lam, Jensen Beach High School)

2nd place – The Joker (William Henderson, Bessey Creek Elementary School)

3rd place – This is the Christmas Way (Jennifer Foglia, Hidden Oaks Middle School)



1st place – Day of the Dead (Ana Sahagun, Murray Middle School)

2nd place – Holiday Cheermeister (Margie Cadieux, Pinewood Elementary School)

3rd place – Gnome (Terri Brown, Crystal Lake Elementary School)



1st place – Martin County Sheriff's Office (Joanne Getherall, Jensen Beach High School)

2nd place – The Quarantine Teacher (Devin Seaboyer, Jensen Beach High School)

3rd place – Floral Designer (Kim Lintz, Stuart Middle School)



School/Department Spirit (click here to view all entries)
1st place – MMS Lions (Charity Maehel, Murray Middle School)

2nd place – Tribe Called WES (Robin Newman, Warfield Elementary School)

3rd place – I Love Payroll (Payroll Department)
Health & Wellness Resources
Bookmark our symptom screening tools (English and Español). Monitoring your child's health daily is key to preventing the spread of illness. To help protect their health and the health of those around them, keep your child home from school and other activities when they are ill.


Our screening tools will help you quickly assess your child for a wide variety of symptoms, advising what action is recommended and providing listings for local healthcare providers.


Team MCSD - please click here to access our employee symptom screener. You will be able to find local care providers who participate in our Florida Blue network and seek care as necessary.



Many local physicians and pharmacies are offering COVID-19 immunizations to interested, eligible individuals. Please click here to locate a provider near you. The CDC and DOH Martin advise that the COVID-19 vaccine is the best, long-term way to fight the virus.


COVID-19 testing is available throughout our community. Click here to view upcoming opportunities for free PCR testing through the Florida Department of Health in Martin County (DOH Martin). Click here to view testing opportunities offered by local pharmacies and physicians.
Around the District Photo Gallery
Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School's Mixed Choir performed its holiday concert on December 9. It was a beautiful evening of festive songs enjoyed by all in attendance!
The Port Salerno Elementary School Sing-Ray Choir performed "Rock 'n' Roll Snowman" during its Winter Around the World Holiday Concert last evening. Click here to watch and prepare to have your heart melt!
The South Fork High School Band held its annual PRISM Concert on Thursday, December 9. Check out the percussionists' amazing performance by clicking here!
Students Kyle Ramos (South Fork High School), Shea Powers (Jensen Beach High School), Jordan LoSardo (Martin County High School) and Cole Foster (South Fork High School) served as Florida YMCA Youth In Government (YiG) panelists during the annual Florida Supervisors of Elections Winter Conference, held recently at the Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa.

To the delight of attendees, the students spoke eloquently about their experiences serving as members of the YMCA of The Treasure Coast's YiG delegation, which is the largest in the state. Jensen Beach High School's Color Guard presented our nation's colors during the conference.
Crystal Lake Elementary School enjoyed a great turnout for its December PTA meeting and holiday concert - Mozart Meets Pirates. Students enrolled in the strings program and choir students were absolutely amazing!
Jensen Beach High School's famed Jubilate Choir performed its annual "Holiday Tunes in the Courtyard" event last week. Click here to check out the students' rendition of "Carol of the Bells"- it gives us chills!
Martin County High School's renowned OPUS Choir performed its annual Holiday Concert on Thursday, December 9. Check out students' catchy and memorable rendition of "White Christmas" by clicking here!
As part of the Martin County School District’s commitment to exemplary service, Transportation employees recently participated in customer experience training. Employees engaged in group discussions, hands-on activities and reflections designed to help them achieve the #ALLINMartin standard of excellence each day.
Second-grade students at Warfield Elementary School are learning about even and odd numbers. They've practiced their skills by using building blocks to make equal groups of two.
Fresh off their award-winning City of Stuart Christmas Parade performance, Indiantown Middle School's Marching Thunderbirds participated in the Village of Indiantown Christmas Parade on December 11.
J.D. Parker Elementary School students used marshmallows to build models of constellations for last week's STEAM Fun Friday activity. They enjoyed bringing what they've learned about the stars and sun to life!
We are #ALLINMartinđź‘Š and ready to help ALL students achieve their #MCSDPotential!