Mission: To Educate All Students for Success
Vision: To Become a Dynamic Educational System of Excellence
John D. Millay, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and fellowship. It is a time for each of us to reflect on the many things we have to be thankful for, while also contemplating future opportunities to extend kindness, generosity and compassion to others.

On behalf of our School Board and the entire Martin County School District, I wish all of our students, employees and families a happy, safe and relaxing Thanksgiving holiday.
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 hope you will take a moment to review a few of our favorite "Martin Moments of Gratitude" for 2021!

District schools and offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday from Wednesday, November 24 - Friday, November 26, 2021. Classes will resume on Monday, November 29, 2021.
District Outperforms State, High Schools See Increase in Graduation Rate
January 2021
The Martin County School District earned a graduation rate of 90.2% during the 2019-2020 school year according to data released in January 2021 by the Florida Department of Education. The graduation rate for the three traditional, District-operated high schools increased to 95.3% during the same time period, a 1.7 percentage point increase over last year’s rate and a 5.3 percentage point increase above the state’s overall graduation rate of 90%. 

Graduation rates are based on students who finish high school "on time," within four years of entering ninth grade. In order to count as graduates, students must obtain a standard high school diploma (18 or 24 credit hours) or be enrolled in an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) program and eligible for graduation but electing to defer receipt of their diploma to return and attend school under FAPE (Free and Appropriate Public Education).

“In our mission of educating all students for success, we always begin with the end in mind,” Superintendent John D. Millay shared. â€śWe remain committed to providing each student with the effective instruction and learning opportunities he or she needs to achieve the goal of high school graduation. While we still have work to do to ensure all of our students become graduates, I remain confident that we are headed in the right direction. I am extremely proud of our students, faculty, staff and families for their hard work and commitment to achieving success.” 

2019-2020 graduation rates for Martin County schools are as follows:
 
  • Clark Advanced Learning Center - 100%

  • Jensen Beach High School - 95.1%

  • Martin County High School - 94.5%

  • South Fork High School - 96.5%

**Graduates who attend an alternative school are included with graduates from their comprehensive high school for the purposes of reporting the graduation rate. **
District, Education Foundation of Martin County Honor 2020-2021 Teachers of the Year
January 2021
The Martin County School District and Education Foundation of Martin County held four fun-filled celebrations the last week of January 2021, honoring 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year nominees and winners from each level - elementary, middle and high. Recognition events were held at Infiniti of Stuart (Elementary School Teacher of the Year), Maserati/Alfa Romeo of Stuart (Middle School Teacher of the Year), Keiser University - Port St. Lucie Campus (High School Teacher of the Year) and Audi of Stuart (MCSD Teacher of the Year).

Ms. Kate Logan of Port Salerno Elementary School, Ms. Juanita Johnson of Stuart Middle School and Ms. Leigh Anne Pike of Martin County High School took home the top honor in their respective categories. Ms. Pike went on to claim the overall Martin County School District Teacher of the Year Award for the 2020-2021 school year. At the state level, Ms. Pike was awarded the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations' Invested in Excellence Award.

"To our teachers, I want to thank you from the very bottom of my heart," Superintendent John D. Millay shared with each group of nominees. "You wake up each day and choose to share your time, talent and commitment to excellence with our children – these facts alone make you deserving of the highest level of gratitude, recognition and praise. Respected and admired by your colleagues, administrators and families, you are the best because you have dedicated your careers to bringing out the best in our students. Thank you for contributing positively to our students’ lives and to our profession, which creates all other professions."

Congratulations to each of our 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year 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, The Hope Center for Autism

  • Maryann Williams, J.D. Parker Elementary School

  • Jamie McNealy, Jensen Beach Elementary School

  • Jennifer Ali, Jensen Beach High School

  • Coli Escher, Murray Middle School

  • Heather Swindler, Palm City Elementary School

  • Vanessa Muto, Pinewood Elementary School

  • Melissa Pastor, SeaWind Elementary School

  • Wendy Schepman, South Fork High School

  • Vanessa Dayus, Treasure Coast Classical Academy

  • Rachael Sharp, Warfield Elementary School
District Honors 2020-2021 School-Related Employees of the Year
February 2021
The Martin County School District held its annual School-Related Employee of the Year recognition ceremony on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. The celebration was held in a virtual format as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty-eight outstanding employees were nominated by their school and department sites for this prestigious awards program, which is part of a Florida Department of Education initiative designed to honor educational support personnel for the significant contributions they make to their schools and school districts.
 
“It is such an honor to be part of the School-Related Employee of the Year recognition program,” Superintendent John D. Millay shared. â€śWe have hundreds of employees working behind the scenes to support our students, teachers and classrooms in numerous ways each day. I offer my congratulations and sincere appreciation to each of our outstanding nominees for their role in fostering positive, nurturing environments for all students.”
 
Rocio Yvonne Potsko of Food & Nutrition Services was named the overall winner of the 2020-2021 School-Related Employee of the Year Award. Ms. Potsko will move on to represent the Martin County School District in the Florida School-Related Employee of the Year competition.
 
“Mrs. Potsko’s mission is to provide resources that nourish student success,” Laura Holmedal, Director of Food & Nutrition Services, wrote in her letter of recommendation. “Innovation and creativity are synonymous with Yvonne. Her proficiency for communication and marketing give students the opportunity to engage in the food service program. Her efforts [have led] to multiple awards from the School Nutrition Association, United States Department of Agriculture and Florida Dairy Association. The students in Martin County benefit daily from Yvonne’s commitment to improving student health and from her exceptional service.”
 
“Ms. Potsko is a shining example of a Martin County School District employee who excels in her role and understanding of how her work aligns with our mission of educating all students for success,” Dr. Millay shared. “She wholeheartedly believes that students perform better in the classroom if they have access to healthy meals, and she has implemented a variety of campaigns and strategies that make the exploration of healthy choices fun for even the pickiest of eaters. I am honored to have Ms. Potsko represent the District as our 2020-2021 School-Related Employee of the Year.”
 
Congratulations to each of our 2020-2021 Employee of the Year nominees:
 
  • Holly Brewer, Data Entry/Guidance Clerk – Bessey Creek Elementary

  • Gina Williamson, ESE Paraprofessional – Citrus Grove Elementary

  • Lisa Williams, Secretary to the Principal – Crystal Lake Elementary

  • Vivian Diaz-Felipe, Home School Liaison – Dr. David L. Anderson Middle

  • Kristin Ash, ESE Paraprofessional – Felix A. Williams Elementary

  • Raquel Queen-Young, Accounts Payable Supervisor – Finance Department

  • Rocio Yvonne Potsko, Registered Dietician – Food & Nutrition Services Department*

  • Sandra Hart, Class Manager Assistant – Head Start and Pre-K Programs

  • Diane Haase, Secretary – Hidden Oaks Middle

  • Ruth March, Parent Liaison – Hobe Sound Elementary

  • Barbara Velez, Administrative Assistant – The Hope Center for Autism

  • Nais Lopez, HR Specialist – Human Resources Department

  • Stephanie Kay Brown, Food & Nutrition Services Manager –Indiantown Middle

  • Christina Lee Chong, Data Entry Clerk – J.D. Parker Elementary

  • Abigail Eckler, ESE Paraprofessional – Jensen Beach Elementary

  • Amy Rau, Secretary to the Principal – Jensen Beach High

  • Santos Gaitan-Hernandez, Utility Worker – Maintenance Department

  • Quanita Denise Hamilton, Assistant Secretary – Martin County High

  • Israel Cruz, Custodian – Murray Middle

  • Thomas Michels, Plant Operator -  Palm City Elementary

  • Eva Maria Anderson, Home School Liaison – Pinewood Elementary

  • Viridiana Cruz Hernandez, Assistant Secretary – Port Salerno Elementary

  • Karyn Elisabeth Beuscher, Paraprofessional – Riverbend Academy

  • Georgia Aretha Foster, Health Assistant – SeaWind Elementary

  • Debbie Ezzo, Guidance Secretary – Stuart Middle

  • Judy Eckhardt, Plant Operator – South Fork High

  • Nicolasa Martinez, Home School Liaison – Warfield Elementary

  • Michael Skinner, Custodian – Willoughby Learning Center

  *Denotes the overall winner of the 2020-2021 Employee of the Year award

WPBF: Martin County School District Unveils New Security System
February 2021
WPBF - One button. The Martin County School District said it’s just that easy now for its staff to call for help.

Every District staff member wears a small card on a lanyard on their body.
If something happens at any school, any staff member can push the button and immediately lock the school down.

The button also sends an alert not just to the school district and school resource officer, but also to every police officer in the area.

The button can be thought of as a cry for help that everybody can hear.
“In our business, seconds matter,” said Frank Frangella, Director of Safety and Security for the District. “You want to get help there as quickly as possible.”

The system also includes a way for administrators and police to sound the alarm for lesser emergencies, perhaps a danger outside the school or a weather emergency.

The principal at J.D. Parker Elementary School said it’s also allowed teachers to have peace of mind knowing they have an easy way to call for help.

“This system has been able to give us that communication so we can do our jobs,” said Nicole Rathnaw. “Unless the kids are safe, they’re not going to learn.”

“It’s very simplistic to use,” Frangella said. “It’s very effective, and it gets the message out. And we get the help that we need.” Read more...
Indian River Magazine: Newly-Appointed Martin County Superintendent Outlines Path for Student Success
March 2021
Indian River Magazine - Dr. John D. Millay, the Martin County School District's new Superintendent of Schools, says he always planned to move to Florida at some point later in his life. After a 27-year career building academic success as a teacher, principal and school superintendent in Kentucky, Millay was ready to make the move, but not retire. When the position for superintendent in Martin County opened, the timing and the opportunity just seemed right.

"I love it here!" he says with enthusiasm. "The community is vibrant. The people are passionate about education which sometimes those passions run strong - and that is a good thing. I would rather see passion for education and values than the lack thereof. They believe in education, they value it, and it's a beautiful place to live."

As he plans ahead, Millay points to the District's mission and vision statements.

"In Martin County, an education - our brand - has value for all kids, and we want to make sure that all kids and families have that access and experience it. 'Dynamic' is knowing that change is needed to be vibrant and growing. It reflects that we're open to changing things if we can improve the life of a child or family. I think when we say 'excellence', it's not just an average. We're trying to get better, but it's for all. Regardless of your wealth or poverty, we want that bar for everybody." Read more...
Outstanding Volunteers, Community Partners Honored for Contributions to Schools
April 2021
The Martin County School District honored its outstanding volunteers and community partners in education on Wednesday, April 7.

Approximately 2,200 volunteers and community partners provided more than 80,000 hours of service in the 2019-2020 school year, resulting in an estimated financial impact of $2.2 million.

"Volunteerism and the support of our community and business partners is so critical to our school district’s mission of educating all students for success," Superintendent John D. Millay shared. "Martin County is one of the most philanthropic, service-oriented communities in the world - we are so grateful for the contributions made by each of our school volunteers and community partners in education. It truly is remarkable what we can do for our children when we go #ALLINMartin together." 

District-Operated High Schools Ranked Among Tops in the Nation According to U.S. News & World Report
April 2021
Each year, U.S. News & World Report issues rankings of America's Best Public High Schools, incorporating data on nearly 24,000 public, charter, magnet and STEM-focused high schools in the fifty states and District of Columbia.  The Best High Schools rankings identify the country's top-performing public high schools. The rankings are designed to provide a clear, unbiased picture of how well public schools serve all of their students – from the highest to lowest achieving – in preparing them to demonstrate proficiency in basic skills as well as readiness for college-level work.
 
The Martin County School District is proud to announce that each of its District-operated high schools - Jensen Beach High School (#1,856 in the U.S., #108 in Florida), Martin County High School (#4,323 in the U.S., #217 in Florida) and South Fork High School (#4,271 in the U.S., #215 in Florida) - have been ranked among the top 20% of high schools in the nation this year. 

“I was ecstatic to learn that each of our schools was named to the 2021 list of America’s Best High Schools,” Superintendent John D. Millay shared. â€śThe rankings achieved by our schools are a direct reflection of the District's dedication to our mission of educating all students for success. I am proud of each of our high school students, teachers, administrators and support staff members for this remarkable accomplishment.”
CBS12: New Book Vending Machines Unveiled in Martin County
May 2021
CBS12 - Inside the cafeteria at J. D. Parker Elementary School is an innovative way to encourage literacy throughout the Martin County School District.

CBS12 News received an exclusive first look at a one-of-a-kind book vending machine that was installed Wednesday by the Education Foundation of Martin County, a non-profit organization that works to enrich and enhance the quality of education for students and educators in Martin County's public schools.

Students gathered inside the cafeteria, peeking inside the vending machine to see which book they wanted to unlock first.

"I just thought it was pretty cool," said Luke, an elementary student at J.D. Parker. "I've never really seen one [in] my entire life."

About 100 books can fit into the unique vending machine. There are storybooks and chapter books. Books about Clifford the Big Red Dog and dragons. Books with inspiring stories and books about planetary voyages.

"We couldn't be more excited to have this opportunity," said Principal Nicole Rathnaw. "Literacy is so important for our students so that they can continue to grow and learn." Read more...

November 2021 Update - The Education Foundation of Martin County continues to install book vending machines at campuses throughout the District. Learn more about the "For the Love of Reading" initiative here.
Congratulations to the Class of 2021!
May 2021
Jensen Beach High School's graduation ceremony was held on May 19, 2021.
Martin County High School's graduation ceremony was held on May 20, 2021.
South Fork High School's graduation ceremony was held on May 21, 2021.
Jensen Beach High School

🎓358 Falcons graduated as members of the Class of 2021. 70% of graduating seniors plan to attend a college or university in the fall.

🎓 76% of the Class of 2021 graduated with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. 12 seniors completed their high school careers with perfect 4.0 unweighted GPAs.
 
🎓142 seniors earned at least one industry certification through one of the school’s eight Career & Technical Education (CTE) Academies. Graduating seniors earned a total of 199 industry certifications.
 
🎓16 seniors decided a high school diploma wasn’t enough - they also earned their A.A. degrees before Wednesday's ceremony.
 
🎓12 seniors have enlisted to serve our country in the armed forces. Two seniors earned military scholarships, while three others plan to enroll in college ROTC programs.
 
🎓The JBHS Class of 2021 earned more than $430,250 in scholarships and completed approximately 25,300 hours of community service.



Martin County High School

🎓470 Tigers graduated as members of the Class of 2021. 80% of graduating seniors plan to attend a college or university in the fall.

🎓129 seniors earned at least one industry certification through one of the school’s 11 Career & Technical Education (CTE) Academies. Graduating seniors earned a total of 227 industry certifications.

🎓 Members of the Class of 2021 completed 1,068 Advanced Placement (AP) assessments.
 
🎓19 seniors decided a high school diploma wasn’t enough - they also earned their A.A. degrees before Thursday's ceremony.
 
🎓34 seniors have enlisted to serve our country in the armed forces.
 
🎓The MCHS Class of 2021 earned more than $214,000 in scholarships.


South Fork High School

🎓440 Bulldogs graduated as members of the Class of 2021. 5 seniors completed their high school careers with perfect attendance.

🎓54% of the Class of 2021 graduated with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. 9 seniors graduated with perfect 4.0 unweighted GPAs.
 
🎓165 seniors earned at least one industry certification through one of the school’s eight Career & Technical Education (CTE) Academies.

🎓 Members of the Class of 2021 completed 432 Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (I.B.) assessments.

🎓9 seniors decided a high school diploma wasn’t enough - they also earned their A.A. degrees before today's ceremony.
 
🎓8 seniors have enlisted to serve our country in the armed forces.
 
🎓The SFHS Class of 2021 earned more than $200,000 in scholarships and completed 20,548 hours of community service.
Nineteen Schools Named PBIS Model Schools of Resilience for 2020-2021 School Year
September 2021
It's time to celebrate! Nineteen schools have been recognized for their commitment to excellence and resilience in implementing a school-wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) framework during the 2020-2021 school year. PBIS is a set of strategies based in behavioral and biomedical science that enhance students' quality of life and reduce problem behaviors.
  
By establishing this framework, the recognized schools have demonstrated a commitment to developing students' social-emotional skills, making changes to the school environment, acknowledging and celebrating appropriate student behavior and using data to identify needed supports for students.  The 2020-2021 Model School Resilience Award demonstrates each school's commitment to the effective implementation of PBIS and efforts toward achieving positive and equitable outcomes for all students. Read more...
Martin County Recognized as an Academically High-Performing School District for Third Consecutive Year
October 2021
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 for the third consecutive year. The District is one of just 16 school districts - and the only district on the Treasure Coast - to earn the prestigious award for the 2020-2021 school year.

The Academically High-Performing School District designation is based on school/district grades for the 2018-2019 school year (or 2020-20201 if opted into), financial audit reviews for the 2019-2020 school year and class size compliance during the 2020-2021 school year.

“It is an honor to receive the Florida Department of Education's prestigious Academically High-Performing School District designation,” Superintendent John D. Millay shared. “Academic performance, fiscal responsibility and systemic compliance with state regulations are all factors that ensure we are able to carry out our mission of educating all students for success. If you come across a Martin County student or employee out in our community, please congratulate them for doing their part in helping us to achieve this honor. It takes a village to raise our children and this designation means our hard work is being recognized at the state level.”

In addition to Martin County, the following school systems met the criteria to be named Academically High-Performing School Districts for the 2020-2021 school year: Brevard, Clay, Collier, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Liberty, Monroe, Okaloosa, Palm Beach, Santa Rosa, St. Johns, Seminole, Sumter, Wakulla and Walton.
WPTV: Martin County School District Begins New Chapter of English Language Arts Education
October 2021
WPTV - As Florida schools close the book on Common Core standards, the Martin County School District is beginning a new chapter with its English and Language Arts curriculum.

A teacher reading to students and kids listening intently and answering questions may look like an average first-grade class. But what happens next inside one Port Salerno Elementary School classroom sets it apart.

"She reads that book. But the work they are going to do after that read-aloud is they are going to be comparing and contrasting two different books. And they’ll be talking about what are the struggles the characters face," said Courtney Beard, the District's K-5 ELA Program specialist.

And that advanced work happening in classrooms across the school district is all part of the new English Language Arts curriculum that Martin County adopted this year.

"We had to make a big decision. We could have adopted kindergarten through second grade a new curriculum, reading and writing B.E.S.T. Standards, but we decided to go big and go K through 12," Beard said.

Please click here to learn more.
Outstanding Leaders Named 2021-2022 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year
November 2021
Janice Mills of Spectrum Academy was named the Martin County School District's 2021-2022 Principal of the Year.
Drew Connolly of South Fork High School was named the Martin County School District's 2021-2022 Assistant Principal of the Year.
The Martin County School District named its 2021-2022 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year on October 29, 2021, honoring two veteran educators with the awards.

Janice Mills of Spectrum Academy was named Principal of the Year and Drew Connolly of South Fork High School was recognized as Assistant Principal of the Year.  Superintendent John D. Millay and members of his Executive Cabinet traveled to both schools to deliver the surprise to each administrator.
 
"There aren't enough superlatives to describe leaders like Ms. Mills and Mr. Connolly," Dr. Millay shared. "Each is known for their servant leadership and going the extra mile to ensure their schools are supportive environments focused on educating all students for success."

To view the surprise announcement at Spectrum Academy, please click here. 
 
To view the surprise announcement at South Fork High School, please click here.  Read more...