September 25, 2023
Students Explore Next Steps at the 2023 College and Career Fair
The 2023 annual College and Career Fair hosted by the Palm Beach County School District, took place on Wednesday, September 20 at the South Florida Fairgrounds. The event featured representatives from more than 100 colleges, universities, trade schools, and the U.S. armed forces who met with students to discuss their futures beyond high school.
See How a Jupiter High School Student Turned His Experiences into a Story of Triumph
Weighing only 1 pound, 4 ounces at birth and completely deaf by 15 months old, Emmanuel (Manny) Parker, spent his first year of life in the NICU. Over 15 years, he's prevailed through 78 blood transfusions and 40 surgeries but hasn't let any of that stop him from hiking, camping, and swimming his way toward becoming an Eagle Scout.

The final step a student must take toward earning Scouting's highest rank is to complete a community service project. Manny let his project take him back to where his own story began; a neonatal intensive care unit, where doctors and nurses care for struggling newborns.
This Week's Thank a Teacher Winner is a Lifelong Learner Who Found Her Calling at a Young Age
Melissa Reid has always had a passion for learning and helping others. As a young student herself, she dreamed of one day becoming a teacher. She took her passion and turned it into a classroom career, and now, this lifelong learner is a first-grade teacher at Citrus Cove Elementary School!

Ms. Reid was nominated by her colleague for going above and beyond for her students and her peers. She was surprised in her classroom this week with the Thank a Teacher award, and a $250 check thanks to our sponsor, HCA Florida Healthcare!

Celebrating Dads Take Your Child to School Day!
Fathers and father figures celebrated β€œDads Take Your Child to School Day” across the School District of Palm Beach County. The annual event emphasizes the important connection children have with their dads, brothers, uncles, grandparents, stepfathers, male mentors, and other significant male role models.
See Which District Schools Were Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School
Don Estridge High Tech Middle School in Boca Raton and Suncoast Community High School in Riviera Beach are on the list of just 14 schools in Florida recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023.

The Department of Education bestows the designation on schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores, and graduation rates:

β€’ Exemplary High-Performing Schools are among their state’s highest-performing schools

β€’ Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools are among their state’s highest-performing schools in closing achievement gaps.
High School Students Prepare to Vote During National Voter Registration Week
Tuesday, September 19 was National Voter Registration Day. The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections visited area high schools throughout the week to encourage an active citizenry and prepare students to exercise their right to vote in the future by pre-registering or registering to vote.


Click here to watch a recap of the event.
Marcia Andrews is Recognized For Her Work in Urban Education Leadership
District 6 Board Member Marcia Andrews is a finalist for the Green-Garner Award for Urban Educator of the Year, one of just five finalists nationwide. The award recognizes outstanding contributions in urban education leadership.

Andrews has represented District 6 since November 2010, after more than 40 years of experience as an educator in the School District. Her entry into the profession was fueled by her devotion to helping others, a commitment she carried with her into holding leadership roles in several education, community, social, and civic organizations.