Exceptional Experiences

Mattie V. Rutherford Alternative MS – Local attorneys inspire students

Shared by April Slade, Director of K-12 Social Studies: This Team Duval Shoutout celebrates the recent “Young, Gifted, and Talented” Symposium held at Mattie V. Rutherford Alternative Middle School. Kudos go to Principal Sadie Milliner-Smith and teacher JoAnn Walker for hosting the event, which invited young African American attorneys to the school to speak to students. Speakers shared about the structure and function of the judicial branch, as well as their roles as attorneys. Great work!

Alden Road Exceptional Student Center – Volunteers Revitalize Media Center at School

Shared by Donna Baine, Assistant Principal: Staff at Alden Road Exceptional Student Center are celebrating over 40 volunteers who transformed the school's new media center! Volunteers with The Mission Continues, a veterans-based organization, helped staff relocate the library to a different room on campus. Volunteers did everything from painting the new space to assembling donated furniture from IKEA. Great work!

Darnell Cookman – Quiz Bowl team celebrates first-place win

Shared by Jeff Casner, teacher: Congratulations to Darnell-Cookman School of the Medical Arts and its Quiz Bowl team for a first-place finish at the Big Bend Bowl at Florida State University! Winning team members Emmanuel Abay, Tyler McDonald, and Seth Van Deusen now qualify for the National Academic Quiz Tournament (NAQT) National Championship in May. According to NAQT, Quiz Bowl allows teams to go head-to-head and answer questions about subjects such as science, popular culture, literature, history, and more. Quiz Bowl Coach Jeff Casner shares that Abay, McDonald, and Van Deusen’s impressive win involved competing against over a dozen teams from Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi. Bravo!

Merrill Road ES – Celebrating a memorable Special Olympics Day

Shared by Carrie Whitsell, an employee: Merrill Road Elementary is celebrating a successful Special Olympics event for their youngest students. Carrie Whitsell shares the following: “HUGE shout out to our PreK Team for making our Special Olympics Day such a joyful and special event for our staff and scholars. Our children enjoyed games with motor skills focus and social and emotional learning. Heartfelt thank you to Ms. Abdul-Haleem for organizing this awesome event every year!” Great work everyone!

John E. Ford K-8 – Students receive impactful lessons at local Holocaust Memorial Gallery

Shared by Jessica Brother, a social studies Specialist: A group of John E. Ford K-8 fourth and fifth grade students experienced powerful lessons in history during a recent visit to the Frisch Family Holocaust Memorial Gallery in Jacksonville. Students from Kyan Wolfe’s classes learned about the Holocaust through exhibitions and listening to the testimony of a second-generation survivor born in a displacement camp. Students also viewed the gallery’s “We Could Not Be Silent” exhibit, which commemorates a group of rabbis who stood with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other black activists working to desegregate St. Augustine.

Students with disabilities gaining employment skills with Project SEARCH

Shared by Marissa Davis, Educator: A group of Team Duval students hit an important milestone in their journey to employment after finishing their first internship rotation at UF Health. It’s all part of Project SEARCH, an international program that helps students with disabilities work toward paid employment. This group of six student interns – representing Ed White, Westside, Frank H. Peterson, and Ribault high schools – learned skills such as time management, communication skills, and job training in a variety of UF Health Departments including Radiology, Inpatient/Outpatient Rehabilitation, Food Prep, Mailroom, and more. Interns were tasked with a variety of duties including filing, organizing materials, and sanitizing equipment. Project SEARCH instructor and educator Marissa Davis says the success of these students and the 10-month program comes thanks to the leadership of Transition Coordinator Ellisa Hayes and Palm Avenue Exceptional Student Center Principal Michael Alexander. Way to go!

Westside HS – School and teacher honor Black history

Shared by Jessica Brothers, an employee: This Team Duval Shoutout celebrates Westside High School and history teacher Daniel Flint for their efforts to bring Black history to life in the classroom. Through the Triple Nikel Apparel/BLK OPS History Project, students took part in an interactive presentation elevating the stories of African American military veterans who have served in the US Special Operations Forces. The presentation included a panel of guest speakers, a documentary, and complimentary BLK OPS t-shirts provided by Triple Nike. Great work!

First Coast HS – Students continue tradition of serving the community

Shared by Richard Black, an employee: This shoutout highlights a group of First Coast High School students dedicated to serving the homeless community. The school’s National Honor Society/Interact students recently prepped and served a weekend evening meal at the Sulzbacher Center downtown. This is the seventh time students have used their weekend to prep and serve meals since school began in August. It’s also the school’s 10th year of volunteering at the shelter. Thank you for your kindness, consistency, and contributions!

J. Allen Axson ES – School’s robotics teams advance in First Lego League competition

Shared by Principal Cecilia Robinson-Vanhoy: A big congratulations goes to the fourth and fifth grade robotics teams at J. Allen Axson Elementary School! Their stellar performances at a recent First Lego League competition have qualified them to advance to regionals in January. The school’s fourth grade team, The Rising Robo Rockers, earned a Robot Game Award with a high score of 260. The fifth grade team, The Robo Rockers, received a high score of 240 and earned the Champions Award. Great work, and good luck!

Gregory Drive ES – Students cast votes for their peers on Election Day

Shared by Kenneth Ford, a teacher: Students at Gregory Drive Elementary School enjoyed their own Election Day experience as they cast their votes in a special student council election. Teacher Kenneth Ford shares more: “Students at Gregory Drive Elementary, led by Principal Sapp, were able to let their voices be heard on Election Day by voting for Student Council. From campaigns to voting lines to stickers, students were able to get the full experience of American voting.” Way to go!

Stanton College Preparatory – Cross Country Team celebrates a big first

Shared by Eric Rodillas, a booster club member: Stanton’s Lady Blue Devils recently clinched a big victory for the school’s cross-country program – winning the Gateway Conference championship! Eric Rodillas, a booster club member, shares the good news: “Congratulations to the Stanton College Prep Lady Blue Devils Cross Country team for winning their first-ever Gateway Conference championship. The team had four members named All-Conference: Elle Wight, Yuuki Wiesner, Andrea Lundahl, and Lindsay Johnson.” The Lady Blue Devils are coached by Norah Betancourt. Congratulations to all!

Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology - FFA students win big at local competition

Shared by Jessica Mastromatto, Principal: Congratulations are in order for Future Farmers of America (FFA) students at Frank H. Peterson who recently earned top prizes at the Northeast Florida Fair. According to Principal Jessica Mastromatto, students participating in the career and technical student organization earned the following prizes:

First, second, and third place in Poultry Judging
First and second place in Rabbit Showmanship
Student Brandi Acadimia's goat won Grand Champion Dairy Goat
Student Eden Ortega's pig won Reserve Grand Champion

Congratulations, and great work!

Young Men's and Young Women's Leadership Academy - Students and staff embrace a positive school culture in House Sorting Ceremony

Shared by Tamara Feagins, principal: It was a "dazzling display of school pride and excitement" at the Young Men's and Young Women's Leadership Academy at Eugene Butler as students and staff recently celebrated a House Sorting Ceremony at the school. YMLA/YWLA is one of many Team Duval Schools that has adopted the Ron Clark Academy House System, which is designed to create a positive school culture. Students are assigned to different "houses," allowing them to engage in teamwork, accountability, and friendly competition. Principal Tamara Feagins shares, "Each house represents unique values, encouraging students to discover their passions and develop their skills...Implementing Ron Clark's House System last year helped the school earn a letter grade of C—just 8 points shy of a B!" Great job!

Alden Road ESE - Celebrating "Team Alden!"

Shared by Desiree DeRenzo, an employee: One Team Duval employee is celebrating the great work taking place at Alden Road Exceptional Student Center, one of our schools for students with disabilities. Desiree DeRenzo says this: "Our team of administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, and staff are dedicated to the well-being of each and every student that we are privileged to teach. Each of our students is unique and diverse in talent. It takes a special group of people to understand and provide daily encouragement." Thanks for all you do!

Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month with "Somos Duuuval" Youth Football Camp

Shared by Keisha Rodriguez, an employee: We're shouting out the Jacksonville Jaguars for helping our students celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through the Somos Duuuval Youth Football Camp! "Somos Duval" is Spanish for "We are Duval." Englewood High School and the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Department hosted the football camp, welcoming ELL (English Language Learners) students from Englewood, King's Trail, Spring Park, and Love Grove elementary schools for a fun and collaborative learning experience.

Way to go!

Waterleaf ES - A Parent's appreciation for the school's teachers, staff, and PTA

Shared by Jasmine Lewis, a parent: One Team Duval mom is grateful for the impact Waterleaf Elementary School has had on her three children. Parent Jasmine Lewis says, "My son started in the ESE program because he wears hearing aids and they have the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program...After the holiday break last year he was able to transition to general education and they made the process so smooth, and he is still soaring." She goes on to praise the school's PTA for putting up creative decorations throughout the school, to the delight of her children. Great work!

Seabreeze ES - Honoring Seabreeze Teacher of the Year Whitney DeButy

Shared by Lauren Parrott, a parent: A Seabreeze elementary school parent is giving three cheers to her son's kindergarten teacher, Whitney DeButy. According to Lauren Parrott, Ms. DeButy made her son LOVE kindergarten. Here's what else she had to say about how the school's Teacher of the Year impacted her son:

"Mrs. DeButy.. made my son LOVE kindergarten! He looked forward to school each day because of the joyful environment she created in the classroom. She constantly communicated with and involved families in learning. The class even authored their own cookbook - chef hats included!" Great work, Ms. DeButy!

Riverside HS - Seniors gather to talk college

Shared by Zion Pool, a student: Today's shoutout comes from a student leader celebrating Future Fest '25, an informative gathering for rising seniors seeking tools and strategies for the college application process.

Student Zion Pool shares the following: "Rising Seniors from across DCPS came together to start the next life chapter this week. Future Fest '25 provided support for students navigating the college application process. As a student leader for FF'25, I worked with peers on applications, learned about financial aid, set goals for Senior Year." Great work to everyone who participated in this event!

Riverside HS - Outstanding Student Volunteers Recognized by the White House

Shared by Trelisy Robinson, a parent: Today we celebrate two recent Riverside High School graduates for earning the prestigious President's Volunteer Service Award. Alaisha Hall and Melaya Nesmith were honored for spending hundreds of hours of their time volunteering and helping others. Hall and Nesmith were surprised with gold medals and letters signed by President Joe Biden. They also received special recognition at the Riverside High School graduation. Congratulations and thank you for your hard work, dedication, and service in the community!

Seabreeze ES - Kudos to kindergarten teacher Tracy Pound

Shared by Janee Thomas, a parent: One Seabreeze Elementary parent is praising kindergarten teacher Tracy Pound for being an inspiration to her children. Janee Thomas says both of her sons have been taught by Pound. She shares the following about her youngest son's experiences this school year: "Her impact was amazing for my son. She gave him confidence while starting kindergarten. He was so nervous at first, but Ms. Pound made school so much fun that even on the weekends he wanted to go to school. My youngest is so sad to go to first grade because he doesn't want to leave!" Great work, Ms. Pound!

San Pablo ES - Honoring Mrs. Scott's "Hall of Fame"

Shared by Yisi Tarkenton, a parent: One San Pablo Elementary parent is celebrating third-grade teacher Michelle Scott for the way she successfully motivates students to read. Parent Yisi Tarkenton shares more: "We love Mrs. Scott at San Pablo Elementary. We went to Open House, and we discovered a little hall of fame that she has in her classroom for the student that read the most each year. Our son said, "Imagine me there, mom!" and it became a reality at the end of the school year thanks to her encouragement." Way to go!

Gateway Girls Recovery Center - Parent honors "superhero" role in daughter's life

Shared by Rachel Beliveau, a parent and district employee: One Team Duval parent is expressing gratitude for Natasha Clark-Jackson, a transition specialist hired through the district's Youth Development Programs. Rachel Beliveau says Clark-Jackson has made life-changing impact on her daughter during her time at the Gateway Girls Recovery Center: "Ms. Clark-Jackson is AMAZING!!! My daughter is currently in her sixth high school placement and is graduating this month. She has been her school mom for the last six months and has been vitally important in our lives. She's encouraged her to set goals, stay in school and treatment when she wanted to drop out, helped her enroll in college programs, taken care of her when she was really sick; I could go on and on. She's incredibly humble but deserves to be recognized as the superhero she is."

Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology - Seniors graduate amid personal hardships

Shared by Jessica Mastromatto, principal: Today we're shouting out two Team Duval seniors for graduating, despite facing extreme personal adversity. Frank H. Peterson Principal Jessica Mastromatto shares their story:

"Laasya and Lechelle are seniors who endured the death of their father and then their mother a month later in the spring of their senior year and are graduating! They have pushed through this devastating time, and both will walk across the stage successfully!" We wish Laasya and Lechelle nothing but the best!

Fort Caroline MS - Tikila Shakespeare named Educator of the Year

Shared by Angela Smiley, an employee: Congratulations to Tikila Shakespeare for being named Junior Achievement of Northeast Florida's Educator of the Year! Shakespeare is an AVID Coordinator and teacher at Fort Caroline Middle School of the Visual and Performing Arts, and was honored at the organization's 25th annual Hall of Fame Luncheon at the University of North Florida. Several of Shakespeare's students accompanied her, served as hosts, and presented her with the award. Well done, and way to represent Duval County Public Schools!

Riverside HS - Recognizing an exceptional student and volunteer

Shared by Donna Murphy, CSS Coach at Westview K-8: Team Duval staff are recognizing student Melaya L.

Nesmith for being a high-achiever with a big heart. Westview K-8 CSS Site Coach Donna Murphy shares this about Nesmith's impact: "I would like to shout out an exceptional student from Riverside High School, Melaya

L. Nesmith. She volunteered three years helping our students with disabilities, as a five-sport athlete, Royal Court 3rd runner up, 4.5+ GPA, and Early College Honor Graduate of FSC." Way to aim high and make a difference!

Loretto ES - Honoring an "exceptional" kindergarten teacher

Shared by Caitlin Yeager, a parent: One Loretto Elementary parent is expressing gratitude for kindergarten teacher Hannah Tzamaras, and the impact she's had on her daughter. According to Caitlin Yeager, "She truly cares for her students, which is demonstrated through both her words and actions. She was meant to teach kindergarten and I could not have asked for a better teacher for my daughter's first year in public school!" Great work, Ms. Tzamaras!

Seabreeze ES - Parent says son is "thriving" thanks to Kindergarten teacher

Shared by Natalie Brewster, a parent: Today's shoutout comes from a Seabreeze Elementary parent who credits Kindergarten teacher Cheyenne Rossi for helping her son overcome challenges with his handwriting.

Here's her son's story: "Ms. Rossi taught my son in kindergarten. She saw he was very bright, but his handwriting was not great. We had an Occupational Therapist evaluate, and it appeared he was on grade level. She advocated for Occupational Therapy because of the gap between the writing and the other subjects.

He got Occupational Therapy and is now thriving in 1st grade." What a great turnaround! Thanks for your support, Ms. Rossi!

Lone Star ES - Student art and music take center stage in community show

Shared by Jennifer Lisella-Marcellus, specialist: In this shoutout, we're honoring Lone Star Elementary School for holding its first community art and music show! Vantage Point Coffee provided students with a venue to share their talents with the public - music students performed, and art students spoke about their work. The student art was installed at the shop and remained on display for a few weeks. Kudos to art teacher Theresa Bryant and music teacher Erika Winter for hosting the successful event!

Frank H. Peterson Academies: Students win big at SkillsUSA Competition

Shared by Allison Viola, student: A big congrats goes to 12 Frank H. Peterson Academies students who recently earned gold, silver, and bronze honors in a variety of events at a recent SkillsUSA competition, a showcase for Career and Technical Education students! But the wins don't stop there. Peterson won Silver in the Chapter Recognition Awards for exemplifying personal skills, workplace skills, and technical skills grounded in academics. Two students are now state officers for Florida. And finally, Principal Mastromatto received the State SkillsUSA Cornerstone Award for being a supportive administrator for SkillsUSA Florida. Congratulations to all!

Mandarin MS - Praise for the School's National Junior Honor Society Projects

Shared by Jennifer Duarte, an employee: From cleaning to organizing, students with Mandarin Middle School's National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) are receiving kudos for the hard work they've been putting into the campus. Social Studies teacher Jennifer Duarte shares the following: "I want to give a shoutout to the 70 members of the Mandarin Middle NJHS that have tackled multiple campus improvement service projects to make their school better. These projects include organizing the lost and found, cleaning the courtyard, and painting lockers to promote literacy." Wonderful work!

Jean Ribault HS - Local Foundation Recognizes and Presents Checks to Students

Shared by Quen Sams, an employee: Congratulations are in order for two Jean Ribault High School students, My'kaylah Alston-Keeley and Kamya Walker, both recipients of a $2,000 award from a local foundation. Both students were surprised with checks by the Mitch 22 Foundation for their character and outstanding work ethic, and they'll be able to use these funds to offset their overall college expenses. The Mitch 22 Foundation was established by former Duval County Public Schools employees Larry and Pearl Roziers in memory of their late son, Larry Mitchell Roziers, I. The aim of the foundation is to advocate financially and emotionally for deserving youths. Great job!

John E. Ford K-8 - School staff thankful to receive new, transformative training

Shared by Shauna Winterbottom, school counselor: A new partnership with Hope and Healing Jax is yielding positive results and new opportunities for school staff at John E. Ford K-8! The local group will spend the next two years training the school community in Trauma Based Relational Intervention, or TRBI, thanks to a HOPE Grant. School counselors Shauna Winterbottom and Libby Curran were inspired to apply for the grant after going through TRBI training themselves. Winterbottom believes TRBI training will better equip staff to help students impacted by high rates of trauma including poverty, violence, and homelessness.

First Coast HS - Students honor Hispanic heritage in on-campus expo

Shared by Ashely French, Spanish Teacher: The First Coast High School community is sending a big "job well done" to a group of students who recently organized and hosted an interactive school-wide Hispanic Heritage Cultural Expo. Students and teachers visited booths to learn about the history, culture, and traditions of Spanish-speaking countries. Activities included salsa, merengue, and bachata dance lessons; face painting; trivia games; and exploring traditions like the Quinceañera, or 15th birthday. Spanish teacher Ashley French says, "Many of our native and heritage Spanish-speaking students stated that they were very excited to take part in this event and felt proud to see themselves represented and celebrated in this way."

District Data and Assessment Team - Thanking a "dynamic duo" for their contributions

Shared by Virginia Young, Pinedale Elementary Assistant Principal: District Data and Assessment Team (DAT) members Renaldo Crespo and Janis Browning are being commended for their hard work, patience, and expertise. Pinedale Assistant Principal Virginia Young credits this "dynamic duo" for helping her learn district systems, strategies, and skills that are beneficial to her job. She says, "Every training that I have received from this department has been beneficial to my employment. Their ability to streamline data and processes is remarkable."

Northwestern Legends ES - Dads learn valuable intervention and strategy models

Shared by Wendy Dunlap, Executive Director of School Counseling: Dads at Northwestern Legends Elementary School are becoming students and learning valuable lessons! Hope and Healing Jax, a local nonprofit, recently led a session at a Donuts for Dads event in which participants learned more about trauma intervention and strategies. Executive Director Wendy Dunlap says these dads are committed to learning more and are even inviting other parents to participate in events at the school. Kudos to these dads for being proactive!

Gregory Drive ES - Teacher celebrated for teaching students fun, valuable lessons

Shared by Shakeria Milligan, a teacher: Gregory Drive Elementary Teacher Kenneth Ford is receiving praise for going the extra mile with his students. Fellow teacher Shakeria Milligan says Ford always "goes above and beyond" to teach his students skills and concepts that they can use both now and later in life, like gardening and money management. Here, you can see Ford engaged in a hands-on science lesson with his students. Way to go, Mr. Ford!

Arlington Heights ES – Knowledge and Fun at Dads and Donuts Event

Shared by Jade Paredes, a teacher:

Teacher Kimberly Sedgwick is being praised by her peers for organizing a successful Dads and Donuts Event at Arlington Heights Elementary School. Dads in attendance had a chance to step into their children's shoes and learn more about the importance of the place value of numbers. Dads not only left with more knowledge, but they also left with items that they could take home to use for at-home practice with their students.

Terry Parker HS - A travelling pep rally with an important message

From Sherill Day, a teacher:

Terry Parker HS students visited several elementary and middle schools as part of a special "Just Say No to Drugs" outreach. The schools included Fort Caroline ES, Fort Caroline MS, Parkwood Heights ES, and Arlington MS. The high school students used a travelling pep-rally to share gifts with the younger students, all with the message of saying no to drugs. The event was part of Red Ribbon Week and in partnership with the Substance Abuse Prevention Education (SAPE).

Fishweir ES - Meeting and Exceeding Goals

Shared by Principal Kimberly Dennis:

A big kudos goes to 5th grade science teacher Alex Dorego of Fishweir Elementary for a job well done by his students on their first District Monitoring Assessment (DMA1) of the year. The new science teacher challenged his students to meet an individual goal for the test. Out of 68 students, 97% either met or exceeded the goal

— an accomplishment Mr. Dorego celebrated with a special pizza party. To quote Dennis, "He's on fire for teaching students science and I'm here for it!"

LaVilla MS - Creative writing students share their work in the community

From Nancy Bethea, a teacher: Creative writers with LaVilla School of the Arts are taking their work into the community! Students had the opportunity to perform their original work at two local events in the month of September. On Monday, Sept. 11, students shared their work at the 22nd Annual Peace Concert at the Ritz Theater and Museum. On Saturday, Sept. 23, they participated in the Jax Book Fest at the Main Library in downtown Jacksonville.

Englewood ES - Art teacher named Woflburg Fellow

From Laurie Hoppock, Director of Arts: Englewood Elementary School Art Teacher Anthony Aiuppy received a big surprise in the classroom - he's been named the 2023-24 Wolfburg Fellow for Social Justice in Education.

Awarded by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, this honor recognizes educators who show a commitment to social justice. Aiuppy was chosen from over 100 applicants and will receive an investment of $7,000 to cover a variety of unique opportunities, including professional learning and an action research project for his school.

Aiuppy says he plans to do a "long running comics project" centered around his students, many of whom come from families who recently immigrated to the United States.

Teacher earns 2023 Yale Educator Award

From Brandi Thomas, a district employee: Longtime Team Duval educator Dr. Scott Sowell has been named a recipient of the 2023 Yale Educator Award. Dr. Sowell, who currently teaches AP Environmental Science at Atlantic Coast High School, was nominated by a former Darnell-Cookman student who now attends Yale. Dr.

Sowell is one of 80 teachers and 32 counselors selected to receive this honor. According to the university, the Yale Educator Recognition Program annually recognizes "outstanding educators from around the world who support and inspire their students to perform at high levels and to achieve excellence."

Riverside HS - Students witness real live civics lesson

Shared by Principal Timothy Feagins:

"Riverside High School students had the experience of a lifetime this month as they got to witness firsthand 40 individuals representing 29 different countries be sworn in as U.S. citizens in a naturalization ceremony held on our campus. Not only did our students witness this amazing civics lesson, they were also active participants. This includes student leaders who performed the national anthem, led the new citizens in their first Pledge of Allegiance, and presented the new citizens to the judge. Many thanks to the Federal Bar Association, Jacksonville Chapter for making this a reality for our students."

LaVilla MS - A visit from a Genie!

Shared by Principal Knight:

"LaVilla's Musical Theatre classes enjoyed a Q&A with Marcus Martin who is currently starring as the Genie in Broadway's National Tour of Aladdin. Students not only got to spend quality time learning about Marcus' work in Aladdin and his own experience of going to a performing arts middle school, but Marcus also worked one on one with students and their song selections for upcoming High School auditions. It was such an amazing experience all around!"