Metro | K-12 Education - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Alachua County Public School teacher a finalist for national culinary education award

By Maya Erwin | June 1, 2021

Pamela Bedford, the director of the Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School, was nominated as one of four finalists for the American Culinary Federation’s national Chef Educator of the Year Award — an annual recognition of a culinary educator who has led by example to enhance the cooking skills of their students and guide them to success.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

ACPS teachers work hard to succeed within the classroom, despite a global pandemic

By Maya Erwin | May 10, 2021

The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in March disrupted daily in-person classes and introduced new safety regulations such as temperature screenings and mask mandates in Alachua County Public Schools. ACPS teachers adjusted to smaller class sizes, instructing on Zoom and changing mask mandates all while trying to ensure students were still learning.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

ACPS no longer requires masks outdoors

By Samuel Schaffer | May 7, 2021

Beginning this summer, masks will be optional indoors on ACPS campuses as well, ACPS Director of Communications Jackie Johnson said. The county will also no longer require temperature checks, but social distancing will still be enforced.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

More than 20 Alachua County Public School students and staff in quarantine

By Jiselle Lee | Mar. 31, 2021

As of Tuesday night, there were seven active student cases and one active staff case, representing students and staff who have reported a positive test result to ACPS in the past 10 days. The district’s total enrollment is 26,660 students.

Eastside High students Khyeisha Boykins and Jay'Marlon Wilson prepare food for eligible families [Photo courtesy of Alachua County Public Schools Spokesperson Jackie Johnson].

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Eastside High School students prepare meals for the community in culinary arts program

By Karina Wilson | Mar. 24, 2021

The institution partnered with Karla P. Shelnutt, an associate professor at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, who studies nutrition and food insecurity for the Family Nutrition Program.

A portrait of former band director Richard E. Parker hangs inside the band room at Eastside High School on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. Parker was the Eastside marching band director from 1970 to 1990.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Eastside High School alumni band members carry on distinctive high-energy style

By Alan Halaly | Mar. 1, 2021

Since former Eastside High School band director Richard E. Parker's death in 2016, former band members have come together every few months to honor and educate people about the marching band’s old style and community impact through performances at community events and street parardes.

Screenshot of the false message on Instagram [Courtesy of Jackie Johnson]

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Fake message about Alachua County Public Schools posted on Instagram

By Emil Munksgaard Grosen | Feb. 17, 2021

A fake Instagram account posing as Alachua County Public Schools spread a false message late Saturday night that schools would switch to remote learning. The school district plans to contact Instagram with hopes of getting the account taken off the platform.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Eastside High School Alumni Association to mentor current students

By Alan Halaly | Feb. 15, 2021

The goal of the organization is to guide current students while also funding school programs and scholarships. It is one of the few high school alumni associations in the Alachua County Public School system.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

More than 700 Alachua County Public School students and staff in quarantine

By Daniella Sevares | Jan. 27, 2021

In its fourth week of classes, ACPS has 702 students and faculty in quarantine for COVID-19. The spread is tied to positive cases on sports teams.

Photo of ACPS Teacher of the Year Nicole Harris [Courtesy of Jackie Johnson]

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Meet the Gainesville High 2021 Alachua County Teacher of the Year Award

By Daniella Sevares | Jan. 27, 2021

The Robert W. Hughes Teacher of the Year Celebration selected Harris as the winner among two other finalists during a virtual livestream Jan. 21. Harris will represent the Alachua County Public School District in the 2022 Florida Teacher of the Year Program.

Taylor Hill-Miles, this year’s winner of the Edna M. Hart Keeper of the Dream Award, gives a keynote speech at Citizens Field on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. She talked about the importance of demanding justice for the Black community.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Meet the Edna M. Hart Keeper of the Dream Award winner

By Daniella Sevares | Jan. 25, 2021

The 17-year-old Eastside High School senior has volunteered more than 500 hours at Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, GRACE Marketplace and the Farm Share — all while being the captain of her cross country and soccer teams and student body president with a 4.7 GPA.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

More than 140 ACPS students and staff in quarantine following winter break

By Daniella Sevares | Jan. 12, 2021

After the first week of spring classes, 144 ACPS students and staff were in quarantine. These cases have been attributed to recreational activities and gatherings, not campus spread.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

More than 250 public school students and faculty in quarantine this week

By Sophie Feinberg | Dec. 11, 2020

As of Friday afternoon, ACPS has 81 active COVID-19 cases, according to the school district’s COVID-19 dashboard. This week, 258 are in quarantine — an increase of more than 100 since last week.

Carlee Simon, who was selected as interim superintendent, has over almost two decades of education experience.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

School district selects interim superintendent

By Sophie Feinberg | Dec. 4, 2020

The Alachua County Public School board voted 3-2 in a meeting Friday to select Carlee Simon as interim superintendent.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

As COVID-19 cases rise, the public school district prepares to continue digital learning

By Sophie Feinberg | Dec. 4, 2020

Alachua County Public Schools can continue offering digital learning in the spring, according to a state emergency order enacted this week.

Former Superintendent Karen Clarke, left, Moore’s mom, Tedreyonce' Moore and Deputy Superintendent Donna Jones smile on Oct. 28, 2019, the day Moore received her laptop. Clarke and Jones were Moore’s mentors. (Courtesy of The Education Foundation of Alachua County)

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Public schools, nonprofits address digital divide in light of COVID-19

By Sophie Feinberg | Dec. 4, 2020

Eight months since Alachua County Public Schools went virtual due to COVID-19, students continue to struggle with the change. With many students still not physically back in schools, education morphed to fit into an increasingly virtual world through digital or hybrid learning. Even in brick-and-mortar classrooms, digital access is a necessity.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION