Ten Florida schools were recognized today by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) and the Florida Parent Teacher Association (PTA) with the Family and Community Involvement Award. Schools were honored during the PTA’s annual leadership conference.
“It is an honor to recognize these schools with the Family and Community Involvement Award,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “As a former teacher and principal, I have seen firsthand the importance of positive family impact and community involvement, and the effect it can have on the lives of our students. I applaud these schools for going above and beyond by proactively developing meaningful engagement with family and community members.”
“It is our extreme pleasure to host the Department of Education’s Family and Community Involvement Awards Breakfast,” said Florida PTA President Cindy Gerhardt. “Florida PTA has enjoyed many years of partnership with this event and I feel that it is the perfect opportunity to not only showcase the outstanding programs being created in our schools, but a way to bring together school leaders who believe that parent engagement is paramount. Whether the award winning schools have a PTA or not, it is the shared belief that ALL children do better when a parent or caregiver is engaged in their education that draws us together and inspires us to keep working side by side.”
The Family and Community Involvement Award is sponsored by the Florida Department of Education, Florida PTA, Wells Fargo and State Farm Insurance. It recognizes exemplary school practices that focus on increasing family involvement, welcoming families into the local school system, providing effective communication, supporting student success, and promoting collaboration with the community.
The 2016-17 Family and Community Involvement Award Winners are below.
REGION I
Santa Rosa County
Bagdad Elementary School
Bulldogs in the House
Leon County
Fort Braden K-8 School
Fort Braden Reads
REGION II
St. Johns County
Ocean Palms Elementary School
Change for a Change
Duval County
Mandarin High School
For the Love of Reading
REGION III
Orange County
Bay Lake Elementary School
Back to School Food Truck
Orange County
Freedom Middle School
Freedom Middle School Title I Family Involvement and Community Events
REGION IV
Manatee County
Daughtrey Elementary School
The Walking School Bus
Pinellas County
Countryside High School
Countryside High School Career Center and its College and Career Fair
REGION V
Palm Beach County
South Olive Elementary School
Latino Community Cares Event
Palm Beach County
Congress Middle School
Boys and Blue at Congress Middle School
For more information on Family and Community Outreach programs, visit http://www.fldoe.org/family/.
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.
