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St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar Endorses Dick Williams for County Commission, District 4

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Dick’s commitment to public safety and supporting our law enforcement
officials are among the reasons he supports his candidacy

St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar announced his endorsement of Dick Williams for the St. Johns County Commission District 4 seat. His commitment to public safety and ensuring that our law enforcement receive the respect and resources they need are among the reasons why he supports his candidacy.

“Dick understands that in order for quality of life to be sustained, we have to uphold a commitment to the people of St. Johns County and those who visit to ensure their public safety. Whether it is school safety or providing the resources that our law enforcement officers and team need, Dick is the most qualified candidate and he will work to ensure we meet the level of public safety our citizens deserve,” said St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar.

“Public safety is one of the most important issues that we need to address as a Member of the St. Johns County Commission. Ensuring that our law enforcement has the resources they need to keep our county safe will be one of my top priorities,” said Dick Williams.

A Republican candidate for the St Johns County Commission District 4, Dick Williams is committed to promoting policies that maintain the excellent quality of life that we all enjoy while protecting our hard-earned tax dollars and ensuring that we continue to grow our economy. For more information, please visit his website at: Williams4Commission.com

Paid by Dick Williams, Republican, for St Johns County Commission, District 4

First Lady Ann Scott Kicks off 10th Annual Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! in St. Johns County

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First Lady Ann Scott today kicked off 2018 Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! at Ponte Vedra High School in St. Johns County. The First Lady was joined by St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson, Department of Education and Florida Lottery officials, and Ponte Vedra High School students and staff. The 10th annual theme is “Find Yourself in a Book.”
First Lady Ann Scott said, “This is my eighth Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!, and I am thrilled for the opportunity to spend time with hundreds of Florida students and their outstanding teachers and principals throughout the week. I look forward to this event every year because it draws attention to the invaluable role of reading and literacy in every facet of our lives.”
Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart said, “In order for students to reach their full potential, they must continually hone essential reading and literacy skills. First Lady Ann Scott’s passion for literacy motivates students to love reading as much as she does, and I am so appreciative of her support of Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!”
Following the kick-off event, First Lady Ann Scott will visit the following schools on her literacy tour:

  • Ponte Vedra Palm Valley Rawlings Elementary School
  • Robert Willis Elementary School
  • Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School
  • Tara Elementary School
  • West Navarre Primary School
  • Oriole Beach Elementary School
  • Bennett C. Russell Elementary School

Since Governor Rick Scott took office in 2011, First Lady Scott has prioritized reading and literacy, and she has visited all of Florida’s 67 counties sharing her passion for reading with Floridians. During the school year, First Lady Scott visits schools throughout the state, where she reads to Florida’s students and thanks their hardworking educators for helping to prepare them for lifelong success. Over the summer months, she partners with the Departments of Education and Environmental Protection to encourage students to remain focused on reading all year.
Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! is a week-long celebration each January designed to raise awareness about the importance of literacy and to inspire Florida’s students and families to make reading a part of their daily routines. The week’s events are made possible by participating sponsors: Florida Lottery; LEGOLAND Florida Resort; and the Florida Education Foundation.
For more information about Celebrate Literacy Week, visit Just Read, Florida!

St. Johns County Superintendent Honored for Data-Driven Success

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At yesterday’s State Board of Education meeting, Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart named former St. Johns County Schools Superintendent Dr. Joseph G. Joyner as the 2016 Lavan Dukes District Data Leader of the Year. During Dr. Joyner’s tenure, St. Johns has been one of only two districts to achieve an “A” grade every year since district grades were implemented in 2004, and in 2016, St. Johns was the highest performing school district in Florida.
“I am pleased to recognize Dr. Joyner with this prestigious award for his hard work and dedication to Florida students,” said Commissioner Stewart. “He cultivated a student-focused environment that used data to guide instruction and ultimately helped the district’s students achieve outstanding academic results.”
During the 14 years Dr. Joyner served as superintendent, his district’s students consistently performed among the best in the state. Dr. Joyner emphasized the use of data to help ensure all students had the information they needed to embark on a learning path that would enable them to be well-rounded graduates with good character and strong leadership skills.
To help teachers become more familiar with and understand the data pertaining to their students, each Wednesday was an early-release day, during which time teachers and administrators reviewed the most current data. Through professional learning communities, teachers dove deeper into the data and worked together to remedy any gaps they identified.
Data use extended beyond classroom instructors. District staff met with principals, assistant principals, school psychologists, guidance counselors and instructional literacy coaches each month to discuss the most recent data. The information from those meetings was used to drive instruction and monitor student progress, which is crucial in helping students stay on track. It also provided an avenue through which school personnel could identify when a student needs additional assistance before he or she falls too far behind.
The Lavan Dukes District Data Leader of the Year Program highlights the critical role district superintendents play in supporting and encouraging the use of data to improve students’ college and career readiness. The award is named after Lavan Dukes to honor longtime Department of Education employee Garnet Lavan Dukes for his numerous contributions to public education on both the state and national levels.
For more information about the award, visit District Data Leader.
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.