Principal Jennifer Crady

At Southside Middle School, diversity is not just a characteristic of their student body, it is a cornerstone of its learning environment.  As one of the most culturally diverse middle schools in Duval County – with 33 different languages spoken by our students, families, and staff – they embrace (Southside Middle embraces) inclusivity and collaboration as fundamental values.  The school thrives on the theme of learning to work together in diverse environments, ensuring that every student – regardless of their linguistic background – feels supported, valued, and empowered to succeed. Southside Middle recognizes that multilingualism is not just a reality but a right and a resource for learning. In fact, faculty actively embraces this mindset by… engaging in the challenge of learning a new language themselves.  Understanding firsthand the struggles and triumphs of language acquisition allows teachers to better support their students. 

Principal Truitte Moreland

Andrew Jackson's theme prides itself on preparing students for college and career readiness and encourages students to respect diversity.  Students come from many backgrounds and unite to learn important topics such as cybersecurity, programming languages, and sports medicine.  Teachers and students collaborate to create a welcoming learning environment where students feel both safe and free to express their viewpoint without fear of judgement or scorn. Jackson is filled with students from different cultures, beliefs, and experiences, and they make sure to create an environment where everyone feels included and valued.

Principal Marleny Chirino

Englewood is home to students from over 80 different countries. Every classroom is a picture-perfect example of diversity, where educators get to watch students learn from one another as much as they learn from them. Students and staff get to share their culture every day, culminating in an annual Multicultural celebration in May. The thing educators love most about their job at Englewood is how much they get to learn from their students about their diverse backgrounds. It enriches their life. Englewood’s staff and students also collaborate to celebrate and increase cultural awareness. The diverse group of student interns help improve interpersonal relationships through peer counseling and mentorship. From the care used when interacting with peers from their PRIDE unit to this year’s cookout in honor of Black History Month, their yearly Multicultural Day celebration that rivals World of Nations, their RAMily works as one to meet the needs of all.

Principal Michelle Hinkley

At Greenland Pines teachers use Zones of Regulation and Calm Classrooms to help students understand their emotions and learn tools to manage them. In the classroom, there are “calm corners” that encourage students to take advantage of the safe space to regulate their emotions. Additionally, students are taught how to use self-assessment through the day to promote emotional regulation allowing them to improve their academic understanding. Students learn they can do anything and continue to advocate for themselves.

Principal Annessia Powell

GRASP uses the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) gold standard to support students. Educators prioritize developing life skills and identifying student talents to foster self-advocacy. As a school for students who deal with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia, it is an everyday goal to promote a mindset of “I can” and positive affirmations to navigate students through anxiety, depression, and frustration. Students are also offered the opportunity to take part in a leadership class once they reach sixth grade that provides them with opportunities to develop leadership skills and assist their peers and staff.

Principal Robert Hudson

Many students struggle with their mental health. Terry Parker students took initiative to help students find their confidence and build their mental health coping skills by hosting a Mental Health Fair on November 7. The program, which was presented by the Interact Club, took place during lunch periods where students were presented with ways to cope with stress, understand that they are not alone, and learn how to build resiliency through tough times. Terry Parker Interact Club officers were dedicated to collaborating with community partners and other school clubs to promote mental health awareness and support building “I can” skills.

Principal Kendall Parris

While Love Grove serves more than just ESE students, educators are taking some unique and powerful steps to inspire their ESE population in building creative skills. In their fifth grade ESE classroom, they are teaching students lifelong lessons. Students are learning how to fold clothes, wash dishes, and even use their creativity to cook, bake and garden. They take part in the Life Skills Snack Cart project, which allows students to organize and deliver snacks and drinks to staff. Building their independence skills, they are also responsible for collecting “Manatee Bucks” from staff to run their business.

Principal Andrea Talley

Landmark inspires creative skills in a variety of ways. Students have the opportunity to engage in extracurricular activities that integrate academics and creativity. The integration of creative outlets into academics keeps students engaged and makes learning more exciting. Students take part in the robotics club, band, arts and crafts, music, athletics, and Play-Doh comic strips. These activities foster teamwork and build confidence in students to think outside the box. 

Principal Jessica Mastromatto

Peterson, a career academy, encourages students to pursue their passions and find creative ways to foster lifelong skills to become career and college ready. Students must use their imagination to fulfill projects and tasks to complete their career academy programs. This includes formulating intricate menus in the culinary program for events, building curricula in early childhood education to engage young learners, building robots and solving problems in aerospace engineering and automotive repair, and much more. These and other programs allow students to work towards their high school diploma while inspiring them to dig deep into their imagination and build creative skills.

Principal Moses Williams

Mt. Herman shares a unique experience, but that isn’t stopping them from pushing to increase their attendance. Staff work on emphasizing Experience, Exposure, and Opportunities for all students. Administration works with bus drivers, occupational and physical therapists, teachers, and families to ensure students are attending school. Opportunities are created to ensure that each student’s unique circumstances are supported to promote attendance and a thriving student. This includes making space so students in wheelchairs can easily access their school campus areas.

Principal Tamara Roper

Stilwell is taking an approach to attendance that many schools have implemented – school money! Cadets receive school money for attending school every day, every period. This school money can be used to shop at the school store. But outside of this nice incentive, a dedicated attendance clerk monitors attendance and reaches out to families of students who have two unexcused absences. A meeting with a truancy officer is scheduled if a student has missed five days in a row and ten days in a nine-week period.

Principal Mary Flynn

At APR, administrators are putting a major focus on how attendance can lead to success. Daily morning video announcements, periodic school newsletters, and their website are shared with students and families acknowledging the importance of attending schools. Additionally, relationships are built with families to encourage daily attendance. At-risk students are identified, and home visits are made to foster a change in mindset. At the end of each quarter, students are rewarded with attendance certificates to recognize their commitment to attendance excellence.