Principal: Stan Ward

Achievements/Reason for Nomination: We are proud to recognize Kate Shields as our Sun Student of the Week! Kate is a hard worker who always gives her best and approaches each day with a positive attitude. She is kind, helpful, and always willing to lend a hand to others. Kate is a wonderful friend, a great role model, and a shining example of how a Mustang should represent our school. We are so proud of Kate and all that she brings to our school community!

STUDENT OF THE WEEK FEATURES A DIFFERENT SCHOOL EACH WEEK.

By LINDA ANN McDONALD
Correspondent

Keep Wakulla County Beautiful’s (KWCB) youth board held its founders’ meeting with a full meeting room a couple of weeks ago at the Wakulla Environmental Institute in Crawfordville.

The Founder’s Table is where youth help create the future of the KWCB Youth Board. The board acts two-fold as an opportunity to design what youth leadership, environmental stewardship, and what community impact will look like in Wakulla County. The ideas and voices heard today will shape how this board serves youth and our community for years to come.
The agenda included in-depth discussion such as “What is the Youth Board? positions available, representation, bylaws discussion, projects and community impact,” and more.
KWCB’s Caden Grubel, who was newly accepted into Florida State University, initiated the youth board.
“This is something I never expected, I’m glad it turned out as large as it did,” Grubel said. “I figured since I’m turning 18, I figured I’d go headfirst into empowering the youth. I wanted to see a youth board that was inspired by youth and involved with our environment.”
Riversprings Middle School teacher Aimee Liotino attended the event and said, “Teaching the younger generation to maintain the beauty of this earth is extremely important and getting them involved with a focus on microplastics, is handing them the reins to manage our environment.”
During the event’s icebreaker, the question, “Why are you here?” was asked. Responses included: “I don’t want to see trash,” “We swim in these waters,” and “I don’t like microplastics,”, went around the classroom and fueled thought-provoking conversation.
“It’s exciting to see the kids’ perspective on the environment and the projects that they create together for the benefit of Wakulla County,” said Tammie Nason, director of KWCB. “If this snowballs, it’s going to be an amazing thing.”
KWCB President Lesley Cushman, and husband Steve were both present and said, “I hope there is a spark created tonight, and follows along with all who attended tonight. Outside environmental stewardship, there is so much to be learned while on this board. There are life skills to be learned such as Roberts Rules for boards, budget, finances, and leadership. It gets kids involved with boards, and not just picking up trash, our goal here is to prolong the future. We put the seeds down now, so the kids here will be able to be in charge and have a say, later.”
Hope Childree, director of Wakulla Environmental Institute, said, “This is a hugely important necessity. These children are the next stewards of our environment, and the more informed decisions they can make, the more informed difference they can make.”
$500 was donated to the board as an effort to assist with the youth led organization getting on its feet.

These Shadeville Elementary students head inside on the first day of school, Monday, Aug. 10, which was an early release day. Superintendent of Schools Rick Myhre issued a statement giving “a huge shout-out and thank you to our bus drivers and van drivers for an amazing first day of school!” Myhre noted that some bus routes were a little longer, and some buses were more crowded than others, but no bus left campus over capacity and all students arrived home safely.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

Wakulla Classroom Teachers Association president Cassandra Johnson was effusive in her praise of the superintendent and school board in salary negotiations for this year: the offer was an increase for teacher salaries from monies from the Legislature with a match from the district, plus increase in supplements.

“For a veteran teacher like me, I’m getting like an 8% increase,” Johson said.
She said that Superintendent of Schools Rick Myhre made the comment that Wakulla is an A district, and teacher pay should reflect that. “It’s been a really great experience working with Rick,” she said. “We’re heading in the right direction.
Teachers are scheduled to vote this week on whether to ratify the new contract.
Myhre issued a statement that “For the past two years, we have built our budget around the intent of providing competitive raises for all employees while also holding off any increases to health insurance. This was made possible by reducing positions at the district office and closing unnecessary school sites.”
The proposed contract is poised to help relieve some of the “compression” stress after the state set beginning teacher pay at a rate that in some cases exceeded the pay of some veteran teachers.
The base pay is currently $47,500 and set to increase this year to $47,750.
Teachers with more than 10 years experience will receive a Teacher Salary Increase Allocation of $1,800 plus a district increase of $1,200.

Non-instructional staff are also set to receive pay increases.
Johnson said the WCTA and the district also revisited supplements – stipends that teachers are paid for extra-curricular student activities like clubs and coaching.
Johnson now faces the challenge of making sure the WCTA has the support of teachers because the union must meet a 50% participation threshold in certification and recertification elections and petition for recertification if fewer than 60% of eligible members pay dues.
Dues are less than $70 a month for the 10-month work year.
Johnson worried that if the union loses teacher representation then the teachers lose the contract and some of the benefits they ensure, such as guaranteed lunch, planning time, and perks such as being able to bank sick time.
In a written statement to the Sun, Myhre wrote: “When questioned during my campaign, ‘How will you address concerns about teacher and staff compensation and benefits?’ my answer was always simple, you prioritize it. For the past two years, we have built our budget around the intent of providing competitive raises for all employees while also holding off any increases to health insurance. This was made possible by reducing positions at the district office and closing unnecessary school sites.
“While we have improved our state ranking in the average salary of almost all job roles within the district” Myhre wrote, “we still fall below the comparable level of academic outcomes our staff are providing to our students. We know that our staff aren’t in this field for the money, but it is difficult to keep our best staff when they could be compensated better for doing the same job somewhere else. This is why it has been such an important part of my administration to raise all staff salaries, and we are continuing that trend in this year’s budget.
“Additionally, we will be humbly asking our community for an additional millage on the November ballot to further support our staff with raises they deserve,” Myhre said. “I have made, and will continue to make, as many cuts as possible to divert funding to staff and students, but there is a theorical limit we are nearing without cutting necessary services which support students.
“The slight increase we are requesting will not take us to the top of the salary rankings, but will be a clear sign of support for those who so often put our children’s needs above their own,” Myhre said.

Greetings Wakulla County,

All communities provide public education, but few support and cherish their schools the way Wakulla County does. Perhaps that is because, for so many of us, these schools helped shape who we are, and we have purposefully chosen to raise our children here as well.

This atmosphere is also what attracts our new residents to our community, the expectation of excellence. As I visit classrooms and attend school programs, the true source of our success is clear: our staff. From bus drivers and paraprofessionals to secretaries, custodians, administrators, and teachers, our team shares a common purpose – the children of this community. The commitment and resolve they show each day are a testament to their excellence.
On Aug. 10, our doors reopen for the 2026-27 school year. We know there will be challenges along the way, and we will not shy away from them. We will face them, learn from them, and grow stronger because of them. We are coming off an exceptional year of student achievement, yet no school believes it has reached its peak. Each school spent the summer planning ways to better serve students and families. In the year ahead, you will see improvements in technology, facilities, communication, safety, and overall culture and climate.
While some districts across the state and nation may speak from a place of despair, Wakulla County’s mindset is different. We are eager to embrace opportunities for growth and confident in our ability to keep improving.
Thanks to the leadership of the School Board and district staff, we are in a stable financial position and focused on opportunities to move our district closer to the very top in Florida.
Still, we understand that success is not defined by metrics alone. On Aug. 3rd, we welcomed back teachers and staff not only with remarks from adults, but with a student-led pep rally. This intentional change helped re-center our purpose: a connected school community. Seeing students cheer for the teachers who have helped them grow – and seeing the pride on those teachers’ faces – was truly inspiring.
The first days of school will be long. Traffic patterns will need time to adjust, and buses may run late, but it will all be worth it.
After a long summer, our community will once again feel as it should—alive with the daily experiences our teachers and schools provide for our students.
As always, thank you for your unwavering support of the Wakulla County School District. Together, we share the responsibility of protecting and strengthening this community for the next generation of students.
God bless,

Rick Myhre
Superintendent

Public schools

CRAWFORDVILLE
ELEMENTARY
School day: 8:55 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Alena Crawford, Principal
alena.crawford@wcsb.us
Lindsey Sparkman, Asst principal
lindsay.sparkman@wcsb.us
379 Arran Road,
Crawfordville FL 32327
Phone: (850 926-3641

MEDART ELEMENTARY
School day: 8:55 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Stan Ward, Principal,
stanley.ward@wcsb.us
Amber Allen, Asst. principal,
amber.allen@wcsb.us
Lauren Baker, Associate Dean
lauren.baker@wcsb.us
2558 Coastal Hwy.,
Crawfordville FL 32327
Phone: (850) 962-4881

RIVERSINK ELEMENTARY
School day: 8:55 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Louis Hernandez, Principal,
louis.hernandez@wcsb.us
Lesley Jamison, Asst Principal
lesley.jamison@wcsb.us
530 Lonnie Raker Lane,
Crawfordville FL 32327
Phone: (850) 926-2664

SHADEVILLE ELEMENTARY
School day: 8:55 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Eden Rodgers, Principal
eden.rodgers@wcsb.us
Sarojanie Samlal, Asst Principal
sarojanie.samlal @wcsb.us
45 Warrior Way,
Crawfordville FL 32327
Phone: (850) 926-7155

RIVERSPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL
School day: 7:35 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Josh Sandgren, Principal,
joshua.sandgren@wcsb.us
Bethany Pafford, Asst Principal
bethany.pafford@wcsb
Kyle Marks, Associate Dean of Discipline
Charlotte McCormick, Associate Dean of Student Affairs,
charlotte.mccormick@wcsb.org
kyle.marks@wcsb.us
800 Spring Creek Hwy.,
Crawfordville FL 32327
Phone: (850) 926-2300

WAKULLA MIDDLE SCHOOL
School day: 7:30 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.
Amy Bryan, Principal,
amy.bryan@wcsb.us
Jessica Prichard, Asst principal,
jessica.mckenzie-prichard@wcsb.us
Elizabeth Andrews, Associate Dean of Discipline
elizabeth.andrews@ wcsb.org
Karrie Jones, Associate Dean of Student Affairs
karrie.jones@ wcsb.org
22 Jean Drive,
Crawfordville FL 32327
Phone: (850) 926-7143

WAKULLA HIGH SCHOOL
School day: 7:15 a.m. to 2:01 p.m.
Michele Falk, Principal,
sabrina.falk@wcsb.us
Jessica Mates, Asst. principal,
jessica.mates@wcsb.us
Kerry Prosser, Asst. principal,
kerry.prosser@wcsb.us
Carissa Frazier, Asst principal
Tolar Griffin, Asst. principal
tolar.griffin@wcsb.us
3237 Coastal Hwy.,
Crawfordville FL 32327
Phone: (850) 926-7125
Grades: 9-12

WAKULLA INSTITUTE
School day: 7:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Vickie Tillman, Prinicpal
susan.tillman@wcsb.us
Katherine Spivey, Asst. principal
69 Arran Road,
Crawfordville FL 32327
Phone: (850) 926-0065
Multi Purpose Campus
Dropout Programs – Second Chance Alternative High School
Adult/Community Education

Administration Changes:

• Tim Wheeler (former principal of Shadeville Elementary) is the new District Administrator of Athletics at Wakulla High School
• Eden Rodgers (former Assistant Principal at Shadeville Elementary) is the new Principal at Shadeville Elementary
• Sarojanie Samlal is the new Assistant Principal at Shadeville Elementary.

Wakulla High School
Chris Beverly
Taylor Brown
Tim Colman
Sierra Crawford
Todd Day
James Hicks
Kari McGuire
Jordan Morris
Blake Pareton
Amadeo (Paxton) Tomaini
Shon`Lemichiel Valvano
Roy Tomlinson

Shadeville Elementary School
Bethany Carey
Andrew Maldonado
Marsha Marchant
Noah Parramore
Kobi Rasch
Da’Sha Rich
Emily Rowland
Dylan Scotti
Sarah Testerman

Crawfordville Elementary School (CES)
Victoria Beck
Madilyn Brock
Heather Clark
Cassidy Davis
Kasey Fox
Ashley Gatchell
Alexandra McClendon
Sandra Renno
Kirsten Smith

Riversink Elementary School
Ralissa Andrews
Ta’Shieka Crump
Kimberly Dodson
Madison Parenti
Samantha Sherman
Lainey Smith

Medart Elementary School
Karli Dowell
Courtney Kinsey
Ava Lawhon
Prudence Rivera
Catherine Strutz
Rebecca Taff Simmons

Demolition of some of the old buildings at Wakulla High School got underway last week to make way for new buildings.

The old part of the high school, built in 1967, is being demolished as a new classroom-administration building will be built, flanked by a performing arts center at one end and a new gym at the other. A new layout of the school will have the entrance coming in at the traffic light off U.S. Highway 98. The whole project will not be finished until 2028.

Wakulla County Schools is proud to announce a historic achievement following the release of school grades by the Florida Department of Education. For the first time in district history, every traditional school in Wakulla County Schools earned an “A” rating.

All seven graded schools in Wakulla County Schools received an “A” for the 2025–26 school year, placing Wakulla County Schools 8th among Florida’s 67 school districts. (COAST Charter School, which is a public school but run independently of the district, was graded a C.)
“This monumental achievement is not only a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence but also solidifies the promise we’ve made to our community – that regardless of your address, every child in Wakulla County has access to a world-class education and truly phenomenal experiences at each of our schools,” said Superintendent of Schools Rick Myhre.
Riversprings Middle School, Wakulla Middle School, Medart Elementary School, Crawfordville Elementary School, and Shadeville Elementary School maintained their “A” ratings, while Wakulla High School and Riversink Elementary School returned to an “A” rating.
“While we are proud of this achievement, it will not be our peak,” said Myhre. “Each school has already begun planning an even brighter future for our students. We are instilling a spirit of growth and determination where ‘good enough’ isn’t part of the conversation. Our purpose is to ensure Wakulla County Schools stand as the beacon of American exceptionalism that our forefathers envisioned for our country 250 years ago. The very best of America’s communities are built on the bedrock of successful public schools, and Wakulla is the very epitome of that reality.”
This milestone reflects the district’s continued commitment to academic excellence, student support, and strong school-community partnerships. It also aligns with the Wakulla County Schools Five-Year Strategic Plan, which focuses on increasing student achievement, supporting rigorous and relevant instruction, strengthening culture and climate, and using data to guide continuous improvement.
The district’s Strategic Plan identifies student achievement as a key priority area, with a goal of increasing overall achievement on state standardized assessments so that Wakulla County Schools ranks in the Top 10 of all Florida districts. With this year’s results, Wakulla County Schools has reached that target and continues to demonstrate what is possible when students, families, teachers, staff, administrators, and the community work together with a shared commitment to student success.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

Wakulla Superintendent of Schools warned that he was going to brag on the school system at a Chamber luncheon event last week slugged as the State of Education.
At the Tuesday, July 14 event at the community center attended by about 75 people, Myhre did just that, boasting that Wakulla is the highest performing district in the Big Bend, No. 1 in graduation rate in the state, and No. 1 in middle school acceleration.

Wakulla is ranked in the Top 10 in the state at No. 8 and “within striking district of being No. 5,” Myhre said.
It’s also the first time that every school in the district is an A. (COAST Charter School is a public school but run independently and for the second year in a row had a grade of C.)
While proud of the district grade, “My goal is to be No. 1,” Myhre said. “Being the Top 10 is wonderful, but I want to be No. 1.”
This is the fourth consecutive year of A performance by Wakulla schools.
Myhre noted that growth in the Crawfordville area has led to Crawfordville Elementary reaching its limit on students, leading to rezoning that is directing students to Medart Elementary.
“No matter where you live in Wakulla County, every school is an A,” Myhre said.
He touted the high school’s vocational programs through the War Eagle Academy, a $20 million facility paid for largely by Triumph Gulf Coast money that offers 16 career pathways.
He noted the planned return of art and music instruction to elementary schools this year.
And he promoted the optional 1 mill tax referendum that will appear on the November ballot as an effort to sustain excellence.
He noted that 20 of the 67 school districts in Florida already do the optional 1 mill.
Myhre also said his annual tax bill for schools is less than his phone bill.
“There is no better investment in our community than public education,” Myhre said.