District Receives 2009 National Award for “Face It” Substance Abuse Prevention and Early Intervention Program - The Prevention Center in the Department of Safe Schools has won the 2009 National Exemplary Award for Innovative Substance Abuse Prevention Program, Practices, and Policies from the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD). The Center earned the distinction for its Families Acting Collaboratively to Educate and Involve Teens (FACE IT).

Palm Beach County School District Named Academically High Performing - The Florida Department of Education has sent notification that the Palm Beach County School District is being recognized as one of the 2009-2010 Academically High-Performing School Districts by the State Board of Education at their September meeting.

Verde Elementary Is One Of The Nation’s 2009 National Blue Ribbon Award Winners - “The year dedication paid off,” said Dr. Walter Cornnell following the announcement by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan of the country’s National Blue Ribbon Award Winners. Verde Elementary School in Boca Raton is one of them.

School Board Chief Counsel Gerald A. Williams Named in 2009 Florida Trend Magazine “Legal Elite” - School Board Chief Counsel, Gerald A. Williams, is named and featured in Florida Trend Magazine “Legal Elite” 2009, as part of a select group of lawyers voted by their peers as among the best in the state.  This recognition is achieved by earning the trust, confidence, respect — and votes — of peers. This year’s list of 918 Legal Elite attorneys represents less than 2% of the nearly 63,000 Florida Bar members practicing in Florida.

Florida Alliance for Arts Education Honors Palm Beach County School Board and School District Arts Administrator Dr. Tom Pearson - The Florida Alliance for Arts Education (FAAE) recently recognized the Palm Beach County School Board with its 2009 School Board Award and Dr. Tom Pearson, Arts Education Administrator for the School District, with its 2009 Arts Administrator Leadership Award.

Frontier Elementary School Wins The 2009 Governor’s Fitness Challenge Award - Frontier Elementary was one of the eight elementary schools recognized by Governor Charlie Crist to receive the 2009 Governor’s Fitness Challenge award during a meeting of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness on August 20, 2009.

Palm Beach Gardens High Teacher Finalist For Presidential Mathematics Honor - The Florida State Selection Committee for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Program has selected Jenny Ellis from Palm Beach Gardens High School as a state-level finalist for grades 7-12 teachers of mathematics.  Ms. Ellis was selected for this prestigious honor in recognition of outstanding teaching and leadership in mathematics.  She has been a teacher with the School District of Palm Beach County for 11 years.

Constance Scotchel-Gross Receives The Career Education Excellence Award At The Florida Association For Career And Technical Educators (FACTE) 43rd Annual Conference - The Florida Association for Career and Technical Educators (FACTE) 43rd Annual Conference was held August 3-6, in Orlando.  This year’s conference offered an opportunity of professional development, workshops and informative sessions for the Career and Technical Educators to participate in and gather new and innovative ideas to take back to their classrooms and programs.

Boca Student Is Winner In National Holocaust Remembrance High School Essay Contest - The Holocaust Remembrance Project is a national essay contest for high school students designed to encourage and promote the study of the Holocaust. The event, now in its 15th year, is hosted by the law firm Holland & Knight and the Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation. Holland & Knight has just announced the 2009 national winners.  Corinne Gilad is one of the third place winners for her essay entitled "Awareness." She just completed 11th grade in Sharona Kay's Holocaust Elective class at Boca Raton Community High School.

School Board To Recognize Office Depot Foundation For Numerous Contributions To Palm Beach County Students, Teachers and Schools - The Office Depot Foundation is strongly committed to the success of children, teachers and schools in Palm Beach County.  The School Board will recognize the Office Depot Foundation and its President Mary Wong at the July 15, School Board meeting.  In addition to its recent sponsorship of the William T. Dwyer Awards and support for the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, the Office Depot Foundation donates 1,000 backpacks per year to the School District of Palm Beach County through its National Backpack Program. 

District Student Wins Presidency of Largest National Student Business Organization - In late June, Mauricio Escobar climbed the steps to the stage of the National Future Business Leaders of America  (FBLA) Conference in Anaheim, California. There the Palm Beach Central student delivered a passionate and compelling campaign speech that rocked the convention of nearly 10,000 attendees and won him the presidency of the oldest and largest student business organization in the country!

South Tech Academy Student Wins Gold Medal At National SkillsUSA Competition - Matthew Vicari, recent South Tech Academy graduate and winner of the Pat Oliphant award, scored big as Florida’s representative in the National SkillsUSA Internetworking Competition in Kansas City last week.  The SkillsUSA Internetworking competition is considered one of the most challenging competitions conducted by Cisco Systems, Inc. with Fluke Networks, Panduit. SIGMAnet, Inc. and NDG.