Students at Walton In”10”sity School of Excellence went on a private tour of FSU Panama City. Highlights included a presentation by admission counselor, classroom viewing, STEM lab, and new housing. Students came away with college readiness goals, contacts for future questions and a realization that opportunities are right around the corner.
This afternoon, a Walton County School District school bus transporting the South Walton High School lacrosse team was involved in a two-car accident on Highway 331 between DeFuniak Springs and Freeport. All students on the bus are safe and are being reunited with their families at the Walton County Fire Rescue’s Woodlawn Fire Station.
The SWHS young artists are diligent in creating works that reflect their skills with their personal vision. The students work with drawing, mixed media, photography / digital, sculpture, 3D printing, and have been recognized for their artworks in show locally and nationwide.
We are excited to announce that we will be hosting three summer camps sessions at the Magnet Innovation Center to expose all Walton County students to STEAM education and what we have to offer here at MIC. Our camp sessions are as follows:
Session 1: Engineering & Coding | Rising 4th & 5th Graders | June 7-9, 2021 | 9 am - 12 pm
Session 2: Environmental Science | Rising 4th & 5th Graders | June 22-24, 2021 | 9 am - 2 pm (Includes Field Trip to Camp Helen State Park)
Session 3: G.E.M.S. "Girls Embracing & Mastering STEAM | Rising 6th-8th Grade Girls Only | June 28 - July 1, 2010 | 9 am - 2 pm (Will include female industry guest speakers and a potential field trip.)
Each camp will be limited to 40 participants- registration deadline May 14, 2021. Students/parents will need to provide transportation to and from MIC for all sessions and a sack lunch for sessions 2 and 3. We will provide a morning snack and transportation for the field trips. Our MIC students and staff will be present to facilitate the summer camps.
A Message from Chancellor Jacob Oliva:
"I am pleased to announce Florida’s observance of School Library Month in April 2021. Each year, our school districts and Florida citizens take time to recognize the programs, services and resources provided by school libraries.
School libraries play a critical role in supporting quality learning environments and school librarians directly support and enhance student achievement. Quality library programs close achievement gaps for all learners by providing equitable access to academic resources and by promoting and encouraging a love of reading. Due to the essential correlation between school libraries and student achievement, funding for school library programs remains a priority in the state of Florida. With the adoption of Florida’s B.E.S.T. English Language Arts Standards, which include classic literature from every major literary period, and the release of Commissioner Corcoran’s Back to School Reading List (http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5673/urlt/BTS-ReadingList.pdf), a quality library program is instrumental to the success of the standards’ implementation.
This celebratory month provides opportunities across the state to highlight school library contributions to Florida public education. School library programs prepare students for lifelong learning, make a measurable difference in student academic achievement and enhance their reading enjoyment. Additionally, School Library Month coincides with National Library Week, which highlights the resources and contributions of all types of libraries. As Albert Einstein famously quipped, “The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.”"
In recognition of Women’s History Month, Superintendent Hughes would like to recognize some of the leading ladies that are making a difference in the Walton County School District. WCSD is one of the few districts that have two leading ladies taking Facilities forward in EPIC fashion.
Jill W. Smith
Jill Smith began serving as the Director of Facilities and Maintenance for Walton County School District in July 2019. Ms. Smith has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies – Policy from the University of West Florida and is currently completing a Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University. She began her career as an Environmental, Health and Safety Manager in 2002 at Wilco Industrial Services. In 2005 she was promoted to Administrative Vice President in 2005 and then Executive Vice President in 2008. During her tenure at Wilco Industrial Services, Ms. Smith became a licensed contractor in Louisiana and Mississippi in the classifications of heavy construction, dredging, coastal restoration and habitat enhancement, earthwork, levees and drainage, dewatering and clearing and grubbing. After leaving Wilco Industrial Services in 2012, she became a Science Teacher in Walton County School District, where she remained until 2018. During that time, she taught at Walton High School from 2012 to 2016 and South Walton High School from 2016 to 2018. In 2018, Ms. Smith chose to pursue a career in the private sector and became a Project Manager with Parsons Corporation, where she remained until returning to Walton County School District as the Director of Facilities and Maintenance.
Michelle B. Doggett
Michelle Doggett has served as the School District Facilities Planner for Walton County School District since December 2017. Ms. Doggett has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of West Florida. Ms. Doggett has worked in Walton County School District for over 34 years. She began her career as a Purchasing Clerk in the Finance Department in 1984. In 1991, Ms. Doggett obtained a teaching position at Walton High School, where she stayed until 2011. During her tenure at Walton High School, she was an ESE teacher for 5 years and DCT Teacher for 15 years. In 2011, Ms. Doggett obtained the position of Teacher on Special Assignment, Energy Specialist in the Facilities and Maintenance Department. In 2017, Ms. Doggett was promoted to School District Facilities Planner. In the midst of her employment with Walton County School District, Ms. Doggett also served as the Executive Director for Walton Education Foundation from 2012 to 2015 and worked as a Real Estate Associate for Abbott & Andrews Realty from 2000-2001.
Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has released their most recent Economic Security Report. The report details the economic outcomes of recent completers from our public postsecondary institutions. Please consider it a useful tool to generate conversations about the potential of the credentials offered by our area technical centers, state colleges and/or universities.
Encouraging families to start college and career conversations early will likely result in higher persistence and success rates. Moreover, it is a statutory requirement to provide a summary of the DEO’s annual Economic Security Report to parents of students in grades 6-12. The 2020 report and summary is now posted at http://www.floridajobs.org/wser-home/products-andservices/public-higher-education.
Florida’s Economic Security Report is just one of the many college and career planning tools available to students and their families. For more information and resources, visit
Mr. Hughes Visits Opening Day at the Little League Park
Little League season is an anticipated event each year and Opening Day, Saturday, March 27, 2021 was no exception! Community residents and children were greeted by Mr. Hughes who was able to quickly take several of his favorite “selfies!”
