Dune Lakes Elementary School announces 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year and Education Support Person of the Year

Dune Lakes Elementary School is proud to name Rebecca King, PE Instructor, as our 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year.  In her 33rd year, Ms. King has taught and coached in a career that spans high school and elementary physical education.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and Master of Education degree in sports science.  

For 20 years Coach King spent her summers coaching women's basketball summer camps for renowned University of Tennessee Women's Basketball Coach, Pat Summitt.

After coaching high school for over two decades, she moved closer to home and in 2012 began teaching at Bay Elementary School. While comparing high school and college coaching to elementary coaching is like comparing apples to oranges, elementary education quickly found a place dear to her heart.  

"Seeing the excitement and willingness to learn a new game and to be involved in the class is something that brings me happiness," shares Ms. King.  "I know we are working on their motor skills like catching, throwing and coordination; however, their innocence allows them to just have fun and find their competitive spirt."  

To Dune Lakes Elementary, Coach King is a key team member always offering support where needed and taking on additional responsibilities when possible.  Anyone who has the opportunity to be in one of her classes can see the students’ appreciation for Coach King and respect and patience for team play.  

Dune Lakes is excited to honor Coach King as our MVP!

In addition, Dune Lakes Elementary School is proud to name Ms. Tanya Durham as our 2020-2021 ESP of the Year.  Ms. Durham joined our Dune Lakes family when the school opened in 2019.  Constantly showing her talents in creativity, Ms. Durham consistently shows up to support staff and administration well beyond her custodial scope.  If there is a job needing to be done, Ms. Durham is quick to take care of things.

Ms. Durham is an appreciated addition to the Dune Lakes family, and we are thrilled to name her as our ESP of the Year!

Please join us in congratulating Ms. King and Ms. Durham!

Congratulations to our District Office Teacher of the Year, Alecia Hogans and our Tivoli Complex Educational Support Professional of the Year, Cassandra Andrews!

Mrs. Hogans serves as a Digital Learning Specialist and Ms. Andrews serves as custodian for the Tivoli Complex District Office.

Both of these EPIC professionals are invaluable to our staff and help the daily projects of the Curriculum and Instruction Department move forward efficiently and effectively. They are greatly appreciated!

Grasses in Classes at MSE

Our third graders are participating in Grasses in Classes, a hands-on, environmental education program that gives students a direct role in the restoration of Choctawhatchee Bay through the growing and planting of shoreline grasses. Yesterday, they dissected the smooth cordgrass and examined the leaves, stems, and roots. The program instills a love of local habitat, restores shoreline, and inspires the next generation of watershed stewards.

The past few weeks, Mrs. Heather Stewart's Critical Thinking class has been working on Christmas gifts for their teachers. They have been making personalized paw print soap. They first designed what they wanted the soap to look like in Tinkercad (a design program) and printed a model on the 3D printer. Then, they placed two of the models in a box and poured a liquid silicone over them to create a soap mold. Next, they melted glycerin and added mica powder for color and poured it into the mold. After allowing it to sit for a couple of hours, they had pawprint soaps that look just like their 3D design! Great job!