A Great Start to the High School Swim Season

Posted on August 27th, 2025 by Thomas E Kennedy

A Great Start to the High School Swim Season

Last night was a fantastic evening at the Citrus Memorial Health Foundation YMCA Pool, where I had the privilege of serving as the scoring official for the first high school dual meet of the season. The Crystal River Pirates (ladies and gentlemen) faced off against the Hernando High School Leopards in an exciting opener.

It’s always special to be part of a team of local volunteer swim leaders who dedicate their time to supporting the sport of swimming. The passion, energy, and commitment on deck remind us why we do it—and why it matters for these young athletes.

One of the night’s highlights was the remarkable performance from 2024 State Qualifier Morgan Gibson (Senior), who set a new CRHS school record in the 50 Freestyle with a time of 25.20, breaking the previous record set in 2019. Achievements like this so early in the season are a great sign of a successful year ahead for the team.

We’ll be back at it this Thursday, helping Citrus High School as they also face off against the Hernando Leopards.

A huge thank you goes out to the Sun Coast Swim Team volunteer leaders— Nikki Rieck, Lori Lenoir, and Mike Laycock—for their time, dedication, and leadership in helping provide these opportunities for our student-athletes. Your commitment makes all the difference.

Here’s to a strong season ahead!

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Visiting Floral City Elementary: Exciting Progress on Safety and Expansion

Posted on August 18th, 2025 by Thomas E Kennedy

Visiting Floral City Elementary: Exciting Progress on Safety and Expansion

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting Floral City Elementary to see the progress on the new entrance, part of the school’s overall expansion and safety improvements designed to better serve our FCE Bullfrogs, staff, and families.

Principal Kahler enthusiastically showed me around, and it was amazing to see the changes since I last visited over the summer when FCE was in the midst of many construction projects. From the new secured entrance and welcoming lobby to the redesigned offices, guidance suite, and state-of-the-art health station, these enhancements are truly transformative. They will make a real difference for students, families, and staff alike.

I also toured the new classroom wing, where teachers have recently moved in and students have started learning. The classrooms are exceptional—bright, modern, and thoughtfully designed to provide an outstanding learning environment that complements the rest of the historic FCE campus.

Looking ahead, Principal Kahler shared that FCE plans to host a community open house, giving families and community members the opportunity to see the school’s classrooms and improvements firsthand.

A heartfelt thank you to Principal Kahler, Assistant Principal Furniss, the FCE facility and custodial team, and the district facility and construction team led by Eric Stokes. These improvements are more than bricks and mortar—they directly impact student learning and success, helping to build a stronger, better community for everyone.

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There’s Nothing Better Than First Day Energy

Posted on August 11th, 2025 by Thomas E Kennedy

There’s Nothing Better Than First Day Energy

There is nothing quite like the first day of school. Today, I had the privilege of visiting six campuses: three elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school, and the energy was contagious.

The common thread everywhere I went was the same: This is going to be a great year! You could see it in the fist bumps between students and teachers, the side hugs from staff, the joy in seeing returning students, and the big smiles on everyone’s faces. This kind of optimism fuels the belief that the year ahead will be encouraging, positive, and full of possibilities.

At each stop, I had a chance to speak with the principal, members of the administrative team, teachers, and staff. For them, this is the day they anticipate all summer. It is the day when months of planning turn into action and support systems for students begin moving in full swing.

At Citrus Springs Elementary, Principal Julie Jones was outside the school double-checking students’ end-of-day plans. She personally greeted the youngest students, attaching color-coded wristbands to either their wrists or backpacks to ensure they would get home safely.

At Lecanto High School, as lunch was ending, I witnessed Principal Troy LaBarbara step in to help a new student who had arrived late. When he realized she might miss lunch, he had her sit down and made sure she had a nourishing meal before returning to her schedule. He also mentioned that he had already been in 28 classrooms, and it was not even halfway through the day. That is a hands-on leader.

That was the kind of leadership I saw throughout my visits to all the schools.

This enthusiasm was not limited to the school level. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott Hebert was out before sunrise, greeting the first buses and drivers as they rolled out. Assistant Superintendent Jen Greco was at Crystal River High School as the sun came up, meeting with students and staff. I crossed paths with many district leaders, including Director of Secondary Education Laura Lindeman, who, along with others, jumped in to help with transportation needs by personally co-driving a student across the county so they could make it to Citrus High School in time for their next class.

And this is only Day One. There are still 179 days left in the school year. That means 179 days of opportunities to learn, grow, and connect.

If today’s energy is any indication, this is going to be a year to remember.

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