A Joyful Start: Citrus County Schools Welcome Back Teachers in Style

This morning, the Citrus County School District officially kicked off the 2025–26 school year with our annual Teacher Welcome Back event — a tradition that never fails to bring energy, inspiration, and unity to our educational community. This year was no exception.

From the moment our educators stepped into the Curtis Peterson Auditorium, they were greeted with cheers — literally — as spirited cheerleaders from all three high schools welcomed them with enthusiasm and school pride. The atmosphere was electric, setting the tone for a year built on encouragement, collaboration, and shared purpose.

Thanks to the generosity of community partners through the Citrus County Education Foundation, a delicious breakfast was provided to all staff by Mr. Bunch and his team at Oysters of Crystal River. In the LHS gymnasium, educators explored booths hosted by educational and community organizations, many of which helped sponsor the day’s events and offered valuable resources, support, and giveaways.

As teachers entered the theater, the Crystal River High School Band drum line provided a powerful rhythm and infectious excitement, filling the room with energy as people took their seats. The buzz of conversation and the beat of the drums built anticipation for what was to come.

The formal program began with Deputy Superintendent Jen Greco welcoming attendees and inviting the Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard to present the colors. Crystal River High School Dean Jessica Price delivered a beautiful rendition of the national anthem, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence to center the room in purpose and reflection.

Superintendent Dr. Scott Hebert then took the stage and reminded us that this year’s guiding focus is on students, with the powerful reminder that we are all in this together. Just as he delivered that message, the audience came alive as Citrus High School’s Breez singers and band launched into a surprise flash mob performance of “We’re All in This Together” from High School Musical. The performance quickly brought the entire auditorium to its feet — clapping, cheering, and singing along — a joyful and symbolic start to the new year.

In a particularly meaningful moment, Dr. Hebert also introduced the incredible team of school resource officers, guardians, and law enforcement personnel who work every day to keep our students, schools, and staff safe. Joined on stage by Citrus County Sheriff David Vincent and Citrus County Schools Police Chief Rachel Montgomery, the safety team received a well-deserved standing ovation for their service and dedication.

The keynote speaker, Damon West — author of The Coffee Bean — then took the stage and captivated the audience with his inspirational story of resilience, transformation, and the power of choosing positivity even in difficult circumstances. His message left everyone energized and ready to begin the school year with renewed focus and purpose.

As we prepare to welcome students back to campus, today served as a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. We are a team. We are a community. And we are — truly — all in this together.

Here’s to a fantastic school year ahead.

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Training for What We Hope Never Happens — But Must Be Ready For

On Wednesday, I joined fellow school leaders, administrators, and district team members to observe one of the most intense and important trainings we conduct each year. Together, we watched our elite Citrus County Sheriff’s Office deputies, School Resource Officers, School Board Police Department, and School Guardians undergo a real-life Active Assailant Training — one they hope they will never have to use, but one they take incredibly seriously to ensure that, if needed, they are fully prepared to protect our students, staff, and every person on campus.

This year’s training, held at Rock Crusher Elementary, was more than a classroom session or tabletop exercise. It was a live simulation, complete with mock students from the CCSO Explorer Program, simulation victims, and team members acting out scenes of chaos and crisis — all in service of building rapid, coordinated responses that could save lives in the face of a real emergency.

As I shadowed the participants navigating a simulated tragedy — including a full school lockdown, classroom clearing, and a pursuit of an active assailant — I was struck by the realism and gravity of the moment. The screams, the urgency, the sound of live training rounds, and the raw emotion acted out by CCSO team members and student volunteers made it all feel incredibly real. My own heart pounded. My adrenaline surged. And I was reminded that while most of us only imagine such a nightmare, these professionals train to meet it head-on.

This was not just training for the sake of checking a box. It was preparation with purpose — scenario-based, emotionally intense, and deeply rooted in the goal of protecting lives.

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Sheriff David Vincent, Chief Rachel Montgomery, the entire Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, School Board Police, our School Guardians, and all those who participated. Your dedication, discipline, and courage give our schools the foundation of safety they need to thrive.

We pray these moments never come.
But because of your work, we know we are not only safer —
We are ready.

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Back to School Means Back to Fueling Success: The Role of School Meals in Student Achievement

As summer winds down and the first day of school approaches, families across Citrus County are preparing for a new academic year. While school supplies, schedules, and routines are all top of mind, there’s another critical element that plays a major role in student success: nutrition.

In Citrus County, over 70 percent of our students are recognized as economically disadvantaged. That means school meals aren’t just helpful; they are essential. Thanks to the USDA’s National School Lunch Program (NSLP), students across our district have access to nutritious meals every day at no charge. During the 2024–2025 school year, Citrus County Schools’ Food and Nutrition Services Department served 849,012 breakfast meals and 1,770,628 lunch meals to CAP (Community Eligibility Provision) students. On average, that’s 4,824 breakfasts and 10,060 lunches per day.

These numbers don’t just represent meals. They represent opportunity, access, and care. In fact, with such a high daily volume, Citrus County Schools operates the largest restaurant system in the county—and one of the most important. In addition to main meals, the department also offers à la carte items, healthy snacks, desserts, and drinks to meet a variety of student needs and preferences.

A Legacy of Nutrition and National Strength

Feeding school children in the United States is not a recent innovation. The roots of the National School Lunch Program go back to the post-World War II era. During the war, alarmingly high rates of malnutrition among military recruits—up to one in four were found unfit for service—sparked a national movement to improve the health of young Americans.

In response, President Harry S. Truman signed the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) into law in 1946. This legislation formally established the NSLP with a goal of protecting the health and well-being of the nation’s children and supporting agricultural markets by using surplus foods. In President Truman’s own words, the program was intended “as a measure of national security, to safeguard the health and well-being of the nation’s children.”

While the origins of the program are tied to military readiness, today its value lies just as powerfully in educational readiness. A well-nourished child is a more focused, energized, and capable learner. When students have access to balanced, consistent meals, they are better able to concentrate, retain information, and perform academically.

Standards that Support Student Health

Meals provided through the NSLP and School Breakfast Program must meet strict nutritional standards. These include:

• Fruits and vegetables offered daily
• Whole grains required for grain-based items
• Low-fat or fat-free milk
• Calorie ranges based on age or grade groups
• Limits on sodium, saturated fat, and trans fat

These guidelines are grounded in nutritional research to ensure meals support student growth, energy needs, and long-term health. They also help students establish lifelong healthy eating habits.

Leading with Excellence in Citrus County

Citrus County is fortunate to have an exceptional Food and Nutrition Services Department under the leadership of Director Roy R. Pistone II, RDN, M.Ed., SNS. Along with his remarkable team of professionals at both the district and school levels, Mr. Pistone and his team ensures that every student has access to nutritious meals that fuel both body and mind.

These nutrition professionals are not just cooks or cafeteria staff. They are educators, nurturers, and frontline health workers. Their work helps remove barriers to learning and provides a daily foundation of wellness for our students.

As we welcome our students back this school year, let’s celebrate and support the systems that keep them nourished and ready to learn. Behind every successful student is not just a good teacher or a strong curriculum—but also a full stomach.

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