Posted on September 14th, 2021 by
Thomas E Kennedy
Governor DeSantis Makes major announcement permanently ending high-stakes testing in Florida
Thank you, Governor Ron DeSantis, for moving away from high-stakes state testing to now become educational diagnosing. Today Governor DeSantis in a press conference shared, “we are crafting legislation to end the FSA”. He went on to say, “This will be the last year of FSA”.
There is much still to learn about the plan, but this is a great announcement, and I am so grateful!!
As many of you know I have been working for many years to help Florida move away from high-stakes assessment tests for our students. Failing to pass one or more of these high-stakes states required tests is a tragic consequence for a student’s lack of test-taking skills or a myriad of other reasons why a student can pass a course, demonstrate mastery of the subject but fail a standardized test. It shouldn’t be a lifelong penalty. This announcement today will be a major step in the right direction.
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Filed under: News & Updates
Posted on August 20th, 2021 by
Thomas E Kennedy
Citrus joins a conversation on the benefits of Florida College Access Network
Today Citrus Schools helped present with the Florida College Access Network (FCAN) on a webinar for school board members across the state for the Florida School Board Association.
For the majority of our students, FASFA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is essential for high school seniors to fill out in order to receive both merit and income scholarships and grants for post-secondary education in college or career/vocational centers. Citrus County Schools has worked with Citrus County Coalition for College & Careers to help students have opportunities and pathways to paid for post-secondary education in college or career.
FCAN through a grant from the Florida Department of Education provides school districts with free tools and data analysis to help districts better know what students have or have not filled out FASFA applications, and how to help complete them.
Citrus Schools FASFA coordinator Darrick Buettner and I help FCAN Assistant Director Kathy McDonald share about FCAN and why the majority of our graduating students can benefit from completing a FASFA application.
Thank you, Ms. McDonald, Mr. Buettner, and FSBA for providing this learning opportunity.
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Posted on August 16th, 2021 by
Thomas E Kennedy
School Visit 8/16/2021
Now more than ever I was so pleased to visit our schools and seeing our students and staff. How powerful it was seeing the smiling faces of the students and the caring manner of the staff. Today I spent time at Central Ridge Elementary School and Citrus Springs Elementary School. I am so grateful to all our educators and leaders who are working tirelessly to meet our students’ academic needs. From the bus drivers, to the paraprofessionals, to the foodservice staff, custodians, front desk persons, SROs & Guardians, substitute educators, technology teams, teachers and school administrative teams, and every person in and out of our schools, we are so grateful to you!
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Posted on August 10th, 2021 by
Thomas E Kennedy
Welcome back students!
Let us all lift our children, loved ones, and education community up in prayers and optimism for this new school year!
Today I ask we surround our students and staff with prayers of love, protection, and optimism as they return to our schools and classrooms for a new school year! They need and deserve a great school year. As a community and society, we need for them to have a positive and successful year.
Over 15,100 students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade will fill classrooms in our Citrus schools. We are so excited to have each student back! Over 2,200 teachers, administrators, bus drivers, mechanics, custodians, maintenance, food service, paraprofessional-educators, and workers from every aspect, are there for our students. They are there teaching them, supporting them, and meeting their complex needs. Pray for each and every person’s academic, emotional, and physical needs will be met. God bless them all!
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Posted on August 7th, 2021 by
Thomas E Kennedy
Purple Heart Anniversary
God bless our Purple Heart recipients. Your sacrifice is never forgotten! August 7th is the Nation’s Anniversary of the Purple Heart. Please take a moment to read this history of our Country’s great honor.
The History of the Purple Heart, first known as “Badge of Military Merit”
At his headquarters in Newburgh, New York, on August 7, 1782, General George Washington devised two new badges of distinction for enlisted men and noncommissioned officers. To signify loyal military service, he ordered a chevron to be worn on the left sleeve of the uniform coat for the rank and file who had completed three years of duty “with bravery, fidelity, and good conduct”; two chevrons signified six years of service. The second badge, for “any singularly meritorious Action,” was the “Figure of a Heart in Purple Cloth or Silk edged with narrow Lace or Binding.” This device, the Badge of Military Merit, was affixed to the uniform coat above the left breast and permitted its wearer to pass guards and sentinels without challenge and to have his name and regiment inscribed in a Book of Merit. The Badge specifically honored the lower ranks, where decorations were unknown in contemporary European Armies. As Washington intended, the road to glory in a patriot army is thus open to all.”
Pre-WW2 Awards: The Purple Heart as we know it today was reestablished in 1932 to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Washington. The original criteria for award of the Purple Heart as published in the War Department Circular No. 6 of February 22, 1932 states that the medal be awarded to anyone serving in the Army who had received combat-related injuries or had received the AEF’s Meritorious Service Citation Certificate during WWI, the latter criteria harkening back to the intent of George Washington’s “Badge of Military Merit”.
WWII Awards: In April 1942 the War Department amended its policy regarding the issuance of the Purple Heart. The new regulations authorized the posthumous award of the Purple Heart retroactive to December 7, 1941, and eliminated the use of the medal as a merit award.
(source: http://www.citruspurpleheart.org/page3.html)
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Posted on August 4th, 2021 by
Thomas E Kennedy
In Tallahassee for the Planning Committee
One of my roles as President-Elect of the Florida School Boards Association is to assist in the planning and development of leadership development and training. Today I was in Tallahassee for the Planning Committee meeting for the FSBA, FADSS, FSBAA, FERMA, SUNSPRA, FELL 76th Annual Joint Conference, and Professional Training taking place later this year. It was a most productive and exciting day working with other leaders from the Florida School Boards Association (FSBA), Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS), Sunshine State School Public Relations Association (SUNSPRA), Florida Educational Risk Managers Association (FERMA), Florida School Board Attorneys Association (FSBAA) and Florida Educational Legislative Liaisons (FELL), planning the different professional development subjects and training session we will be providing at the event.
As a new board member and as an experienced board member these professional development trainings are essential to help us be not just highly effective in our roles, but also meet the current and future needs of our students, parents, staff, and schools. The high quality and in-depth training and information offered at these events are why Florida local education policymakers are recognized around the country as some of the most knowledgeable and well trained. I am so honored to be a part of this organization and grateful for the training and support they provide.
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