Thank you for the last several days

We are Citrus County Schools!

Over the last several days much has been happening very fast that is impacting our students, families, and schools.  I wanted to take a moment to just publicly thank several local persons, organizations or groups that have been diligently working, planning, developing or just doing, for our students’ personal and academic health.  This is not limited to just these people, but these are just some of the standouts.

• District and Schools Food Service Team under the direction of Roy Pistone – academics are important, but ensuring our students are not hungry is vital. Roy and his team worked to develop and them implement a Meal distribution program and implemented it on day one of schools being closed.
• Citrus Blessings, Executive Director Christina Reed, and their volunteer teams and donators – Blessings has been on the front line of making sure our kids are feed in addition to their school provided breakfast and lunches. Ms. Reed (who I think never sleeps) is everywhere ensuring that weekend meals and other snacks where getting distributed ASAP. This couldn’t be done without the amazing Blessings volunteers and donators. If you are interested in donating to Blessings follow this link- http://citruscountyblessings.org/donate/
• Citrus County Education Foundation under the direction of Shaunda Burdette and her team – This group perhaps never stops being focused on our students and staff. They tirelessly are strategic, planning and anticipating the needs of our district. If you are interested in donating to CCEF follow this link- https://www.citruseducation.org/donate
• Suncoast YMCA – From the moment we learned of the schools’ closures the Y has been focused on how to serve our students and families. What great community partners!
• School Level Administrators – These committed leaders are leading us through one of the most challenging academic times in our country’s history.
• Teachers – From the moment that the state expressed what might be the initial plans for students, teachers began planning and strategizing to ensure our students continue to have their academic needs meet during these challenging times.
• School Staff – From our custodians, teacher aides, secretaries, bookkeepers, and everyone in between, everything would come to a screeching halt if not for these team members.
• Lindsay Blair, Public Information Officer for Citrus Schools – If you are learning about information regarding anything with our districts, schools and for our students from an email, phone call, or social media, chances are Ms. Blair was directly or indirectly behind it.
• Citrus Education Technology, Kathy Androski and Lance Fletcher – This team has been front and center on supporting and estimating the basic framework of the tools our students and staff are dependent on.
• Dr. Scott Hebert and the Citrus County Schools Education Service Team – These are the leaders and specialists that are our school academic teams go-to people. Our schools will say “we need help”, and this team says, “we are on our way”.
• Superintendent Himmel, and her executive team of Assistant Superintendent Mike Mullen  and Jonny Bishop – What most people do not know is that these people are typically the first persons at the district, and the last ones to leave each day and these last many days it has been even more. They don’t stop working no matter the hour. I am honored to serve with them!

Again, this is by no means the only people, groups, or organization– but they happen to be the ones that I have been working or communicating with during this initial phase.

Please continue to lift our students, staff, Governor and his teams, the Legislature, and the leaders of all the local non-for profits and agencies, in your prayers.

Our students and I thank you!

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