I want to sincerely thank all the individuals and organizations who made this special day possible for Miles Teller, our students, Lecanto High, and Citrus County. In particular, I want to recognize Shaunda Burdette and the Citrus County Education Foundation; Stacey Worthington and the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce; Lecanto High School and Principal LaBarbara; Superintendent Dr. Scott Hebert, the Citrus School Board, and the Citrus School District; Sheriff David Vincent and the Citrus Sheriff’s Office; Beth Bedee; Darrick Buettner; Ryan and Krystal Downs and Citrus Live; and Amanda Whitelaw Larder and Tony Fay PR.

I also extend my great gratitude to Miles and his wife, his family, former teachers, coaches, friends, and classmates, along with all the other community members who helped make this day so memorable.

You’re a Good Man, Miles Teller

Years before movie premieres and red carpets, Miles Teller took the stage at Lecanto High School playing two very different characters: Snoopy in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Willard in Footloose. One brought joy and lightness to everyone around him; the other showed the quiet power of loyalty and simply showing up, qualities Miles carried into real life when he recently returned to give back across Citrus County.

This was not the first time Miles returned to Lecanto High. He visited in 2016 to great excitement, but this visit stood in a category of its own. The LHS community, led by the LHS School Advisory Council and the LHS Alumni Association, championed the effort to honor him by naming the theater the Miles Teller Theatre at the Curtis Peterson Auditorium. What followed was a day defined not just by recognition, but by generosity.

Before he stepped on stage for the first student interview session, Miles was brought into his old dressing room. Waiting for him were photos from his time as an LHS performer, displayed beside images from his film career. The collection was arranged not only to welcome him back, but also to inspire young performers who will get ready in that very space. Also newly installed was a vinyl quote from Miles: “It all started on top of a red dog house in the Curtis Peterson Auditorium fighting the Red Baron.”

Miles’ introduction was powerful and deeply meaningful, anchored in the voices of the educators who helped shape him. Lecanto High School’s new principal, Troy LaBarbara, opened by reflecting on the lasting influence teachers, coaches, friendships, and relationships have in forming a young person and laying the foundation for success. He then welcomed Miles’ high school English teacher, Darrick Buettner, sporting a Snoopy tie in honor of Miles, spoke to the remarkable impact a single teacher can have on a student’s life before introducing one of the educators Miles himself has often described as pivotal, his drama and theater teacher, Beth Bedee.

Beaming with pride, Bedee spoke with heartfelt sincerity, saying, “Miles has been incredibly complimentary to me over the years, for which I am truly grateful. The truth is, he has a God-given gift. I simply provided him the opportunity to use and perfect it. He was never handed anything. He worked hard for everything he achieved and dedicated himself to improving his craft. I can’t think of a greater way for us to honor his legacy than to name this theatre after him, because he helped build it.” Together, their words offered a powerful testament to the impact Miles’ teachers had on him, and the lasting impact he had on them.

Miles then sat for two separate hour-long interview sessions with students. Fittingly, he was interviewed by Ryan Downs, a former LHS classmate and now host of Citrus Live. Miles answered questions, shared stories from his high school years, and spoke about the work behind his success. During the first session, the LHS percussion ensemble performed a tribute to him, fitting for someone whose time as a Lecanto percussionist helped shape his standout performance in the critically acclaimed film Whiplash. When students asked if Miles still played, his eyes lit up. With encouragement from the audience, Miles took a seat at the drum set already on stage with the ensemble. The spontaneous performance was such a hit that it was repeated during the second session to even louder applause.

Then came a surprise no one expected. Miles announced a $50,000 donation to the Citrus County Education Foundation, offered humbly as a thank you to the education community that helped raise him. Afterward, he gave time to local, state, and national media outlets before patiently taking photographs with every person who waited to meet him. Students, former classmates, teachers who guided Miles, and proud community members all had their moment. He did not rush anyone, giving every person the sense that their moment with him truly mattered. After Miles gave heartfelt credit to the educators and mentors who helped him become the person he is today, one of Miles’ former baseball coaches presented him with a Lecanto baseball cap, which Miles immediately put on and wore the rest of the day.

From Lecanto High, Miles traveled to CREST School, where he visited classrooms, read stories, sang with students, and expressed sincere appreciation to the staff for their work. Later that evening, Miles attended a fundraiser organized by the Citrus County Chamber to support the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Teen Driver Challenge. This driver safety program holds personal meaning for him, as he survived a serious crash as a young man.

Proudly still wearing his Lecanto baseball cap, Miles spent time interacting with community members throughout the event. Crystal River Mayor Joe Meek, a Crystal River High School alumnus, playfully teased Miles and the Lecanto crowd about the cap, adding to the warm and good-natured spirit of the evening. Throughout the day, Sheriff David Vincent and members of the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office provided quiet support, ensuring safety during events that drew larger-than-usual crowds. In appreciation of Miles’ involvement in support of the Teen Driver Challenge, the sheriff presented him with an honorary deputy badge and credentials, which Miles accepted with genuine enthusiasm.

The day ended at the Citrus County Education Foundation Fest, where Miles served as a celebrity judge before stepping behind the bar as a celebrity bartender to raise funds for the Education Foundation. He laughed with families, spoke with community members, posed for photos, and took part in the evening with the ease of someone who knew he was home.

Everything about the day, from the cap he wore with such pride to the time he gave so generously, reflected a simple truth: Miles Teller is not just a hometown success story. He is someone who carries Citrus County with him, honors it, celebrates it, and remains grateful for the place where it all began.

And Citrus County is just as grateful for him.

Republished in the Citrus County Chronicle on 12/24/2025 – https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/local/column-thoughts-on-hometown-celebrity-s-visit-to-citrus-county/article_a7218357-ebbf-50ea-86cb-85295af4ce6b.html

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