The meeting of the Okeechobee County School Board on Tuesday, May 13, was so packed...
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OKEECHOBEE — The meeting of the Okeechobee County School Board on Tuesday, May 13, was so packed, many had to wait in the hallway until it was their turn. The overwhelming turnout was due to the great many the board recognized at the meeting from FFA students, Science Olympiads, to school district retirees.
The first two recognitions of the evening went to two individuals for being Outstanding School Volunteers. Lilly Maes is a student recognized for her volunteer work at Central Elementary school and Darcee Somerville is an adult volunteer recognized for her work at Everglades Elementary School.
The FFA teams that were recognized include the OMS FFA Dairy Judging Team, the YMS FFA Meat Judging Team, the YMS FFA Aquaculture Team, the YMS FFA Land Judging Team, the OHS FFA Land Judging Team, OHS FFA Livestock Evaluation Team, and the OHS FFA Ag Sales Team. The OMS Dairy Judging Team and the OHS Livestock Evaluation Team both placed first at the state championship.
The two Science Olympiad teams recognized were those from Everglades Elementary School and South Elementary School. The two teams are both comprised of fourth and fifth grade students from the two schools. Two students from South Elementary School placed first for Mystery Architecture, fourth grader Aubrey Marsh and fifth grader Cassidy Garelick.
Also recognized at the meeting were five teachers from the New Teacher Apprenticeship Program: Rosa Borja (Everglades Elementary), Megan Moore (Seminole Elementary), Jo’Dejah Sewell (South Elementary), Natoya Stevens (North Elementary) and Kristen Wilson (Seminole Elementary).
For several school district employees it was time to say goodbye as they set off on their journey of retirement. The following individuals are retiring from the Okeechobee School District:
• Thomas Garrett – Custodian II, South Elementary School, 20 years;
• Patty Wagoner – Paraprofessional Local Youth Coordinator, Mental Health, 22 years;
• Judith Adler – Teacher, Math – Senior High, Okeechobee Freshman Campus, 29 years;
• Sandra Altman – Teacher, Second, Seminole Elementary School, 24 years;
• James Clark III – Teacher, Counselor , Okeechobee Freshman Campus, 23 years;
• Susanne McCoin – Teacher, Soc. St – Senior High, Okeechobee Freshman Campus, 21 years.
After the recognitions, the school board went on to proclaim May of 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month. The proclamation, read by Superintendent Dylan Tedders states that, “50 percent of illness begins by age of 14, and 75 percent begins by age 24.” The proclamation also states that the Okeechobee County School Board is committed to raising awareness, providing education and training on mental health disorder, signs and symptoms, and reducing stigma.
The board also approved the Student Crime Watch Resolution. The school board and sheriff established a program for training guardians, teachers and other staff to provide even more protection for students in the event of an unlawful entry to a school campus. Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services Dr. Joseph Stanley was present to accept the resolution stating, “Safety is a team effort, not just students and staff but the community at large.”
Parents and family members are reminded that the Okeechobee High School graduation will take place on Saturday, May 24 and that the last day of school for all students is Thursday, May 29.
