WAKULLA COUNTY, FL —Wakulla County Schools was honored to host the Florida State Board of Education’s November meeting in the district’s Historic Auditorium, formerly the site of Crawfordville High School and Crawfordville Elementary. The opportunity to host a statewide meeting is a rare distinction for a district of Wakulla’s size and provided a meaningful moment to showcase the legacy of excellence that defines Wakulla County Schools.
The meeting opened with outstanding student participation. The WHS NJROTC Color Guard—Cadets Brooklynn Green, Carter Smith, Jordan Roddenberry, and Kaylena Pontones, led by Gunnery Sgt. Long—presented the colors with honor and precision. Miss Wakulla, Abbigail Lawhon, followed by a beautiful performance of the National Anthem.
Superintendent Rick Myhre delivered an update on the state of Wakulla County Schools, emphasizing high academic expectations, responsible financial stewardship, and the district’s continued commitment to students, families, and staff.
Following Superintendent Myhre’s presentation, Board Chair Ryan Petty commended the district’s approach to prioritizing resources for teachers and staff. He acknowledged the thoughtful decisions involved in reducing administrative overhead to better support educator pay and benefits, remarking, “It takes leadership and courage to do that. It’s not easy to cut those things.”
A highlight of the meeting was the recognition of three Wakulla High School students—Hayden Moore, Kylie Moore, and William DeWitt—who received the Commissioner’s Leadership Award, presented by Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas. The students were recognized for their efforts to strengthen civil discourse on campus and encourage respectful, meaningful dialogue among their peers.
Hosting the Florida State Board of Education reaffirmed what the Wakulla community knows well: Wakulla County Schools delivers excellence at every level— in the classroom, across our campuses, and on any statewide stage.
Superintendent Myhre expressed deep pride in the district and gratitude for the opportunity to host the Board.
“When you look back at the sites chosen to host State Board of Education meetings, you will not find many districts as small as ours selected for the privilege. It was truly an honor to showcase the wonderful public school district we have in Wakulla to our statewide leaders. Our students and staff rose to the occasion, demonstrated our exceptionalism, and proved our ability to deliver a high-quality product on any occasion. Our entire community should be proud of this accomplishment.”
About Wakulla County Schools
Wakulla County Schools is an academically high-performing public school district in Florida, consistently recognized for academic excellence, community partnership, strong leadership, and commitment to student success. Guided by the principles of Rigor, Resiliency, and Relevance, the district serves over 5,000 children in Wakulla County, Florida. Wakulla County Schools takes pride in its mission to cultivate opportunities for all students to become lifelong learners.
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