Out2News Education

Three Martin County Schools Recognized Among Florida's Top 500 by U.S. News & World Report

Stuart - The Martin County School District is proud to announce that three of its schools have been ranked among Florida’s Top 500 elementary and middle schools by U.S. News & World Report. This prestigious recognition underscores the unwavering dedication of our students, educators, and school leaders to academic excellence and success.

Jensen Beach Elementary School earned an impressive #231 ranking, with 76% of students achieving proficiency or higher in math and 74% doing so in reading. Close behind, Bessey Creek Elementary School claimed the #282 spot, with 78% of students meeting or exceeding proficiency in both math and
reading.

At the middle school level, Hidden Oaks Middle School secured the #161 position. The school’s achievements include 80% of students reaching or surpassing proficiency in math and 68% achieving the same in reading.

Rankings from U.S. News & World Report are based on schools' performance on state-required tests, student outcomes, and their effectiveness in preparing learners for future success.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our students, teachers, and school leaders for their dedication and excellence in achieving these rankings,” Superintendent Michael Maine shared. “Our schools continue to reach new heights, positioning the District even closer to becoming the top school district in Florida.”

For more information about the Martin County School District’s commitment to educational excellence, please visit our website.

Hallo-Fun Times at Fort Pierce Central

Article by: Katherine Avra
Last Thursday, our school transformed into a spooktacular center as students and staff donned their most creative costumes for Halloween. The excitement reached new heights with SGA’s red carpet Halloween Costume competition held during both lunch periods. Contestants strutted their stuff, showcasing their unique and imaginative attire, while the student body cast their votes for the ultimate Halloween champions.

Building school spirit is essential for creating a positive and engaging learning environment. Events like Halloween costume contests foster a sense of community, camaraderie, and school pride. By participating in fun and festive activities, students develop lasting friendships, boost morale, and create cherished memories.

Education Foundation of Martin County Expands Staff

In Photo: Candice Tedesco - New Program Coordinator

Stuart — The Education Foundation of Martin County — Martin County School District’s strategic non-profit partner — has expanded its staff with the addition of two full-time employees and one temporary employee whose position has become permanent. Jinara Reyes has been named the new resource development coordinator, Candice Tedesco is the new program coordinator, and Pamela Amsbaugh works as the bookkeeper.

These staff additions are made possible in part from a grant provided by the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties.

“We are so grateful for the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties’ continued partnership and support as we continue to grow as an organization,” said Lisa Rhodes, executive director of the Education Foundation of Martin County. “The addition of these team members will strengthen our ability to deliver our mission of enriching and enhancing educational opportunities and support for students and teachers in Martin County’s public schools. We couldn’t be more excited!”

Reyes is responsible for raising funds to support Martin County’s students, teachers, and schools from individual and corporate benefactors. She also strives to drive community engagement to further excellence in education throughout the Martin County School District. Her broad experience in fundraising includes leadership solicitations, annual giving, major donor stewardship, events, prospect identification and solicitation, and financial reporting. Before joining the Education Foundation, she was the donor advancement manager, development events/corporate giving manager, of the Loggerhead Marinelife Center.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in astronomy and Master of Business Administration from Boston University. She resides in Palm City.

As the program coordinator, Tedesco is responsible for bringing the Foundation’s programs to life. Her focus is on planning, organizing, and executing initiatives that align with the nonprofit’s mission. Previously, she was director of vocational services for ARC of the Treasure Coast. A dedicated educator and advocate, she has spent over a decade championing the needs of individuals with disabilities.

Tedesco’s journey began as a paraprofessional while studying special education and organization at Indian River State College, where she earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in organizational management. She resides in Port St. Lucie.

Amsbaugh’s role is in handling the organization’s accounting and finances. Her entire career has been in accounting and finance. She began as a bookkeeper, handled accounting software installations and tech support, and then worked as a controller at Medtronic PLC for 20 years before moving to Kent Management for three years and then retiring. She has been with the Education Foundation since October 2023 in a temporary role, which is now permanent.

Amsbaugh earned her Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University’s School of Business and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Baltimore’s Merrick School of Business. She resides in Port St. Lucie.

In Photo: Jinara Reyes

In Photo: Pamela Amsburg

Education Foundation of Martin County Sets up Hurricane Fund to Benefit Affected Schools

Stuart - The Education Foundation of Martin County (EFMC), in partnership with the Martin County School District, has established the Hurricane Milton Crisis Fund to support students, staff and their families who need urgent assistance. One hundred percent of the monies raised will benefit the parties.

In addition, the EFMC has created a fund to support Murray Middle School, which suffered a direct hit that resulted in lost buildings, including those that housed their music programs (band, chorus, and musical theatre) and agriculture program.
Those who wish to help can do so online at https://bit.ly/efmcstormfund.

“With the community’s generous contributions, we aim to raise an initial $100,000 to provide essential resources and emergency relief for families struggling to rebuild their lives,” said Lisa Rhodes, the EFMC’s executive director.

The Education Foundation of Martin County is the sole authorized organization for accepting hurricane relief donations on behalf of the Martin County School District and Murray Middle School, ensuring that every contribution directly impacts its students and staff.

Indian River Hoops Rally: A Slam Dunk of Community Spirit!

Vero Beach – Crossover Mission’s first-ever Indian River Hoops Rally Exhibition Game at the Center for Excellence was a resounding success, uniting student athletes, community organizations, leaders, and supporters for a memorable day of basketball, camaraderie, and inspiration.

The event provided Crossover Mission’s student athletes and others throughout the community with the invaluable opportunity to engage with collegiate players from Indian River State College (IRSC), fostering an atmosphere of encouragement and excitement. The energy in the gym was electric as the kids took to the court alongside IRSC players, learning, competing, and building connections. The IRSC players’ enthusiasm and respect were infectious, and for many, the highlight of the day was having their t-shirts and posters signed by the IRSC team. These personal mementos filled the students with pride, reminding us of the lasting impact events like these can have on their lives.

Adding to the day’s excitement, the Indian River Firefighters Benevolent Association made a special appearance, bringing their fire truck to the event. Students were thrilled to take photos with the firefighters and the IRSC players, even getting the chance to climb aboard the truck. The Association’s presence was made even more meaningful by their generous $5,000 sponsorship of Crossover Mission’s upcoming Gala, reinforcing the bond between both organizations and strengthening their shared commitment to supporting the local community.

“We would also like to express our appreciation to the Boys and Girls Club, Gifford Youth Achievement Center (GYAC), Youth Guidance, and various other agencies that participated in the event. Their involvement added an invaluable layer of collaboration, bringing more students together and making the day even more impactful. The spirit of community was palpable, and we are grateful for their ongoing partnership in supporting the youth of Indian River County.” said Cathy DeSchower, Co-founder and Executive Director.

Crossover Mission remains committed to preparing student athletes for success both on the court and in life. Through our College and Career Readiness Program, we inspire our students to pursue the many opportunities that further education can offer. IRSC serves as an excellent pathway for many of our athletes, and we proudly promote the school as a wonderful option for their academic and athletic journeys. We hope to see some of our Crossover athletes playing for IRSC in the future—perhaps even coached by the very people they met at this event.

Antoine Jennings, Co-Founder, Director of Operations, and Head Coach at Crossover Mission, expressed his appreciation, stating, “Special thanks go to Michael Schemel, Director of Development at IRSC, Coach Jackson, and Assistant Coach Phillips for their dedication and thoughtful planning. Their commitment ensured that the event provided unforgettable experiences for our student athletes, whose enthusiasm and engagement were truly inspired by the IRSC team.”

Event Partners:

Boys & Girls Club of Indian River County, Gifford Youth Achievement Center, Indian River County Main Library, Indian River State College, iThink Financial, Laura Riding Jackson Foundation, Rotary Club of Vero Beach, Substance Abuse Awareness Center, The Learning Alliance-Moonshot Moment, The Mental Health Collaborative of Indian River County, Treasure Coast Food Bank, Treasure Coast Technical College, United Way of Indian River County, Wawa, Whole Family Health Center, Youth Guidance.

Learn more at crossovermission.com. For further information, interviews, or media inquiries, please contact: Triana Romero, Director of Development, 772.257.5400, [email protected]. Your support and coverage of this important initiative are greatly appreciated.

Martin County High School, South Fork High School Seniors Named 2025 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
Martin County School District

Two Martin County High School seniors and two South Fork High School seniors have been named Semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. The National Merit Scholarship Program is a renowned academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955.

The program honors high school students who demonstrate exceptional academic ability. Semifinalists are selected based on their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT, which identifies the top 1% of students nationwide.

Over 1.3 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).

More than 16,000 students were selected as semifinalists in this year's competition.

To become a finalist, a semifinalist must complete several additional requirements. According to the National Merit Scholarship Program, about 95% of semifinalists are expected to become finalists and receive a Certificate of Merit.

Congratulations to the following seniors who were named Semifinalists:

Ricardo Rivera, Martin County High School

Logan Swanner, Martin County High School

Emanuele Cavallaro, South Fork High School

Safid Alam, South Fork High School

VGESS Rolls Out the Green Carpet

Article by: Donia Saadah
VGESS Faculty and Staff are thrilled to kick off another amazing year! Village Green’s incredible World Changers strutted down the green carpet, greeted by the cheerful cheers of teachers and staff celebrating their return! We are ready to make this year unforgettable, packed with learning, fun, and adventure. Here’s to new beginnings and a fantastic journey ahead!

Fairlawn Fourth Graders Tackle Math

Article by: Heather Ricksecker
Fourth-grade students in Mrs. Ascani’s math class participated in a stand-up, hand-up, pair-up activity to discuss place value relationships among different numbers. Students found partners and had to explain their reasoning behind the relationships they identified between numbers.

Indian River State College Earns 10-Year Reaffirmation of Accreditation by SACSCOC

Fort Pierce – Indian River State College has earned a 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (“SACSCOC”), an institutional accreditor for quality assurance in higher education. The College was reaffirmed with no further action or reporting required.

SACSCOC’s reaffirmation of accreditation is a mark of Indian River State College’s institutional quality and integrity. It signals to students, parents and the public that the College meets established standards and is dedicated to providing a quality educational experience.

“We are proud of Indian River State College’s reaffirmation of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission,” said Dr. Timothy E. Moore, Indian River State College president. “It validates the wonderful work of faculty, staff, and leadership in upholding the highest standards of academic success and affirms our commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience.”

Reaffirmation is a rigorous process that requires the institution to demonstrate compliance with 73 standards covering all aspects of the institution’s operation – governance, policies and procedures, faculty, staff, administration, curriculum, student services, and finance. The institution is evaluated by an off-site, peer review committee, and on-site review committee, and final review by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees. To gain or maintain an accreditation, institutions must comply with SACSCOC policies, procedures, and standards.

“Kudos to all of the faculty and staff at Indian River State College on the reaffirmation of your accreditation,” said Dr. Belle S. Wheelan, SACSCOC president. “It is obvious that all of you work tirelessly every day to provide a high-quality education to the students, and this accomplishment validates those efforts!”

SACSCOC is the regional commission responsible for accrediting degree-granting institutions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and some institutions in Latin America, according to its website. The organization’s mission is to assure the educational quality and improve the effectiveness of its member institutions. Institutional accreditors provide consumer protection by providing the public with an assurance of the quality of the institution and, subsequently, degree earned.

"Indian River State College is very proud of its efforts to improve the lives of our students and to enhance our community," said Dr. Angela Browning, vice president of research and institutional effectiveness. "Faculty, staff and administrators spent two years documenting compliance with the SACSCOC standards and appreciate the organization's validation through reaffirmation."

As a leader in education and innovation, Indian River State College transforms lives by offering high-quality, affordable and accessible education through traditional and remote delivery. Indian River State College is working diligently to fulfill the mission of the Florida State College System, providing access to high-quality, affordable academic and career educational programs that maximize student learning and success, develop a globally competitive workforce and respond to diverse state and community needs.

Indian River State College was granted accreditation by SACSCOC on January 1, 1965. Its next SACSCOC reaffirmation is anticipated 2034.

Martin County School District 2024 - 2025 School Calendar

St. Lucie County School District 2024 - 2025 School Calendar