January's Resiliency Leaders - Responsibility

NEFEC supports the development and implementation of Florida's Resiliency Education Initiative. Each month NEFEC superintendents and administrators are recognized for a specific characteristic of resilience.

Resilient Leaders Recognized For Responsibility:

Superintendent Chris Cowart - Levy County School District

Keith Couey - Fort White High School, Columbia County

Eli Long - Dixie County High School, Dixie County

Jessica DeFord - Belle Terre Elementary School, Flagler County

Dr. Monica Weber - Southside Elementary School, Nassau County

Stay up-to-date with the resiliency initiative on NEFEC's Facebook page.

New Teacher Spotlight: Gilchrist

Sarah Griffith at Bell Elementary School

We asked Stacy Worrell, Assistant Principal at Bell Elementary School, to tell us about first-year teacher Sarah Griffith.

“Sarah is a brand new teacher but has stepped into her role like a pro! She is passionate about teaching and is building such an incredible rapport with her students. The first year of teaching has so many challenges, but Sarah has not allowed that to dim her sparkle. Her positivity and passion are infectious, and we are thankful that she is a part of the BES family!"

The first-grade team at Bell decided to make writing a priority. Sarah has taken this to the next level and published her students' writing in their very own classroom book titled "Monsters and Aliens."

Since graduating high school, Sarah has volunteered with the Bell High School band program. Even with the amount of time teaching consumes, she continues to work with high school students in the band program.

Though education is challenging, Sarah's gratitude in being part of this profession is obvious and contagious. With teachers like Sarah, the future of education is bright!

NEFEC Technology Advisory Council Meets

NEFEC's quarterly Technology Advisory Council (NTAC) meeting was held on January 17th in Columbia County. There were 23 technology leaders in attendance from multiple member districts.

Valerie Wilson with ParentSquare presented about their communication solutions for school districts. Her focus centered on the effectiveness of district and school-wide alerts as well as enhancing communication between parents and teachers.

Three new technology directors were recognized: Dustin Walker in Hamilton County, Tony Scott in Dixie County, and Michael Warren in Bradford County.

Technology is often taken for granted in school districts. Access and security alone can be overwhelming for the small number of IT staff in rural school districts. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their efforts day in and day out.

26th Annual Golf Scramble

FREE's annual golf scramble is scheduled for March 22, 2024, at The Palatka Golf Club.



Registration Flyer & Link

Summer Leadership Conference

NEFEC's Annual Summer Leadership Conference is scheduled for July 8-10, 2024, at the Sawgrass Marriott in

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

Conference Information & Registration