It was a fun week as your District 4 School Board Member!

I kicked off the week at Central Elementary’s school-wide Tropicana Speech Contest! I was honored to serve as a judge alongside Hendry County education legends Cathy Metz and Paul Samerdyke. We heard a lot of interesting topics and witnessed great public speaking skills from the students.

I was lucky to get to help out the Westside Elementary PTO on Wednesday during the first day of Westside Water Days!  Kindergarten, first, and second grade students enjoyed the water day provided to them through PTO fundraising efforts. A very heartfelt THANK YOU to parents who engage in organizations like PTO and support their schools and students. I’m thankful for the PTO officers at my children’s school who support the students and staff.

I joined the Clewiston High School senior class on their last day at school. City Commissioner Mali Gardner and I attended the last class meeting to talk to them about the importance of completing the FAFSA before walking across Cane Field May 29. I also used to opportunity to share a few words with them that, as an adult, I wish someone had said to me when I sat in their seat in that same auditorium 19 years ago. I told them than in the span of their lifetime, there is no time like the ages between 17-27 to invest in yourself.  If they’ll resist the temptation to “turn up” and justify making poor decisions with “YOLO,” and instead make the investments in pursuing and completing their education in that time frame, they will have a much higher quality of life as an adult.

Thank you for taking time to read my blog! Be on the lookout for a recap of the 5/26 board meeting as well as a recap of a very busy and very eventful week that’s currently underway.

~ Stephanie