Karen McMillan, Coordinator of School Choice and Fine Arts, recognized the 2023 Florida Federation Colorguard Circuit winners.  This is a state competition that hosts colorguard, winds, and percussion competitions.  Students recognized are as follows:

Cadet Novice Class (Lakeside Jr. High Cadets)

• Owen Stevens 
• Aliha Beech 
• Ayana Ledet 
• Makayla Dickens 
• Sarah Page 
• Caroline White 
• Kaylie Lobeck 
• Isabella Matei 
• McKenzie Adams 
• Liberty Lopez 
• Briley Mulder 

Solo and Duet Championships - Lakeside Jr. High

• Makayla Dickens
• Briley Mulder

Orange Park High School Indoor Colorguard

• Viktoria Bradford
• Abrahm Castro
• Breanna Cox
• Kayleigh Kearns
• Alexis Lawson
• Abby Rooks
• Brooke Salazar
• Isabella Thomas
• Raven Whigham

Oakleaf High School Scholastic AAA Class (Winterguard)

• Magdalene Czajkowski
• Kendra Denson
• Miracle Haile
• Jordyn Henderson
• Zoe Lewis
• Morgan Lineberry
• Jayden Moore
• Yarilynn Rodriguez
• Kinley Smith
• Maria Torres
• Mya Williams

Ridgeview High School (Conflux) Percussion Independent Open Class

• Elyas Colon
• Jorge Robles-Diaz
• Paola Guzman
• Kaleigh Nevins
• Taylor Gonzales
• Samuel Elsberry
• Alex Duis

Alice Paulk, Supervisor of Career and Technical Education, recognized students earning Career and Technical Student Organization State Recognition as follows:

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

• Shawn Saint-Vilus
• Cathleen Kivett-Smith
• Wesley Barker
• Munira Ather
• Nathan Bilancione
• Gabe Harp
• Brandon Markis
• Sophia Chaon

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)

• Deanna Zabran
• Sarah Lawcock
• Phoenix Ricketts
• Sydney Jewell
• Sydney LaPierre
• Karlee Wessle
• Isabella Feliciano
• Asmaa Hassan
• Savannah Baldwin
• Allison Hill
• Bri Shatto
• Emily Monahan
• Ashlyn Dean
• Alexis Norman

Future Farmers of America (FFA)

• Mary Roberts
• Kaitlin Konnick
• Maggie Mosley
• Rylee Jannotti
• Tyler Brock
• Emily Russell
• Nathan Paulk
• Riley Crews
• McKenzie Vinson
• Briley Kendrick
• Elaina Farley
• Kayla Tallant
• Noah Hudson

SkillsUSA

• Jair Solache
• Angel Cisneros

Technology Student Association (TSA)

• Bobby Baggett
• Timothy McKeehan
• Greyson Tompkins
• Chandani Armogan
• Layla Glover
• Daniel Kapusta

Clay Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisors Ted Clark and Wes Taylor recognized students' achievements in an annual poster and speech contest open to all CCDS students in grades K-12.  The winning students best reflect the National Association of Conservation District's annual stewardship theme and highlight the work of conservation districts that work to protect and enhance natural resources.

District poster contest winners are:

K-1st Grade Division

• 1st Place - Ellie Wright (MBE)

4th - 6th Grade Division

• 1st Place - Bentley Henson (ROE)
• 2nd Place - Amir Janhrette (ROE)
• 3rd place - Emma Gibson (TES)

7th  - 9th  Grade Division

• 1st Place - Ashlee Rene (MHS)

10th - 12th Grade Division

• 1st Place - Brooke Cooper (MHS)
• 2nd Place - Lainey Hicks (MHS)
• 3rd Place - Patrick McColl (MHS)

Speech Contest

• 1st Place - Noah Hudson (OHS)
• 2nd Place (tie) - Conner Matthews & Addyson Hackney (OHS)

District speech contest winners are:

The Wes Whiddon Scholarship is awarded annually to Clay County student-athletes who have played sports at the junior or high school level while attending a Clay County school, have been accepted into a college, and who have submitted an essay entitled "How I Make A Difference."  Winners were recognized by Angela Whiddon.  A former Wes Whiddon Scholarship recipient facilitated a scholarship to be provided to Walker Whiddon.

2023 Wes Whiddon Scholarship Recipients

• Cathleen Kivett Smith - Ridgeview High
• Lucas Richards - Ridgeview High
• Anders Chadwell - Fleming Island High
• Darion Domineck - Fleming Island High
• Gehrig Van De Water - Orange Park High
• Savannah Green - Clay High
• Kori Jennings - Keystone Heights High
• Wyatt Underwood - Middleburg High

Katie Ruelas and Casey Leone, Science Curriculum Specialists, recognized students' achievements at the Clay County 2023 State Science & Engineering Fair as follows:

• Dylan Barclay (Orange Park High) - Chemistry (Recognition Award)
• Joshua Chun & Antonio Estrada (Orange Park Junior) - Intelligent Machines, Robotics, & Systems Software (Third Place)
• Aliyah Davis (Clay High) - Florida Association of Science Supervisors (FASS) National Geographic That's Geography! Earth Award (Special Awards)
• Angelo De La Rosa (Ridgeview High) - Intelligent Machines, Robotics, & Systems Software (Recognition Award)
• Emma Duong (Ridgeview High) - Chemistry (4th Place)
• Alexander Gordon (Ridgeview High) - Intelligent Machines, Robotics, & Systems Software (Honorable Mention)
• Phoenix Ricketts (Ridgeview High) - Cellular/Molecular Biology & Biochemistry (Recognition Award)

Kelly Watt, Chief of Staff, recognized the 2023 Superintendent's Student Advisory Council participants as follows:

• Danielle Ackerson
• Isabellie Alequin
• Naliyah Barger
• Hadi Basil
• Rylan Cottone
• Avery Crawford
• Phoenix Cumpstone
• Cade Dailey
• Tyler Davies
• Lindsay Gillis
• Alexander Gordon
• Asmaa Hassan
• Lene Hornick
• Ciera Jester
• Gillian Kinder
• Sumayah Lambey
• Tayani Maxwell
• Logan Michael
• Aya Osman
• Gracie Phillips
• Mattie Reape
• Mary Roberts
• Shawn Saint-Vilus
• Mishka Sonavadekar
• Donald Stepp
• Taylor White
• Brady White (Committee Chair)

Brady White shared the Chairman's Report highlighting the following topics and solutions covered by the Council this year:

• Mental Health Resources and Access
• College and Career (CTE) Preparedness
• Clay County District School's 5-Year Strategic Plan

Chair Gilhousen recognized Superintendent Broskie for his completion of the Chief Executive Officer Leadership Development Program (CEOLDP) for Florida school superintendents.

Public speakers:

• Bruce Friedman 
• Christine DeVault 
• Tara Richardson 
• Shannon Hube 
• Constance Higginbotham 
• Tanya Kacsan
• Judith Chapple
• Don Triest
• Shari McGriff

Superintendent Broskie shared the attached visual presentation highlighting the following:

• K-12 Art Show
• Math Field Day
• Instructional Hiring Fair
• Teacher Appreciation Week
• Upcoming Events

There is no Human Resources Special Action A.

There is no Human Resources Special Action B.

Mrs. Hanson attended the Career & Technical Education Golden Hammer Awards and was impressed to see the number of opportunities afforded to students.  She is thankful that the state of Florida has a mindset to support teachers and stressed the need for all to work together to support teachers.

Mrs. Clark participated in the National Day of Prayer at a local church.

Mrs. Skipper also participated in the National Day of Prayer and extended heartfelt appreciation to her daughter's teacher and all teachers for teaching students how to read, ensuring their bright futures.

Mrs. Bolla encouraged contributions, which can be made through Clay Education Foundation, to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library so that the number of children receiving free books can be expanded beyond the current two zip codes.  She appreciated the talented artists, mathematicians, and hammer drivers she observed at recent events as well as a breakfast sponsored by Haskell, a teacher appreciation lunch with Clay Virtual Academy, and the teacher recruitment fair.

Mrs. Gilhousen is continuously impressed by the amount of opportunities afforded to Clay County students, ensuring that all can exceed and excel and looks forward to the upcoming graduation ceremonies.