Putnam County School District - Shaping the Future

Happy National Principal’s Day to all of our incredible PCSD principals! Your leadership, compassion, and tireless dedication shape the heart of our schools and inspire success every day. You lead with purpose, uplift with kindness, and go above and beyond to ensure every student, teacher, and staff member feels supported, valued, and empowered. Thank you for the countless ways you make a difference. Today, we celebrate each of you and the lasting impact you have on our district and community. #ProudtobePCSD

The Pulse: PCSD Podcast Superintendent Rick Surrency sits down with IJSHS's Competitive Cheer team on this weeks episode of The Pulse. Be sure to tune in weekly as we engage employees, students, and community members in topics surrounding education in Putnam County. Listen here: www.putnamschools.org/page/the-pulse Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4cFephOzTs #ProudtobePCSD

PCSD School Board Meeting Highlights – April 29, 2025 🏆 The board celebrated several special recognitions: – Tonya Whitehurst honored retiring district employees – ADK Lamp of Learning recipients received awards from ADK Sorority members – THRIVE Scholars were recognized for their achievements 📣 Superintendent Surrency and School Board members shared reflections on: – The Melrose lockdown – PJSHS Baseball’s first district championship in 9 years ⚾ – A successful PCSD Career Fair – This weekend’s Anastasia musical premiere 🎭 – 2025 Product of Putnam honorees – Gratitude to local civic groups recognizing PCSD students Watch the full meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-4BnH-5IyE #ProudtobePCSD

School Board Meeting 04/29/2025 at 3:30PM. Join us in person or tune in LIVE via Youtube here: https://youtube.com/live/r-4BnH-5IyE #ProudtobePCSD

📞✨ Exciting news! Superintendent Rick Surrency has been busy today making congratulatory phone calls to our 2025 Product of Putnam honorees! These outstanding PCSD alumni have made incredible contributions to our community across fields like agriculture, business, education, healthcare, public service, and more. Stay tuned to see who they are when we celebrate them at our Product of Putnam Awards Breakfast on Friday, May 16th! We can't wait to share their inspiring stories with you! 💙 #ProudtobePCSD

Florida Prepaid College Savings Plans Open Enrollment is here! Now through April 30, 2025, you can lock in the cost of college for less with a Florida 529 Prepaid Plan. With affordable, fixed monthly payments, saving for college has never been easier. Prepaid Plans are: • Risk-free – guaranteed by the State of Florida so you can never lose your investment. • Flexible – value can be used at schools nationwide. • Affordable – fixed monthly payments allow you to buy one year at a time to fit your budget and savings goals. Learn more at https://bit.ly/40ZUNy4

💙 Congratulations to Interlachen Jr.-Sr. High School’s Katie Hess for receiving the 2025 Vicki Cornett Caring Award from UNF! Her heart for students and commitment to going the extra mile inspires us all. 🏆✨ Katie shared, “Love them first, and then the teaching comes easier.” Read more about her incredible story and well-deserved recognition ➡️ https://www.putnamschools.org/article/2168576 #ProudtobePCSD

The Pulse: PCSD Podcast Superintendent Rick Surrency sits down and discussed Putnam Virtual School on this weeks episode of The Pulse. Be sure to tune in weekly as we engage employees, students, and community members in topics surrounding education in Putnam County. Listen here: www.putnamschools.org/page/the-pulse Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vns8GziioQo #ProudtobePCSD

🎭✨ Have you gotten your tickets to see Anastasia yet?! ✨🎭 This show is going to be amazing! Our Theatre students have been working so hard — let’s show up and support them! 💙🎶 📅 Showtimes: 🎟️ Opening Night: Friday, May 2 at 7:30 PM 🕊️ Sunday, May 4 at 2:30 PM 🎭 Thursday, May 8 | Friday, May 9 | Saturday, May 10 at 7:30 PM 🎬 Closing Show: Sunday, May 11 at 2:30 PM 📍 C.L. Overturf Center (1100 South 18th Street, Palatka) 💐 Advance Tickets ($15): Ralph’s House of Flowers 605 St. Johns Ave | 📞 (386) 325-4734 🎟️ At the Door ($20) – Cash Only, sold 1 hour before showtime! Come out for a magical night of music, heart, and history. You won’t want to miss it! 💫 #ProudtobePCSD

🌱 Grow Your Own Informational Session 🌱 Become a Teacher – Start Your Journey With Us! Are you a Putnam County School District employee who's ever thought, "I could be a great teacher..."? You can—and we’re here to help you get there. Join us for an Informational Session to learn about our Grow Your Own programs, designed to support and guide our non-instructional staff as they pursue careers in education. 📅 Date: May 1, 2025 🕒 Time: 3:30 PM 📍 Location: C.L. Overturf, Jr. District Center (951 Moseley Avenue, Palatka, FL) At this session, you’ll learn about: ✔ Pathways to becoming a certified teacher ✔ Financial and academic support available ✔ Program timelines and expectations ✔ How to take the first step Come with your questions, leave with a plan! 📣 Let’s grow your future—together. RSVP: https://forms.gle/pXtBw1rgKyYQvBvf7

🚌 Happy School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! 🚌 Today, we say a heartfelt THANK YOU to the amazing individuals who are truly Driven to Make a Difference. Across our West, South, and Central ares, these dedicated drivers show up each day with purpose and pride—getting students to and from school safely, on time, and with a smile. Your daily commitment helps us Shape the Future—one ride, one student, one safe stop at a time. 💛 We appreciate your patience, your kindness, and your steady hands behind the wheel. You’re not just drivers—you’re difference-makers. 💛 #ProudtobePCSD #DrivenToMakeADifference #ShapingTheFuture

PCSD schools will release 2 hours early tomorrow! View the early release schedule here: https://www.putnamschools.org/page/school-times #ProudtobePCSD

The Pulse: PCSD Podcast Superintendent Rick Surrency sits down and discusses the honor of being designated a National Blue Ribbon School on this weeks episode of The Pulse. Be sure to tune in weekly as we engage employees, students, and community members in topics surrounding education in Putnam County. Listen here: www.putnamschools.org/page/the-pulse Watch here: https://youtu.be/ra4szLc4-QU #ProudtobePCSD

📣 Reminder: All Putnam County School District schools and offices will be closed on Friday, April 18th in observance of Good Friday. ⁣ We hope everyone enjoys a safe and restful long weekend — we’ll see students back on Monday, April 21st! #ProudtobePCSD

School Board Meeting 04/15/2025 at 3:30PM. Join us in person or tune in LIVE via Youtube here: https://youtube.com/live/VKNUtlN9oZU #ProudtobePCSD

🎉💙 As Assistant Principal Week comes to a close, PCSD wants to shine a spotlight on the dedicated leaders who help make every school day possible—our amazing Assistant Principals! 💙🎉 From handling the day-to-day with patience and professionalism, to building strong relationships with students, staff, and families, our APs are the heart of our campuses. Their leadership, compassion, and commitment do not go unnoticed—and we are so thankful for each and every one of them. Please join us in celebrating these incredible leaders: 🔹 Molly Jackson – Browning-Pearce Elementary 🔹 Jennifer Wilbur – James A. Long Elementary 🔹 Joni Burnett – Kelley Smith Elementary 🔹 Tammie Valentine – Melrose Elementary 🔹 Tina Gilyard & Stephanie Reed – Middleton-Burney Elementary 🔹 Dr. John Shelby (Vice Principal) – Ochwilla Elementary 🔹 Vanessa Champion – Robert H. Jenkins, Jr. Elementary 🔹 Aeron McNeill – William D. Moseley Elementary 🔹 Rodney Symonds (Vice Principal), Aaron Gieselman, Dr. Rachael Schofield, & Belinda Taylor – Crescent City Jr.-Sr. High 🔹 Ted Haengal (Vice Principal), Maeghan Morris & John Thompson – Interlachen Jr.-Sr. High 🔹 Michael Chaires, Joy Eubanks, Lamar Purifoy, & Cindy Bellamy – Palatka Jr.-Sr. High 🔹 Sharice Williams & Tammie Thornton – Q.I. Roberts Jr.-Sr. High 🔹 Lucas Bennett – Mellon Learning Center 👏 THANK YOU for the energy, leadership, and heart you bring to your schools and our district. You are helping shape the future—one student, one decision, one day at a time. #ProudtobePCSD #ShapingTheFuture

🗣️ “Elevating student voice is not just about improving our schools; it's about empowering the next generation of leaders.” – Superintendent Rick Surrency Today’s Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council meeting brought together student leaders for a hands-on leadership lesson, meaningful discussions on CTE & acceleration, and a look at a powerful PSA on vaping. 👏 We’re proud of our student advisors for representing their peers and shaping the future of PCSD! 🔗 Learn more & see the 2024-25 SSAC members: https://www.putnamschools.org/page/ssac 🎥 Watch the PSA: https://youtu.be/h2TFLhdYQaE #ProudtobePCSD

The Pulse: PCSD Podcast Superintendent Rick Surrency sits down with PCSD's 2025 Teacher of the Year, Arielle Driggers on this weeks episode of The Pulse. Be sure to tune in weekly as we engage employees, students, and community members in topics surrounding education in Putnam County. Listen here: www.putnamschools.org/page/the-pulse Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtMKPS1TJOw #ProudtobePCSD

Thanks to the generosity of Florida Power & Light and our incredible partners at the Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub, PCSD students will soon get hands-on with the future of tech! 🤖✨ Pepper is a four-foot-tall, interactive robot that uses advanced AI to engage students in learning about STEM in exciting new ways. This partnership is bringing real-world, future-ready learning to Putnam County—and we can’t wait to see the impact! 📸 Pictured: Melissa Wright & Kathleen Schofield (STEM2Hub), Ashley McCool (PCSD), Sarah Marmion & Carol Saviak (FPL) with Pepper and the PCSD STEM van! Read more about Pepper: https://www.putnamschools.org/article/2136194 #ProudtobePCSD

📣 FINAL CALL! 📣 Nominations for the 2025 Product of Putnam close at midnight! 💙 Don’t miss your chance to recognize an incredible PCSD graduate who lives, works, and gives back right here in Putnam County! Teachers 🍎, healthcare heroes 🏥, farmers 🚜, first responders 🚓, and more — if they started in our schools and now shape the future of our community, we want to honor them! 🏆 Honorees will be featured in the Palatka Daily News, on social media, and at their alma mater high school’s graduation ceremony 🎓 📝 Nominate now: https://putnamschools.org/forms/2025-product-of-putnam-nomination-form 🔗 Learn more: https://www.putnamschools.org/page/product-of-putnam Let’s show the world why we’re #ProudtobePCSD! 🙌