Metro | K-12 Education - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

A few last-minute notes for UF's Class of 2023

Apr. 23, 2019

Moving on from high school can be one of the first big changes someone experiences in life. No matter how many times you have pictured yourself away from home or visited your future college, nothing beats actually being there and seeing it firsthand. Either way, a few tricks and tips can’t hurt. Here are a few things I wish I knew when I was first making my way to Gainesville.

More than 200 people listen to six speakers Thursday on Plaza of the Americas during the vigil for the one-year anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

‘It never gets easier’: A year after Parkland, communities grieve and the state debates

By Josephine Fuller | Feb. 13, 2019

Nearly 1,200 people have died from gun violence since

A girl stares out the window of an Alachua County school bus on West University Avenue.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Alachua County Public Schools unsure of post-Common Core future

By Josephine Fuller | Feb. 7, 2019

A new program has not been decided

Howard Bishop Middle School Principal Mike Gamble stands in front of a stain in the school’s media center. Layers of paint coat the area around the stain, and several computers have been moved to avoid the area.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Two cents on the half-cent tax: Paying for the future of public schools

By Kelly Hayes | Jan. 24, 2019

Joey Spiers remembers the chaos of her students ducking under desks, fearful a squirrel in the ceiling would slip through the tiles.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Study finds discrimination among special needs applicants in charter schools

By Kelly Hayes | Jan. 7, 2019

The study sent 6,452 emails to schools in 29 states and Washington D.C.

Madeline Pumariega, chancellor of the Florida College System, makes a point at the Florida Priorities Summit.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Florida influencers say fixing education is going to take more money

By Christina Morales | Nov. 18, 2018

Education was the No. 1 priority at a Florida Influencers Summit in Miami

[FILE PHOTO] 35-year-old Lilliemarie Gore leads students of Idylwild Elementary School through a series of math exercises. Mrs. Gore was awarded the title of "2017-2018 Alachua County Teacher of the Year" earlier this month.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Community leaders hold a forum on the needs of Alachua County Public Schools

By Jessica Curbelo | Sep. 24, 2018

More forums will be held in October

Courtesy of Alachua County Sheriff's Office

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Girl threatened Buchholz High School student with unloaded gun

By Amanda Rosa | Sep. 5, 2018

The girl was a former Buchholz High School student

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Alachua County Public Schools unveils equity plan to close achievement gap

By Jessica Curbelo | Aug. 21, 2018

After the school district led inequality in the state, officials have been working on a plan to close the gap

All of the GPD School Resource Officers with the children and their purchased items.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

GPD takes kids on back-to-school shopping spree

By Dana Cassidy | Aug. 6, 2018

A Norton Elementary fifth-grader was thrilled to get school supplies so he could color pictures and pursue his career as an artist and musician.

A student carries a clear backpack outside of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Monday, April 2, 2018. The bags are one of a number of security measures the school district has enacted as a result of the Feb. 14 shooting at the school that killed 17.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

High school students voice concerns with school safety

By Elliott Nasby | Apr. 5, 2018

Brandon Shavers knows what loss feels like after his friend took her life a year ago.

Five students, including one middle schooler, Skyped with Congressman Ted Yoho, who was in his Washington D.C. office Wednesday during the nationwide Walkout Wednesday protest.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

‘How long before I die?’

By Jessica Giles | Mar. 15, 2018

Whenever Catherine Sarosi heard a fire alarm at school, she’d grab her things, roll her eyes and trek to her assigned location while her classmates groaned at the inconvenience.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Alachua schools, parents take precautions after shooting

By Amanda Rosa | Feb. 15, 2018

Parent Rose Farley is looking for peace of mind in the wake of a South Florida high school shooting Wednesday afternoon.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Alachua County schools have an equity problem

By David Hoffman | Dec. 6, 2017

In seventh grade, Camryn Ford felt lost.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Science tournament to be hosted at UF next year

By Olivia Sahnger | Oct. 29, 2017

In January, the Florida Science Olympiad Northern Regional competition will be hosted at UF for the first time.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Fifth-graders celebrate Florida City Government week

By Jessica Giles | Oct. 24, 2017

Emerson Weitzel sat at a desk Tuesday morning surrounded by her colleagues and faced with a tough $100,000 decision difficult for any mayor — especially when you’re only 10 and your fellow commissioners are all fifth-graders.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Matheson History Museum to open library and exhibit hall

By Taylor McLamb | Oct. 10, 2017

The Matheson History Museum will celebrate the opening of its new Matheson Library & Archives and Mary Ann Cofrin Exhibit Hall on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This expansion will allow for more exhibition space and preservation and will give history buffs more opportunities to visit the museum.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Truck hits school bus, leaves scene

By Meryl Kornfield | Oct. 4, 2017

An unknown driver rear-ended a school bus Wednesday morning and left the scene of the collision, Florida Highway Patrol said.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Public education is lacking empathy

Sep. 24, 2017

Growing up, I always loved school. I loved my teachers, and I loved my friends; I loved putting my pencil case on top of the laminate desk, tearing paper out of spiral notebooks and filing my assignments away in pronged folders. It all just made sense to me. Now that I’m a senior in college, I’ve had to consider more seriously what school means to me. With nearly 17 years of public education under my belt, how will I use what I’ve learned?

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

The bitter trap of nostalgia: Ruminations on our younger years

Sep. 21, 2017

High school me was very different than the current me. Now, this column is not going to be about my dynamic growth as a person, so I’m not going to go into too much detail. Here are some highlights: High school me was going to wait until she was 21 to drink (ha). High school me thought it was cool to wear a skirt over jeans. High school me once put a stuffed lobster in her pocket to be quirky. High school me was very self-conscious about wearing glasses. High school me thought no boy would ever like her. High school me didn’t go to parties and then justified that she wasn’t invited with the fact that she wouldn’t have wanted to go anyway.

Metro | Public Schools