The sound of chatter and laughter filled the air of Westwood Middle School’s multipurpose auditorium on Thursday morning as several Alachua County Public School (ACPS) administrators and staff gathered for a 2025-26 back-to-school kickoff.
The nearly two-hour event featured a brief time for socializing amongst principals, assistant principals and district staff, along with student performances and comments from administrators, teachers, School Board members and support organizations.
Opening the kickoff with a bang – literally – was the West Middle School Drumline. This was followed by a student rendition of the national anthem from Talbot Elementary School (TES) students Vail, Claire, IIona and Naeve Beland. Their father, Chris Beland, is the principal at Tablot.
Also entertaining the audience between remarks was Junior Thespian Troupe 88521, which is comprised of students from Howard Bishop and Lincoln middle schools.
The students performed two pieces, with Lincoln Middle doing “Welcome to Wonderland” from the musical “Wonderland,” and Howard Bishop presenting “Hero Is My Middle Name” from “The SpongeBob Musical.”
Thursday’s event centered around the theme of “leaders matter because you matter.”
Speakers touched on why leadership matters in the education sector and its importance and impact on students and teachers.
“Our teachers, students and families look to you for more than direction,” School Board Vice Chair Tina Certain said while giving remarks to the administrators. “They look to you for inspiration. They notice when you show up with consistency. They see how you handle pressure with grace. They feel your influence in the culture that you build – a culture that says you belong here; you matter, and we’ll rise together.”
Monica Benson, a special education teacher at Sidney Lanier Center and the 2024-25 Alachua County Teacher of the Year, shared that “leadership changes lives” in her classroom.
“I have the privilege of working with students who are often underestimated, sometimes overlooked and, occasionally misunderstood,” she said. “But every day, I get to witness something extraordinary – their growth, their resilience and their joy.
“When leaders create environments where all students are valued, where differences are seen as strengths, and where inclusion is standard, not an exception, that’s when real transformation begins.”
Interim Superintendent Kamela Patton, who also spoke at the kickoff, acknowledged some of the “rising leaders” within the school district, including four new principals.
Jill Atchley (Newberry High School), Isa Carter (Norton Elementary School), Maggie Gardiner (Duval Early Learning Academy) and Lauren Thompson (Glen Springs Elementary School) were invited up on stage to receive a name plate on behalf of ACPS.
“Congratulations, and we look forward to all the great things you’re going to do at the schools,” Patton said.
While speaking, Patton also highlighted numerous achievements for the district this past school year, including the district earning a B grade for the 2024-25 school year, coming within two points of an A.
Some other notable accomplishments Patton spotlighted from this last school year:
- 5,000 students enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) courses
- 630 students dual-enrolled at the University of Florida and Santa Fe College
- Five high schools raised graduation rates, including The Professional Academies Magnet at Loften High (100% rate) and Newberry High (96.8% rate)
- Over 5,400 career industry certifications were earned by students
- 80 students selected for all-state musicians
Looking forward, Patton touched on several new initiatives that have been put in place for the upcoming school year. Some of these include literacy specialists assisting with reading and writing across all grade levels and subject areas, rigor walks, which Patton described as a “lens into the heart of our instruction that happens at the school,” and instructional empowerment.
“These and other district-level initiatives reflect our commitment to providing students with the tools they need to learn, teachers with the tools they need to teach, and all of you with tools to be great leaders,” she said.
Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News.