Education
Martin County School Board Scraps April 7 Budget Workshop
The cancellation strips local parents and residents of a key chance to observe deliberations on school resource allocation for the coming year.
Elena Vasquez
Staff Reporter
Covers: education, family_money, obituaries
Community-focused reporter covering education, family finances, and local economy for eight years. Grew up in Port St. Lucie, graduated from IRSC. Empathetic and thorough. Parents trust her. Teachers return her calls.
“Warm but professional. Humanizes data and policy through personal stories.”
Stories by Elena Vasquez
Education
St. Lucie West K-8 Third-Graders Tackle Text Comparisons in Group Challenge
Young Sharks in Mrs. Harvey's class analyze text features and structures across two readings, citing evidence to sharpen critical thinking and comprehension.
Education
St. Lucie Observers Praise Forest Grove Middle's Consistent Math Strategies
Visits to eighth-grade geometry classes in Port St. Lucie highlight teachers' clear explanations, monitoring and targeted help, reflecting district emphasis on structured practice.
Education
Fairlawn Elementary Fun Run Tops Goal With Colorful Sprint
St. Lucie County students from kindergarten through fifth grade dashed laps and burst through powder clouds, raising extra funds for their school.
Education
Bayshore Students Strut Bold Designs at St. Lucie Art Expo
Families cheered young talents in fashion shows, poetry readings and step performances that transformed the Port St. Lucie school into a vibrant showcase of creativity.
Education
Port St. Lucie High JROTC Honors Over 40 Cadets at 33rd Annual Ceremony
Veteran groups and the Jaguar Battalion recognized top performers for service, character and achievement during the March 25 event.
Education
Palm Pointe K-8 Claims First in St. Lucie Fair's Middle School Art Display
The Port St. Lucie school's winning exhibit highlights student creativity and salutes art teachers Mrs. Schott and Mrs. Wessel's guidance in the 2026 contest.
Education
Fort Pierce Teachers Tour Jackson Drugs to Boost Pharmacy Tech Training
Instructors from Westwood Academy joined St. Lucie career coaches for a hands-on visit, gaining real-world insights to prepare students for clinical work in local healthcare jobs.
Education
Port St. Lucie Teacher, Students Revive Oak Hammock K-8 Garden
Sixth-grade history instructor Mrs. Miller-Grant leads volunteers in restoring the aging campus gathering space in St. Lucie County.
Education
Fairlawn Elementary Students Display Art at St. Lucie School Board Office
Thirty young artists from second through fifth grade showcase their work in the Arts in Education Month exhibition, open to visitors through April 10.
Education
Martin County Schools Secure No. 4 Spot in Florida Rankings
Niche's latest report ranks the district fourth out of 67 statewide, spotlighting top-tier education for Treasure Coast families.
Education
Fort Pierce Students Dive into Careers with Fire Trucks and Food Trucks
Lawnwood Elementary hosted a hands-on event where kids explored essential jobs like firefighting, law enforcement and hibachi cooking through interactive stations.
Education
Worcester Red Sox Players Read with Weatherbee Students in Port St. Lucie
The Triple-A Boston affiliate visited the local elementary school during spring training at Clover Park, inspiring young Mariners with stories and literacy enthusiasm.
Education
Fort Pierce Central JROTC Claims Top National Honor, Regional Drill Crown
The Cobra Battalion scored 99% on its accreditation inspection, secured first place in regional drills and advanced a cadet to nationals at Fort Knox.
Education
Martin County Students Unite for 50th Music Concert March 26
Musicians from every district school perform at Martin County High School's Don Wallen Arena, celebrating Music in Our Schools Month with the theme 'United Through Music.'
Education
Martin County Winter Teams Sweep FHSAA Academic Championships
Every squad at South Fork, Jensen Beach and Martin County high schools hit at least a 3.0 GPA, ranking in Florida's top 10 across sports for the 2025-26 season.
Education
Martin County School Board Meets March 24 in Stuart
The monthly session starts at 4 p.m. at 1939 SE Federal Highway, requiring in-person public comments while allowing board members to join remotely.
Education
Weatherbee Students Conquer Decimals in Capture the Flag Math Game
St. Lucie math coach Mrs. Proctor transformed a district assessment review into a team competition with sticky-note flags in Mrs. Frisby's classroom.
Education
Fairlawn First Graders Craft Edible Cat in the Hat Treats to End Reading Week
St. Lucie County students dressed up and stacked ingredients into towering striped hats, blending creativity and teamwork in a Dr. Seuss-inspired literacy finale.
Education
Fort Pierce Central Students Bake Pizzas From Scratch in Career Classes
Guided by a paraprofessional with pizzeria experience, the hands-on lesson at the St. Lucie County high school taught culinary skills and career paths in a fun environment.
Education
Forest Grove Students Fuse Art, Science in Metamorphosis Exhibit at County Fair
Under Ms. Grant's guidance, middle schoolers showcase neon insects, origami butterflies and oil pastel illustrations on transformation at St. Lucie County Fair.
Education
Fort Pierce Kindergartner Raises $217 for Global Church Planting
Five-year-old Ruby Charles from Fairlawn Elementary collected the funds through Temple Baptist Church to support missionaries establishing new congregations worldwide.
Education
Fort Pierce Students Bring Black Leaders to Life in Schoolwide Wax Museum
Lawnwood Elementary's K-5 classes researched influential African Americans, created displays and performed as historical figures during the annual Black History Month celebration.
Education
Palm Pointe Eighth Graders Mentor Kindergartners in Dr. Seuss Reading Bash
St. Lucie County school's Read Across America event weaves literacy, leadership and career dreams into buddy sessions tied to the Classrooms2Careers initiative.
Education
Morningside Elementary Sends 5 Teams to Odyssey of the Mind Regionals
St. Lucie County students showcased months of creative problem-solving at the competition, highlighting original solutions and teamwork.
Education
Fort Pierce Central Students Notch Perfect U.S. History Scores, Honored at School Luncheon
Teachers and staff joined top-performing Cobras for a celebratory meal at the Cobra Café, spotlighting academic excellence in St. Lucie County.
Education
Forest Grove Eighth-Graders Explore Marine Careers at Fort Pierce Expo
The Fort Pierce Yacht Club Foundation teamed up with St. Lucie Public Schools to connect students with Treasure Coast maritime professionals through hands-on demonstrations.
Education
Treasure Coast High Students Meet Holocaust Survivor at Miami Beach Memorial
On March 3, the Holocaust Studies class heard a firsthand account during their guided visit, offering irreplaceable insights into history's horrors.
Education
Port St. Lucie High JROTC Scores 99.5, Retains Gold Star Honor
The Jaguar Battalion aced its March 12 Army accreditation inspection, maintaining elite status that boosts cadets' paths to military service, scholarships and leadership roles.
Education
Fort Pierce Central Cobras Tackle Dissections at Cox Science Center
St. Lucie County high schoolers impressed staff with their curiosity and teamwork during interactive anatomy labs and brain exhibits on a recent field trip.
Education
IRSC Sets Eight Free Open Houses Across Treasure Coast Campuses This Spring
Prospective students can tour labs in Fort Pierce, Vero Beach and Port St. Lucie, meet faculty and explore programs from nursing to welding from late March to late April.
Education
Southport Middle Unites St. Lucie Schools in 'Alice in Wonderland, Jr.' Musical
The three-night run from Feb. 26 to 28 showcased talents from three county schools, linking past, present and future students in Port St. Lucie's arts scene.
Education
St. Lucie County's Forest Grove Chorus Earns Excellent State Ratings
Under director Mr. Ames, middle school students impressed judges with strong vocal skills, technique and professionalism at the Music Performance Assessment.
Education
Palm Pointe Seventh-Graders Shine in St. Lucie Civics, History Contests
The Port St. Lucie school's Rockets team tackled community issues and presented solutions at the District Project Citizen Fair while others competed in History Day.
Education
Palm Pointe K-8 Students Turn Entrepreneurs at St. Lucie Market Day
Young innovators designed booths and sold handmade goods in the school's Auditeria, drawing families and community members to support budding business skills.
Education
St. Lucie Students Dive Into Law Careers at Public Defender's Office
Aspiring lawyers in the Classrooms2Careers program met attorneys and a circuit judge for insights on building legal careers in the Treasure Coast region.
Education
Centennial High Students Explore Maritime Jobs at Fort Pierce Expo
Twenty-five Outboard Marine Technology students from St. Lucie West Centennial High connected with Treasure Coast professionals at the 4th Annual Chart Your Course event.
Education
St. Lucie West K-8 Students Tackle Local Woes in Project Citizen
Civics class researches solutions to intruder safety, helmet laws and affordable housing in hands-on program.
Education
St. Lucie West K-8 Sharks Battle for State in National History Day Contest
Students showcased projects on women's suffrage, South American revolutions and the Space Race across exhibits, documentaries, websites and papers under the 'Revolution, Reaction, Reform' theme.
Education
Fort Pierce Students Lead Third Annual Black History Program at Dan McCarty Middle
Middle schoolers in St. Lucie County honored Black leaders through student-created music, spoken word, dance and a Living Wax Museum for families and community members.
Education
St. Lucie West K-8 Teacher Dances Up Geometry with DDR-Style Lesson
Ms. Selinsky's seventh-grade accelerated math students stepped on floor pads to identify vertical, adjacent, complementary and supplementary angles, blending movement and math.
Education
Historian Exposes Distortions in Black History at Treasure Coast Lecture
Dr. Michael Butler led the Jadie Barringer Jr.-organized event for about 40 attendees, urging a rethink of slavery-era narratives and modern misconceptions.
Education
Dan McCarty Middle Rewards Sixth Graders With Supplies Via Eagle Bucks
Fort Pierce school's PBIS program lets students redeem points for pencils, notebooks and epic lunches to combat spring slump and boost focus.
Education
Seven St. Lucie Students Tour Smithsonian Marine Station in Fort Pierce
Treasure Coast High and St. Lucie West Centennial teens explored marine science careers, including Everglades restoration and coral reef research, via the district's Classrooms2Careers program.
Education
St. Lucie West Centennial NJROTC Secures Sixth in State Drill Events
The Black Talon unit earned sixth-place finishes in academics and armed basic drill while competing against 18 other top Florida programs in Riverview on March 7.
Education
Fort Pierce Central Bands Nab Superior Ratings at District Assessment
Director Stephen Gabin guided the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band to top honors at the FBA District 13 event on March 6, boosting St. Lucie County pride during Music in Our Schools Month.
Education
Fort Pierce Central's Ambassador Choir Earns Superior Rating at District Assessment
Directed by Elker Harris, the St. Lucie County ensemble highlighted student dedication and teamwork, gearing up for April's Heritage Festival in Atlanta.
Education
Oak Hammock K-8 Students Meet Holocaust Survivors in Port St. Lucie
Sixth graders heard personal stories from Palm Beach County survivors, while eighth graders attended an immersive theatrical performance for Holocaust Remembrance.
Education
St. Lucie Parent Academy Files 2024 IRS Return on Sept. 14
The nonprofit, dedicated to educational fundraising and parent engagement in St. Lucie County, has submitted Form 990 annually since 2011, federal records indicate.
Education
St. Lucie Education Foundation Files 2024 Tax Return
The nonprofit supporting local schools submitted its Form 990 on April 18, 2025, maintaining over two decades of transparent financial disclosures.
