Superintendent A. Russell Hughes was the Grand Marshal for the Black History Parade in Defuniak Springs on Saturday, February 18, 2017.  The parade was one of multiple activities held to celebrate February as Black History Month. The parade route ended in food, fun, and fellowship at the Tivoli Complex, formerly Tivoli High School - Home of the Tivoli Tigers. 

Tivoli High School, currently the home of the Walton County School District Administrative offices, wasn’t the first black school in Walton County, but it was the first high school.

According to documentation by the Tivoli Historical Society, the Tivoli was an elementary and junior high school from 1908 until 1935.  It was one of the more than 5,000 Rosenwald Schools, which were schools built in the south, predominately for the education of African American children.  The program was the result of a partnership between Julius Rosenwald, president and part owner of Sears, Roebuck and Company, and African American educator, author and presidential advisor, Booker T. Washington.  There were two other Rosenwald schools in the area in Argyle and Bruce Creek.  The school became Tivoli High School in 1935, adding a grade level each year until 12^th grade was finally added in 1937-38.  By 1958, the total enrollment for Tivoli was 424 students.  The school had an active athletic program, with an award winning football team, as well as a marching band. 

“Tivoli High School was the heart of the black community,” said Eddie Williamson, President of the Tivoli Historical Society, Inc. “We’ve had engineers, architects, lawyers and doctors graduate from this school…and we love to bring back our alumni so they can see all that we have accomplished.”

The Tivoli Historical Society, Inc. works tirelessly to keep the memories of life at Tivoli School alive.  They have an active tutorial program for African American students in Walton County, and also have a scholarship program to provide opportunities for continued education after high school graduation.  The Tivoli Historical Society has also created a museum located in the main Tivoli School building at 145 Park Street, Defuniak Springs, Fl., which now houses the WCSD administrative offices. 

Submitted by Keitha Bledsoe.

The Walton County School District is proud to recognize former Walton High School alumni, college and NFL football player turned teacher and high school administrator, Dexter McNabb, during Black History Month.

Dexter Eugene McNabb (born July 9, 1969) is an American former college and professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons during the 1990s. McNabb played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL.

McNabb was born in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. He attended Walton High School in DeFuniak Springs, and played high school football for the Walton Braves. McNabb is the father of two children, Matthew McNabb and Alivia McNabb.

McNabb accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Galen Hall and coach Steve Spurrier's Florida Gators football teams from 1988 to 1991.During McNabb's senior season in 1991, the Gators won their first official Southeastern Conference (SEC) football championship.

The Green Bay Packers selected McNabb in the fifth round (119th pick overall) of the 1992 NFL Draft, and he played for the Packers for two seasons from 1992 to 1993.After a year away from the NFL, he spent the 1995 season with the Philadelphia Eagles. McNabb played in thirty-three regular season NFL games, mainly as a blocking fullback for the Packers and Eagles, and received few carries.

After his NFL career was over, McNabb returned to Gainesville and graduated from the University of Florida with bachelor's degree in sociology in 2003. In 2010, he finished his Master's Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Master of Science (Administrative Leadership) and became associate principal at Pulaski High School in Pulaski, Wisconsin. McNabb previously worked as an administrator for at-risk students at West De Pere High School in West De Pere, Wisconsin, where he also served as an assistant football coach and Head girls' track and field coach for the West De Pere Phantoms. During the 2013- present school year, McNabb is serving as the associate principal of Green Bay West High School.

Mr. McNabb is pictured here with his brothers, Edward Robinson and Myrick Anderson, also graduates of Walton Senior High.

Submitted by Keitha Bledsoe.

Congratulations to the WHS Academic Team who recently completed an unprecedented 4th consecutive year of undefeated competition!  2016-2017 team members include Hayden Clemmons; Seth Mosley; Evan Cowie; Kier Teves; Jimmy Franklin; Logan Green; Brie Anna Arke; Anthony Elio; Tanner Grey; Brandi Spicer; Billy Hubbard; Griffon Murphy; Katelyn Lloyd; and Belle Lloyd.  

Three Walton High team members qualified this year for the six-person Walton County School District state academic team that will compete in the state tournament held in April at Disney World.  Those three students are Evan Cowie, Kier Teves, and Griffon Murphy.

Congratulations again to these students and their advisor, Mr. Glen Harrison!

Submitted by Christy English.

Emerald Coast Technical College receives notification of being ranked 6th in the area of best colleges in Florida by Best College.com. If you would like to go to the website and see all ranking please visit http://www.bestcolleges.com/featu…/best-colleges-in-florida/
We are proud of this recognition. If you would like to find out more about the career programs at ECTC please contact us at (850)892-1241.