Walton County School District Education Partner Honored as Recipient of Commissioner’s Business Recognition Award
July 7, 2020
Walton County School District Education Partner Honored as Recipient of
Commissioner’s Business Recognition Award
Walton County School District nominated the St. Joe Foundation for state recognition as a recipient of the Commissioner’s Business Recognition Award, an honor bestowed through the Florida Education Foundation. On Thursday, July 2, 2020 Walton County School District and the St. Joe Foundation received notification of being the 3rd of 4 distinguished district and business winners! (see video announcement below) The Walton District-St. Joe partnership was recognized for working collaboratively to provide innovative learning opportunities in our community and for our student’s academic performance.
The goal of the Commissioner’s Business Recognition Awards (CBRA) is to recognize Florida’s business leaders and partners that have shown the most commitment in bringing positive change and implementing bold, innovative approaches to improve the academic performance of students in Florida’s education system and communities. These educational connections help Florida school districts gain a competitive edge in providing enhanced services to the students they serve.
St. Joe Foundation’s collaborations with the Walton County School District include awarding Walton Education Foundation, a supporter of education in Walton County, with a twenty-thousand dollar grant for classroom laptops and technology needs; Fifty-thousand dollars for library books and technology to the new Dune Lakes Elementary School Makers Lab and, additionally, twenty-five thousand dollars for technology to the Magnet Innovation Center (MIC) at St. Joe Watersound. The MIC is the vision of Superintendent A. Russell Hughes and is Walton County’s first Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEAM) school. This new MIC academic center opened November 21, 2019 and is state-of-the-art seeking to prepare students for the global workforce through experience and exploration. Courses include: Principles of Engineering, AP Computer Science, Internship/Externship and Industry Certifications. The St. Joe Foundation has empowered Walton County Schools to provide students the opportunity to meet tomorrows challenges with a cutting edge, world class education.
On behalf of the Commissioner of Education and the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Education Foundation is donating a check in the amount of $5,000 to Walton County School District to continue the partnership with the St. Joe Foundation and to fund the educational programs that have made a lasting impact on Florida's students.
We are all so grateful for this opportunity for our students, and so appreciative of the generosity, commitment and collaboration shown by the St. Joe Company.
