Students new to MSE were surprised this week to find a colored bracelet taped beneath their chair, which indicated which HOUSE they would belong to! Everyone was excited to welcome them into their House Family, where they will remain until they leave Maude Saunders as a fifth grade graduate. The HOUSE of INTEGRITY finished off the 2019-2020 school year in first place. We are all ready to start earning points through excellent behavior, effort, and academic achievement!

2020 youth ambassadors from the Miss DeFuniak Springs and Miss Walton County program have experienced a year like no other, but they have still connected with their community by sending thank you cards to essential workers and helping a retired couple with necessary yardwork. They are wonderful representatives of our Bama to the Beach county. 

 Krislynn McLaney is the 2020 Miss DeFuniak Springs.  She is a recent graduate of both Walton High School and Northwest Florida State College. Krislynn   will be attending Berry College this fall in Rome, Georgia.  Her parents are Chastity and Roger McLaney.  

 Harmony Heitger is the 2020 Miss Walton County . She is both a Sr. at Paxton School and a dual enrolled student at Northwest Florida State College. Her parents are Jamie and Christy Heitger.?

The Little Miss DeFuniak Springs is Kristan Sunday. Her parents are Stan and Tammy Sunday. She is going to be a second grader at Paxton next year.?

Little Miss Walton County is Paislee Missildine. Her parents are Linsey and Justin Missildine. Paislee will be in the second grade at Paxton when school starts back.?

The reigning Teen Miss DeFuniak Springs is Kameryn Sunday. She attends Paxton  School. Her parents are Stan and Tammy Sunday.?

Jenna Bell is the 2020 Teen Miss Walton County. She is a student at Walton High School. ?

Raelyn Carter is our Future Little Miss DeFuniak Springs. Her parents are Blon Carter and Brooke Windham. She will be a first grader at West DeFuniak Elementary.?

Allanah Bishop is our Young Miss DeFuniak Springs.  She attends Paxton School. Her parents are Tina and Thomas Bishop.?

Junior Miss DeFuniak Springs is Onna Frazier. Her parents are Brandy and David Frazier. Onna attends Walton Middle School.?

Alexis Finley is Junior Miss DeFuniak Springs. She attends Walton Middle School and her proud mom is Maggie Finley.?

The 2020 Young Miss Walton County is Abagail Simmons. Her parents are Amanda McKee and Frank Simmons Jr. She attends West DeFuniak Elementary School.?

Future little Miss Walton County is MaKenna Thompson. Her mom is Melanie Cobb.? MaKenna attends Maude Saunders Elementary.

  Harmony and Krislynn will be representing this area in October at the Miss National Peanut Festival in    Dothan, Alabama. Paislee and Kristan will also be competing in the Little Miss National Peanut Festival.?

Superintendents to Watch

Congratulations to our very own Superintendent A. Russell Hughes on being recognized by the National School Public Relations Association as a 2020 “Superintendents to Watch” Honoree! 

Earlier today, 24 superintendents from across the nation were recognized for this honor.  Joining superintendents from California to New Jersey, Mr. Hughes represents Florida.

To be selected for this honor, superintendents must “demonstrate dynamic, fast-paced leadership with strong communication at its core.”  

Mr. Hughes is grateful for another opportunity to represent the greatest school district, not just in the state, but in the nation.

Thank you, Superintendent Hughes, for continuing to embody the EPIC mentality. We are so proud to have you as our leader.  Congratulations!

Ft. Lauderdale based aviation attorney Maria Sklar of Sklar Law spoke to Paxton High School’s Aerospace Career Academy students today about her exciting career. “Aviation law will challenge and reward you and give you the freedom to help people in your community while doing something you love,” Sklar shared.