SEBRING — Highlands County teachers are learning a new way to teach reading. About 325 teachers are picking up new strategies at Hill-Gustat Middle School this week. The Florida Reading Initiative is "providing us not just philosophy and theory, but taking us through the steps of actually instructing quality reading," said District Director of Elementary Programs Joyce McClelland. "It's incredible; I cannot wait to implement everything that we've learned in my classroom," Park Elementary fourth-grade teacher Scott King said. ...more

June 17, 2008

SEBRING — Teachers seeking affordable housing have a new option with the School Board of Highlands County approving an agreement with a local developer. The school district will help get the word out about Las Villas Phase 2, an affordable housing development on Kenilworth Boulevard, east of Sebring High School. Project developer Caribbean Realestate Developers has qualified for a grant to provide workforce housing for personnel considered essential to the county. Teachers are considered essential personnel. "The bottom line is you have the opportunity to provide $50,000, maybe even $70,000 off the purchase of a villa for a teacher," school district teacher recruiter Sean Rego said at a recent school board meeting. The housing agreement requires no monetary responsibility of the school district. ...more

February 4, 2008

Highlands County is among 14 districts opting not to participate in the new state teacher merit pay plan. ...more

September 20, 2007

A Day To Celebrate Sitting in the big room on Labor Day, I heard the speaker passionately proclaim his position. With fire and brimstone in his voice, he exhorted us to stand together against the evils of the day and to continue on down the path we had begun. My five-year-old daughter looked up at me and asked, 'Is this church?' ...more

September 8, 2007