Education News

The Collier County School Board voted 4-1 Thursday evening to accept a $555,000 settlement in the Baker lawsuit. Board Vice Chairwoman Pat Carroll was the lone dissenter. Full story »

Collier County School Board member Kathleen Curatolo surprised her fellow Board members Thursday afternoon by proposing that the district add two members to the School Board. The two members would be considered at-large. Full story »

They’re throwing a farewell party for teachers Esther Scuderi and Debbie Schlinder May 28 at Tommie Barfield Elementary School, but neither really wants to be there. They will attend, though, no question about that. Full story »

The daughter of Palestinian immigrants, and one of five children in the family, Hawa Itayem chose summer study to cut a year of high school and recently graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University magna cum laude in secondary education. Now, at 19 and about to embark on her master’s degree, Itayem talks about her background, her multi-cultural approach to life and her hopes for her own future as well as that of America. Full story »

Even though it’s just a couple of minutes before going live, it’s quiet and orderly in the Tommie Barfield Elementary television studio. Some of the news team of eight fifth-grade students make final adjustments to their cameras and mixing equipment, while those who will appear on-camera silently practice some of their lines. Yet others ensure the power point scripts for the various presenters are ready to roll, and the sound man does his necessary checks. Full story »

Sure a lot has changed in the 50 years since Marco Island resident Bedford Biles, 87, was last in college, but Biles plans to share how some things always remain the same. Biles will deliver the commencement address to the newest round of graduates at the University of Akron School of Law in Ohio May 18. Full story »

Kristyn Walker of Marco Island received a Doctor of Law and Master of Laws in International and Comparative Law (J.D./LL.M.) degree this year as a member of the class of 2008. Full story »

For some students at Manatee Middle School in Naples, the monotony of daily classroom activities was broken up Thursday and Friday by a chance to leave a lasting legacy on their school. Under the guidance of renowned Marco muralist Stephen Muldoon, a select number of students got to jazz up their school cafeteria by painting the walls with a large mural inspired by Calusa Indian masks. Full story »

The sweet sound of the Morning Musicians filled the multi-purpose room at Tommie Barfield Elementary Wednesday morning. This chorus of fourth and fifth grade students, under the direction of music teacher Lisa Braren, performed a program dedicated to positive behavior and making good choices. Full story »

Former Superintendent Ray Baker reached a tentative agreement with the Collier County School District to settle a lawsuit against the district for $555,000. “We believe the agreement is a fair one. It is not great for either side, but it is good for both sides,” said School Board Attorney Richard Withers. Baker filed his lawsuit against the district on Aug. 20. The lawsuit alleged the School Board violated state Sunshine Laws, so its July 31 vote to fire Baker was void. Full story »

Many of history’s great artists — Edgar Degas, Leonardo da Vinci, and Mary Cassatt, to name a few — found their passion for painting in their teenage years. For Camielle Aylwin, a 15-year-old tenth grader at Lely High School, art was never something she considered seriously — not until a year ago when she fell in love with the idea of painting. Full story »

The Lely High School National Honor Society is sponsoring a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Community Blood Center’s Bloodmobile will be located in the school’s west parking lot , located at 1 Lely High School Boulevard in Lely Resort, East Naples. Full story »

Working towards being an environmentally conscious institution has become a priority at Florida Gulf Coast University. This was the message from Dr. Wilson Bradshaw, the university’s third president, during an address at a Marco Island Area Chamber of Commerce business before breakfast session held April 25 at the Marco Island Yacht Club. Full story »

Three new employees to the Collier County School District are new to their school communities, but they are not new to Superintendent Dennis Thompson. That’s because the three new people that will assume leadership positions at three Collier County schools this fall are moving from Rockford, Ill., where they worked under Thompson. Full story »

On April 16, the Lely High School Band left Naples at 7:30 p.m. and traveled through the night to Gatlinburg, Tenn. The students were performing in the Fiesta Val Music Festival during the weekend. They arrived in the Gatlinburg area the next day around 1 p.m. and began to visit the many tourist areas that the city provides. Full story »