SWHS Institutes in Action
February 25, 2021
Picture #1 & #2: SWHS Culinary Institute Students Show off their Chef Skills
Picture #3 & #4: SWHS is Preparing Future Health Experts through the Medical & Health Science Institute
FHS Flyers Land in 2nd Place
February 24, 2021
The Freeport High School Bulldog Flyers scored a 2nd place overall finish at a recent Robotics Education Competition Foundation (REC) sponsored aerial drone competition. These students honed their skills in Gary Driver's robotics class and successfully programmed their drone for autonomous flight and maneuvered it through a challenging obstacle course. In the flight segment of the competition, the crew was undefeated and recognized as "Most Outstanding Flight Crew."
Mrs. Micah Trinidad
February 24, 2021
Micah Trinidad graduated from Walton High School and shortly after began at Northwest Florida College where she cheered her 6th year and began teaching herself the Spanish Language. She later moved to Pensacola, Florida and attended University of West Florida. It was here where she found a love for different cultures and focused more on her Spanish language acquisition. She was a part of the English Ambassador Program and met friends from all over the globe, picking them up from the airport and helping them learn the English language.
Micah also traveled abroad to study Spanish in San Jose, Costa Rica and her life was forever changed. She wanted to teach a love for travel, different cultural backgrounds and foreign languages. Instead of becoming cultural psychologist Micah decided that teaching a foreign language would be right up her alley.
She has been at Paxton School for 6 years now where she enjoys dancing with her students at cultural events and allowing them to practice their new language. Her Spanish Club is the highlight of her career as she loves watching the kids smile and have fun in new places, around new language and new people.
Micah has continued her education in foreign languages and finished up her Master’s in Spanish Language Education at NOVA Southeastern University and is currently studying Hebrew.
“I feel that learning a new language connects you to new people and new ideas. I believe everyone should speak a second language and I love watching my students have fun while learning to be culturally passionate citizens.”
Dr. Rachel Stallworth
February 24, 2021
Allow me introduce Dr. Rachel Stallworth, CTE Business Technology Teacher at Paxton High School. Dr. Stallworth is a native of Dallas, Texas. Dr. Stallworth is an advocate for students seeking to construct a career path prior to graduating high school. She graduated from Walden University earning a Doctor Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resource Management in 2018. Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Columbia Southern University in 2014. Bachelor of Science in Career and Technical Education: Program Development in 2012 from University of West Florida. Dr. Stallworth is an integral part of our Paxton family. She works with students to achieve CTE certifications and prepares them for the business world. She also is very active as a class sponsor and has contributed to the culture of excellence on campus.
What inspires me as a teacher? “I appreciate having authority to engage with students at various stages of development and cultural differences and social economic background. This allows me to make a difference in the lives of students who I believe should be provided an opportunity to achieve their highest level of educational potential. By working as a teacher, I’m in authority to empower youth to pursue purpose, teach students how to set goals and embrace their individual identity.”
Mr. Willie Parker- Emerald Coast Middle School
February 24, 2021
Coach Willie Parker has worked in the Walton County School District for 16 years. Here at ECMS, Coach Parker makes an impact on his students by encouraging them to meet high standards of athletics and character. He coached multiple sports at the middle school and high school level. He is a team player that is always willing to help work on initiatives that support the school. He attended Liberty University on a full track and field scholarship where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He has nearly 25 years of total teaching experience. He also has 6 years of business experience working as a manager at F. W. Woolworths Department store in Washington, D. C. As an athlete, Coach Parker represented the United States in Sweden in 1988 as part of the USA Athletes in Action Track and Field Team. Coach Parker has also received the Track and Field Coach of the Year for seven years in Indian River County.
Lori Sinclair- Emerald Coast Middle School
February 24, 2021
Lori Sinclair born and raised in DeFuniak Springs, FL and attended West Defuniak Elementary, Walton Middle School, and Walton High School (C/O 91). After graduating from WHS, she continued her education in Huntsville, Al at Alabama A&M University earning a B.S. degree in Accounting. She holds 2 Master’s degrees in Education and Taxation from Florida A&M University and Nova Southeastern University respectively. Her dad, Benson B. Campbell, Sr. was an educator in Walton County for 38 years. Teaching has been part of her life for a long time. She has 18 years of teaching experience. This includes 4 years in Palm Beach County Schools, 12 years in Rockdale County School District (GA), and 2 years at Emerald Coast Middle School. She loves teaching because she loves to see the light bulb come on for her students. She makes a significant impact on her students here at ECMS as an 8th Grade teacher. She is also proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
In her spare time, she loves playing board games, helping others and working with numbers.
She is glad to be home.
"Go Girls and Boys Seahawks Soccer Teams" from Superintendent Hughes and District Staff!
February 23, 2021
“Go Girls AND Boys Seahawks Soccer Teams” from Superintendent Hughes and District Office Staff!
Superintendent Hughes and the entire District Staff wish the South Walton High School Girls AND Boys Soccer teams all the best as they both compete in the Regional Finals tonight, February 23rd, at Bolles at 5:30p and 7:30p!
Go Hawks!
Congratulations FMS Students for Passing the IBA Exam
February 23, 2021
Ms. Vanitta Bumpers- West DeFuniak Elementary
February 23, 2021
Ms. Vanitta Bumpers is new to the WDE family this year, but she’s not new to education. She has over 25 years of teaching experience! As a 2nd grade teacher, Ms. Bumpers brings lots of enthusiasm and excitement to her classroom. She was born and raised in Mobile, AL and attended Mobile County Schools. She earned her undergrad degree in Elementary/Early Childhood Education from the University of Alabama and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Capella University. Ms. Bumpers always knew she wanted to be a teacher from a young age. She used to tutor neighborhood children when she was a teenager.
Here are a few fun facts about Ms. Bumpers. She was featured in Woman’s Day Magazine in 2017 as a part of their “Live Longer & Stronger” campaign. She went to New York City in November 2016 for a photo shoot for the magazine. She went back to NYC a second time in February 2017 for “The Red Dress Awards” as part of the Woman’s Day campaign and was on the set of “The Today Show”. Ms. Bumpers is also a published author! Check out her book, Ricky Rabbit Learns a Lesson”.
Lewis Latimer- Inventor
February 22, 2021
Lewis Latimer was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts on September 4, 1848. His parents, George and Rebecca were slaves in Virginia but had runaway to Massachusetts living as free citizens. This is where Latimer was born. At fifteen years old, Latimer enlisted in the United States Navy and returned to Boston once the Civil War ended. In 1868, he secured a job as an office boy in the Crosby and Gould patent law firm. While he was employed at the firm, he taught himself mechanical drawing. He learned to use the tools of the trade, such as T-squares, triangles, compasses, and rulers mastering the art of drawing to scale.
Latimer was surrounded by genius throughout his career having been associated with the great Alexander Graham Bell! In fact, Latimer drafted the drawings that Bell used to patent the first telephone. Bell was in a race to have his invention patented before anyone else registered with a similar device. Working with Latimer late at night, Latimer was able to provide Bell with the blueprints and expertise in submitting applications. This expertise allowed Bell to file his telephone patent on February 14, 1876, a few hours earlier than that of rival inventors. They had won the race!
In 1880, Latimer began working as a mechanical draftsman with Hiram Maxim an inventor and the founder of the U.S. Electric Lighting Company in Brooklyn, NY. Here, Latimer became familiar with the field of electric incandescent lighting. There was fierce competition in the field to secure patents. In 1881, after many trials and errors. Latimer patented the carbon filament to be used in incandescent lightbulbs. It was this invention that helped make electric lighting practical and affordable for the average household. A luxury we are still using today!
In 1884 Lewis Latimer was invited to work for Thomas Edison in New York. Edison encouraged Latimer to write the book, Incandescent Electric Lighting: A Practical Description of the Edison System. Published in 1890, it was extremely popular as it explained how an incandescent lamp produces light in an easy-to-understand manner. On February 11, 1918, Latimer became one of the 28 charter members of the Edison Pioneers; the only African -American in this prestigious, highly selective group.
Latimer’s children had a book of his poems printed in 1925 in honor of his 77th birthday. The poems are sensitive and complement Latimer’s designation as a “Renaissance Man” who painted, played the flute, wrote poetry and plays. Search the Queens Borough Public Library website to find out more about Lewis Latimer. Watch here for more stories of Black notables.