LOCAL NEWS �������������������������������������������������������������������������������

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Natalie McSwain, a Spanish teacher at Lake Gibson High, is the 2023 Polk County Teacher of the Year. Julie Whiteley, the principal’s secretary at Garner Elementary, is the district’s School-Related Employee of the Year. McSwain and Whiteley will each receive a cash prize generously donated by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, custom rings by Herff Jones, as well as other gifts. As Teacher of the Year, McSwain will also receive a car, courtesy of Lakeland Automall. As a Spanish teacher, McSwain stands out for her excellent communication skills, helping to translate important information for Spanish-speaking parents so they are kept informed. She also innovates through her classroom environment, which has no desks — students sit in chairs arranged for discussion groups and write on clipboards as needed.

ECONOMIC SUMMIT

Join the Winter Haven Chamber Foundation on January 31 from 8:30 - 10 a.m. at the Historic Ritz Theatre for the Annual Economic Summit. This year’s program will feature an economic forecast for our local area and the State of Florida as a whole by Dave Sobush, the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Director of Research. He is a Certified Economic Developer with over 20 years of experience. Mr. Sobush provides economic analysis to local chambers, economic developers and other key members and partners. The deadline to register is January 24, 2023. Tickets include a continental breakfast. Purchase in advance at winterhavenchamber.com.

AUTISM FRIENDLY

The Carol Jenkins Barnett United Way Children’s Resource Center is now officially recognized as Autism Friendly by The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) at the University of South Florida. To receive the “Autism Friendly” certification, the Children’s Resource Center employees received training on how to approach and assist individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and provide accommodations to better serve an individual with ASD. The Children’s Resource Center houses United Way’s in-house early childhood education initiative programming and is open to the public Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Classes and workshops are designed to help prepare children for school and are listed on their website at uwresourcecenter.org.

SCHOOL BOARD

Rick Nolte and Justin Sharpless were sworn in as new members of the Polk County School Board, during a meeting at the school district’s headquarters in Bartow in late November. Nolte represents District 3, and Sharpless serves District 6. Kay Fields, who represents District 5, was sworn in for her sixth term on the board. Lisa Miller, who represents District 7, was sworn in for her second term. Board members selected Sara Beth Wyatt, District 4, to serve as board chair for the upcoming year. Dr. William Allen, District 1, will serve as vice chair. All Polk County School Board sessions will be held in the auditorium at the school district’s headquarters, 1915 S. Floral Ave. in Bartow. Meetings and work sessions are livestreamed on the PCPS YouTube channel.

LABYRINTH

Professor Mary Ann Murdoch is leading the charge to bring a permanent labyrinth to the Polk State College Winter Haven Campus. The labyrinth will be located between the WFA and WLR buildings. The 18-foot circular structure made of paving stone is partially funded through an Impact Polk grant from George W. Jenkins Fund within the GiveWell Community Foundation. Murdoch anticipates that construction will begin in the spring. In the meantime, she’s been using a portable labyrinth made of canvas to expose students to its uses and purposes. During FallFest on the Winter Haven Campus in October, more than 100 patrons used the portable labyrinth.

LIVING LEGEND

Reggie Webb was named Senior Vice President for Student Services and Campus Operations for Polk State College in August, but his more than 30 years of service to PSC makes him a living legend. The Association of Florida Colleges honored Webb in November with the 2022 Living Legend Award for his unwavering commitment to the Florida College System and transformational impact on student services. The AFC recognized him during the 73rd Annual Meeting and Conference in Panama City Beach with the award, which highlights outstanding achievements and leadership within the higher education industry. Criteria include inspiring innovation, promoting professional development, and fostering leadership in the field of education.

MLK PARADE

The City of Winter Haven has announced that the 2023 MLK Jr. Commemorative Parade Application is now open. The 2023 MLK Jr. Parade will take place on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 10 a.m. and they invite anyone in the community to participate in this celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The 2023 theme: “Together We Can Be The Dream.” The deadline to apply to participate is January 4, 2023. The Winter Haven MLK Parade has continued to grow and improve in quality and content since its inception in January 1979, a vision founded by life-long resident and community advocate, Glenda Jones. What began 44 years ago as a peaceful march, the MLK Commemorative Parade has evolved into one of the largest and well attended MLK parade events in Polk County. To apply please visit: whmlkparadecommission.org.

GROUNDBREAKING

Polk County Public Schools hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 15 for McLaughlin’s new gymnasium. The gymnasium is one of several major projects coming to McLaughlin’s campus, which began a gradual expansion this year into Polk’s newest middle-high school. Construction on the $15-million gymnasium is expected to begin in January 2023 and be completed in June 2024. The gymnasium will encompass more than 28,300 square feet, and host a variety of athletic programs, including basketball, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling. It will also serve as an important multipurpose meeting space for the school and community. The facility will also be built to stringent federal codes, which will enable the gym to serve as emergency shelter for people during a hurricane. This project is made possible by the Polk County’s half-cent sales tax, which voters renewed in 2018.