Duval County School News

Winners of the Hispanic Heritage Month Essay contest recognize their heroes

Congratulations to the three Team Duval students selected as winners of the district’s annual 2022 Hispanic Heritage Month Essay contest.

They are:

● Elementary school winner: Tennyson Haas/

West Riverside Elementary ● Middle school winner: Giannina Quinones/LaVilla School of the Arts ● High school winner: Sarah Robinson/Riverside

High School. Each of the students was recognized at a special luncheon sponsored by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Their winning essays were selected among dozens of entries across the district.

Students were asked to submit an essay about a living person of Hispanic heritage from Jacksonville who has made a significant contribution in medicine, arts, politics, law, education, business, literature, and science.

“I know that my grandmother, she’s a very inspirational person, and she’s done a lot for the Jacksonville community, specifically Jacksonville University,” said Robinson, who was the high school winner. In her essay, the 11th grader described how her grandmother – affectionately known as “Mama Cruz – dedicated her life to her students in and out of the classroom at Jacksonville University, particularly her work with the Upward Bound program. Robinson shared her admiration of how Cruz and her family transitioned from Bayamon, Puerto Rico in 1975 to Jacksonville’s northside, becoming one of the first Hispanic families in the area. Quiones, an eighth grader at LaVilla School of the Arts, wrote an essay about Jacksonville-based ballerina Dulce Anaya. Anaya, who was born in Cuba, was accepted into the American Ballet Theatre when she was just 15 years old and is credited for founding the Jacksonville Ballet Theatre. In her essay, titled “The Prima Ballerina That Never Stopped Dancing,” Quiones shared how Anaya personally taught her and her sister dance when they were younger. “She made me laugh, work hard, and even cry sometimes,” wrote Quiones in her essay. “But those moments have saved me so much in life. I have learned many lessons from her, and I am sure many others in the Jacksonville community have too.”

Fifth-grader, Tennyson Haas, wrote about Jacksonville mayoral candidate LeAnna Gutierrez Cumber.

In her essay, Haas describes Cumber as a “hard worker” who “has dedicated her life to helping others in the community.” Haas describes how Cumber has worked to aid victims of domestic violence, creating a legal clinic for survivors. “She helped out women a lot, and she owned a small business,” said Haas. “I think that’s really cool, and I want to do that.”

The three winners had the opportunity to read their essays out loud during a luncheon on October 28th. In its 10th year, the Hispanic Heritage Month Essay contest is hosted annually by the district’s ESOL Department and sponsored by the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation.

“Mama Cruz is the cornerstone of family and a hidden gem of Jacksonville’s community,” wrote Robinson in her essay. “She has contributed so much of her life to the development of young adults at JU, and on her own street corner.” The students received a box full of Jags swag and tickets to the Jags vs. Raiders on Nov. 6th. For more information, visit the district’s Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest webpage. Photos from the special luncheon are also available.

Dozens of Duval schools to receive top dollars for top academic honors

Strong academic performance has delivered a record payday for dozens of schools throughout Duval County Public Schools.

In total, 62 district schools — and eight Duval charter schools — qualified for the Florida Department of Education’s “School Recognition Program,” which provides incentives to schools across the state to achieve top levels of academic success. Collectively, these schools will receive almost $9 million in awards.

“This is just one more piece of evidence that you can buy a house in Duval County and get a great education at our district schools,” said Dr. Diana Greene, superintendent of schools. “Classroom by classroom, the teaching and learning experience in our public schools is as good or better than it is in any other county or any other school option.”

Funding received from the School Recognition Program flows directly to the eligible schools. To be eligible, schools must receive a school grade of “A” or improve at least one letter grade from the previous year. The grades are based on many factors including student performance as measured by the Florida Standards Assessments (FSAs).

In addition to the 62 district schools earning awards in the program this year, the district has no failing traditional schools and no schools participating in the state’s turnaround schools program.

“As we exit the FSA era, it’s clear that Duval County Public Schools is moving in the right direction,” Greene said. “Our schools are ready to embrace the new Florida B.E.S.T standards and continue providing students with teaching and learning experiences that prepare them for success.”

School staff, in partnership with their school advisory council, determine how funds are used. Options allowed under state statute include:

● Bonuses to the faculty and staff ● Educational equipment or materials to assist in maintaining and improving student performance ● Temporary personnel for the school to assist in maintaining and improving student performance

Visit teamduval.org for a list of the schools receiving awards.