Lake County Schools

This week, we’re proud to celebrate the incredible assistant principals of Lake County Schools! Pictured here are some of the APs who serve our schools with dedication, compassion, and leadership.
Each day this week, we’ll be sharing different groups to ensure all of our assistant principals are recognized and appreciated. Thank you for everything you do to support students, staff, and school communities. Your impact is felt every single day.

Florida Prepaid's annual Open Enrollment period is underway, offering families an opportunity to lock in future college costs at today's plan prices. The earlier you begin saving, the greater the long-term benefit. Take advantage of these improvements and secure your child's future today with a Florida Prepaid 529 Plan. Enroll now at https://bit.ly/4q2cpCD .

April is the Month of the Military Family in Florida! The Month of the Military Family provides communities with an opportunity to honor and share gratitude for the service of military children. This year, we invite you to “Purple Up!” on April 15, 2026, by wearing purple as a visible way to show support and thank military children. Purple was chosen because it is the color that symbolizes all branches of the military. It is a combination of Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine Corps red, Space Force blue and Navy blue. Students and staff in schools across Florida are encouraged to participate in this celebration of the courage of military families and to honor their hard work.

East Ridge High School student Leo Perez is representing his school and our district at the Florida State Finals of the Greatest Save Teen PSA Contest . He needs your vote! Watch the videos at the link below. Leo's video is #5, "The Muffin Man." Voting ends on Friday, April 10. Let's help Leo earn the top spot and move on to nationals! 👉 Watch and vote here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FL26state

We’re proud to celebrate the talented students of Eustis High School’s Construction Academy for their incredible work on the Little Library Project! In partnership with the City of Eustis and the Daughters of the American Revolution – Ocklawaha Chapter, these students designed and built Little Libraries that are being installed in city parks, including the first one at Ferran Park that was ready just in time for GeorgeFest earlier this year.

The project brought students from every grade level together: Sophomores cut the pieces. Juniors & Seniors handled assembly. Freshmen completed the shingled roofs.

The libraries are stocked with donated books from the Eustis Memorial Library and generous community members, encouraging readers of all ages — especially children — to “take a book, leave a book” and foster a lifelong love of reading.

Thank you to the students, instructors, and partners who made this first‑year project such a meaningful success. Your hard work is making a lasting difference in our parks and our community!

Congratulations to the winners of The Florida Power/4-H District Speech contest held earlier this week at the 4-H Extension Office in Tavares!

Elementary Winners:
* Honorable Mention -- Lwandle Nkomo, Sawgrass Bay, "Small Acts of Kindness"
* 3rd Place -- Lane McMennamy, Sorrento, "Florida Cowboys"
* 2nd Place -- Olivia Roberson, Cypress Ridge, "6-7 Trend"
*1st Place -- Aurora Wold, Minneola Charter, "Honey Bees:

Middle School Winners:
*3rd Place -- Katherine Petit, Wesley Christian, "Being the Oldest Child"
*2nd Place -- Tucker Nelan, Round Lake Charter, "My Poppa"
*1st Place -- Ari Clariett, Mascotte Charter, "Benefits of Playing Video Games"

Ready for next steps? Start your career in just one year at Lake Technical College! Lake Tech is your gateway to high-demand careers right here in Lake County. With hands-on training in fields like healthcare, manufacturing, and information technology, you’ll gain the real-world skills employers are looking for—fast. Lake Tech puts you to work on projects, builds your expertise, and prepares you for success from day one. Whether you’re passionate about helping others in healthcare, mastering technology, or excelling in skilled trades, Lake Tech has programs designed to match your career and life goals.

Serve up success with CTE hospitality! From event planning and culinary arts to tourism and guest services, hospitality students learn real-world skills that keep people happy, safe, and coming back for more. Lake County Schools students get a head start through the Culinary Arts program offered at East Ridge, Eustis, Lake Minneola, Leesburg, Mount Dora, South Lake, Tavares and Umatilla high schools. This CTE Month, our students are preparing for high-demand careers with growth, creativity, and endless opportunities!

We need your feedback. Please complete the Parent Stakeholder survey today. Find the survey here: https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/299325/p2577

Manufacturing careers are booming right here in Lake County. It's one of Florida’s fastest-growing industries, powered by cutting-edge technology like robotics, 3D printing, and automation. Professionals in this field are shaping the future of how products are designed, built, and delivered. With competitive salaries, endless opportunities to innovate, and real-world skills students can start learning in high school, through programs such as the Advanced Manufacturing Technology program that we offer at Lake Minneola and South Lake high schools. Manufacturing is an important career path to explore, and for Lake County Schools students, the future in innovation starts now!

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (#TDVAM). Whether you’re concerned about your relationship or if you have questions about dating in general, the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline is here for you 24/7. Text “LOVEIS” to 22522 to speak to an advocate, or visit loveisrespect.org.

Students: Level up your future with CTE Cybersecurity offered at East Ridge High School, and Game/Simulation/Animation Programming offered at Tavares High School! Careers in cybersecurity and gaming combine technology, problem-solving, and creativity. From protecting networks and sensitive data to designing and testing video games, our CTE students gain hands-on experience with the tools and skills top tech employers are looking for. This CTE Month, imagine defending the digital world, creating virtual adventures, and turning tech passion into a high-demand career. With CTE, our students' skills can lead to job security, competitive salaries, and endless opportunities in tech and entertainment!

Protect, serve and succeed with CTE Criminal Justice Operations, a program offered at Mount Dora High School! From law enforcement and forensic science to corrections, investigations, and public safety, criminal justice careers make a real difference in our communities. Our CTE students gain hands-on experience, critical thinking skills, and real-world training that prepare them for these exciting, high-demand careers. This CTE Month, imagine helping others, solving problems, and keeping your community safe. With CTE, our students can turn their passion for justice into a rewarding career!

The aviation industry is soaring to new heights, and it needs students like those in Lake County Schools! From pilots and drone operators to aviation mechanics and air traffic controllers, these high-skill careers keep the world moving every day. A CTE class is the perfect runway to get started! We offer an Aerospace Technologies program at Eustis, Lake Minneola, and Leesburg high schools, and an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operations program at East Ridge High School. Central Florida is at the heart of aerospace innovation, leading the way in air and space exploration. Aerospace engineers and technicians design spacecraft, satellites, and advanced aircraft that shape the future of discovery. If space, technology, and innovation excite you, this high-demand field offers limitless opportunities.

The aviation industry is soaring to new heights, and it needs students like those in Lake County Schools! From pilots and drone operators to aviation mechanics and air traffic controllers, these high-skill careers keep the world moving every day. A CTE class is the perfect runway to get started! We offer an Aerospace Technologies program at Eustis, Lake Minneola, and Leesburg high schools, and an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operations program at East Ridge High School. Central Florida is at the heart of aerospace innovation, leading the way in air and space exploration. Aerospace engineers and technicians design spacecraft, satellites, and advanced aircraft that shape the future of discovery. If space, technology, and innovation excite you, this high-demand field offers limitless opportunities.

Shape the Future with CTE Teaching & Early Childhood Education! At East Ridge and Lake Minneola high schools, where we offer the Early Childhood Education track, students gain hands-on experience in classrooms, lesson planning, and child development. This CTE Month, imagine inspiring the next generation, building strong foundations, and creating a lasting impact. With CTE, students can turn their passion for helping others into a rewarding, high-demand career in education! Florida's Future: Powered by Public Schools.

Dating violence is more common than you may think, especially among teens and young adults. In fact, 1 in 3 U.S. teens will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before becoming adults, according to loveisrespect.org. Each February, young adults and their loved ones nationwide raise awareness about teen dating violence through Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). This annual, month-long effort focuses on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse before it starts.

Presidents' Day -- Monday, February 16 -- is a student holiday. Classes will resume on Tuesday, February 17.

The American Association of School Administrators honored state superintendents of the year from around the country, including Lake County Schools Superintendent Diane Kornegay, at the association's National Conference on Education in Washington, D.C. , this week. Kornegay was named Florida Superintendent of the Year by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents in December 2025. As the longest-serving appointed superintendent in Florida, she was honored for leading the district to an "A" rating, raising graduation rates to over 90%, and expanding career pathways. Congratulations, Superintendent Kornegay! Thank you for all you do for Lake County Schools!