The Florida Department of Education awarded Minneola Elementary School as one of nine schools to win the Family and Community Involvement Award for 2018. The award recognizes exemplary school practices that focus on increasing family involvement, welcoming families into the local school system, providing effective communication, supporting student success, and promoting collaboration with the community.

Minneola Elementary School’s program is Reading Rodeo. It celebrates a variety of year-long reading initiatives and serves as a reward to students and families for reaching reading goals. Community guests, school staff and local middle and high school students participated by reading to students and assisting with related activities. The event culminated in the reveal of the contents of a “mystery box.”

The winners will be formally recognized and invited to share their award winning programs at the Educational Strategies and Student Engagement Institute in November.

“It is my pleasure to recognize these schools with the Family and Community Involvement Award,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “As a former teacher and principal, I have seen firsthand how family and community involvement can positively impact student achievement. My congratulations to our schools for their innovation in creating meaningful programs that connect students, parents and the community.”

For summaries of all the winning programs and more information, visit Family and Community Involvement Award. For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.