![25 Pinellas schools win national Merit Awards from Magnet Schools of America]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1769092159/pcsborg/i3hfwejmottaxvmvvivd/MSAWeb2026.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1769092159/pcsborg/i3hfwejmottaxvmvvivd/MSAWeb2026.png","width":500}])
Jan. 22, 2026 - The awards recognize magnet schools for outstanding academics, innovation, leadership and community engagement.
![James B. Sanderlin K-8 teacher Denise White named 2026 Teacher of the Year]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1769045655/pcsborg/vuwjpt7vczrhbjbxnig1/DeniseWhite-Thumbnail.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1769045655/pcsborg/vuwjpt7vczrhbjbxnig1/DeniseWhite-Thumbnail.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1769045655/pcsborg/vuwjpt7vczrhbjbxnig1/DeniseWhite-Thumbnail.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1769045655/pcsborg/vuwjpt7vczrhbjbxnig1/DeniseWhite-Thumbnail.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1769045655/pcsborg/vuwjpt7vczrhbjbxnig1/DeniseWhite-Thumbnail.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1769045655/pcsborg/vuwjpt7vczrhbjbxnig1/DeniseWhite-Thumbnail.jpg","width":2200}])
![Pinellas County Schools presents Planning for Progress recommendations at School Board Workshop]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1768925536/pcsborg/uye43htzr8dulbx3jojr/PlanningforProgressThumbnail.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1768925536/pcsborg/uye43htzr8dulbx3jojr/PlanningforProgressThumbnail.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1768925536/pcsborg/uye43htzr8dulbx3jojr/PlanningforProgressThumbnail.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1768925536/pcsborg/uye43htzr8dulbx3jojr/PlanningforProgressThumbnail.png","width":1080}])
![Multilingual Services Expo showcases community resources and educational opportunities]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1768919214/pcsborg/nl7gqf7m3fxjeadox0pj/Familyphoto.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1768919214/pcsborg/nl7gqf7m3fxjeadox0pj/Familyphoto.png","width":500}])
![Students showcase creativity at the Pinellas County Schools Exceptional Voices K–12 Art Exhibition]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1768916210/pcsborg/wb9ikohqmxhtfjbba26c/ExceptionalVoices2026Th1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1768916210/pcsborg/wb9ikohqmxhtfjbba26c/ExceptionalVoices2026Th1.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1768916210/pcsborg/wb9ikohqmxhtfjbba26c/ExceptionalVoices2026Th1.jpg","width":768}])
Summer Institute 2016
Summer Institute 2016
Summer Institute 2016
Year 2 of the Elevate A.R.T.S. grant culminated with an inspiring professional development at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, FL. During the three day institute, Elevate A.R.T.S. teachers continued their work of using the Design Thinking model to infuse STEAM and Digital Tools into their engaging lessons, finishing with a trip to visit the wonderfully supportive community partners involved with the grant.
Dr. David O'Fallon
Dr. David O'Fallon, Lead professional developer and President of the Minnesota Humanities Center, has been the director of arts education for the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C. and the staff director of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Perfroming Arts. Dr. O'Fallon is passionate about students receiving arts education in the public schools and believes that quality arts programs can have a strong impact on high poverty schools.
Dr. Michelle Tillander
Dr. Michelle Tillande is the Arts professional developer and Professor of Art Education at the University of Florida. Dr. Tillander has a passion for digital media, contects with the Elevate A.R.T.S. grant goal of using Digital Tools. Her succes in working with digital art in high poverty Gainseville schools made her the perfect visual arts connection for the Summer Institute. Dr. Tillander spent 3 days in St. Petersburg working with the grant teachers and travels to St. Petersburg on a regular basisi to work with teachers in their classrooms.
