Niceville’s Brightest Shine at Prestigious International Conference
Seven students from the Niceville High School Gifted Research Program recently returned from an eight-day trip to British Columbia, Canada. Presenting at the 3rd World Congress of Marine Stations, Niceville remains the only high school worldwide affiliated with the global NaGISA marine diversity study, showcasing high-level coastal research on an international stage.
Lewis School Aide Charged with Abusing Student.
An Okaloosa County paraprofessional, Heather Bildstein, was arrested for allegedly striking a 5-year-old autistic student in the face at Lewis School in Valparaiso. While Bildstein denied the allegation, witnesses confirmed the incident, leading to a charge of Child Abuse Without Great Harm. The school district placed her on administrative leave.
Proud Moment: Fort Walton Beach Senior Named National Merit Semifinalist
Fort Walton Beach High School senior Keira Foy has been named a Semifinalist in the 2027 National Merit®Scholarship Program. Foy is among more than 16,000 Semifinalists nationwide selected from more than 1.2million students who entered the competition by taking the 2025 PSAT/NMSQT® in the fall of their junioryear. The Semifinalists represent less than one percent […]
What If America Needed 1,000 More Vessels—Right Now?
The United States faces significant challenges in shipbuilding capacity compared to global competitors. For Northwest Florida, the solution lies in “distributed surge capacity”—leveraging existing regional manufacturing capabilities to produce components for larger systems. This dual-use model sustains local industrial expertise while bolstering national defense readiness before a crisis arises.
Northwest Florida Teachers Get New AI Training as FSU InSPIRE Expands STEM Initiative
PANAMA CITY, Florida – Florida State University’s Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research, and Education (InSPIRE) is expanding its artificial intelligence education pathway for K-12 teachers following an invitation to participate in the AI Educator Series at the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) Academy at Google headquarters. The academy brought together InSPIRE’s workforce development team, […]
Okaloosa County Initiative Breaks New Ground With Immersive Leadership Experiences
A local leadership initiative is expanding its reach across Okaloosa County, giving educators and students opportunities to develop leadership skills through immersive, hands-on experiences. The Leadership Experience Initiative (LEI), founded in 2024 with a mission of “Nurturing Leadership Through Experiences,” is designed to complement leadership development already taking place in local schools. The initiative provides […]
OPINION: Tallman calls out Mid Bay News, urges community to move beyond election division
The recent school board elections were intense, but it is time for our community to unite. Instead of lingering on political division and personal attacks, we must focus on what truly matters: safe schools, excellent education, and accountability. Let’s invest our energy in our students’ success and build a stronger, more collaborative future together.
OCSD Summer Feeding Program Serves More Than 71,000 Meals to Students
The Okaloosa County School District served 71,774 breakfasts and lunches through its 2026 Summer Feeding Program. The initiative helped ensure students had access to nutritious meals while school was out, with support from Food Services staff, school employees, athletic programs and participating schools across the county.
Cynthia West addresses questions about credentials; social media past
Okaloosa School Board District 5 candidate Cynthia West is responding after her opponent’s wife acknowledged making anonymous Facebook posts questioning West’s mental health qualifications. West says she has never claimed to be a licensed social worker in Florida and discussed her education, counseling experience and the social media posts circulating about her.
Chambers criticizes ‘smear campaign’ in social media post
Okaloosa County School District Superintendent Marcus Chambers has publicly responded to allegations of misconduct involving district hiring, investigations and employee conduct. In a social media post, Chambers called the accusations unfounded and criticized opponents he says have targeted his family. The allegations remain a subject of scrutiny among local residents and advocacy groups.
