St. Lucie board proclaims May as Speech-Language-Hearing and Mental Health Awareness months

The St. Lucie County School Board on May 13 adopted a proclamation designating May 1–31, 2025, as National Speech-Language-Hearing Month in district schools and read a separate proclamation recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month.

During the meeting, Jennifer Carey, program specialist for speech, language and deaf/hard-of-hearing programs, highlighted district services and said the district currently provides services to 5,100 students and employs a team of 64 professionals to deliver those services. "Currently, we provide services to 5,100 students across our district who have diagnosed speech and language disorders... Our dedicated team of 64 professionals ensures that these services are delivered to meet the diverse needs of students in Saint Lucie Public Schools," Carey said.

Student Cheyenne Cummings, a Fort Pierce Westwood Academy senior who is deaf or hard of hearing, read the proclamation text into the record. After the reading, the board moved, seconded and voted to adopt the proclamation for Speech-Language-Hearing Month; the motion carried 5-0.

Separately, the district read a proclamation for Mental Health Awareness Month. Dr. Michelle Gillard and school-based mental health counselor Jeanne Jones introduced student reader Kiara Licaro, who presented the mental health proclamation. The text emphasized that mental health conditions affect about one in five youth and urged reducing stigma and increasing access to evidence-based interventions. The board acknowledged the proclamation during the meeting.

Both proclamations are ceremonial recognitions that the district uses to highlight specialized services and public-awareness efforts; the May 13 record also included staff invitations for school-based teams to stand and be recognized.