Students recognized for anti-bullying videos; district honors Citizens Academy graduates

The Hernando County School District highlighted student-produced anti-bullying videos and presented certificates to graduates of the district’s Citizens Academy during the June 3 school board meeting.

Jill Colossa, the district’s director of student services, said the student video contest—hosted by student services in partnership with the Hernando Community Coalition and school impact teams—asked students to produce videos that raise awareness about bullying and cyberbullying under the theme “It Starts With Us.” Colossa said the district will post all contest submissions on social media and the district website but presented the first-place video at the meeting.

“Students were challenged to create a video that raises awareness about bullying and cyber bullying, promotes safe environments, and encourages bystanders to speak up,” Colossa said. The district named Fox Chapel Middle School the first-place team. Honorable mentions included Powell Middle School, Nature Coast Technical High School, Springstead High School and Challenger K–8; Weeki Wachee High School placed second.

Erin Alman, the district director of communications, presented certificates to the 2025 Citizens Academy graduates, a community program of five seminars for parents and community members to learn how the school district operates. Alman said the Citizens Academy is intended to increase community understanding of district programs and services and that registration information for the next class will be released in the fall.

Several public commenters at the meeting later referenced bullying in their remarks and urged more enforcement of the student code of conduct; those comments are reported separately.