Flagler schools highlight mentoring, feeding program and Florida Blue-funded health-literacy grant

At its Dec. 17 meeting the Flagler County School Board heard spotlights on district and partner programs aimed at student supports and adult education.

Teresa Rizzo of the Flagler County Education Foundation described mentoring work tied to Take Stock in Children and district classroom-to-career efforts, saying the foundation helped train hundreds of mentors and noting more than 85 students participate in the Take Stock program locally. Rizzo highlighted Feeding Flagler’s Future — “This is our second year of the program,” she said — and said the program fed roughly 60 families of six or more last year and aims to feed over 70 families this holiday season.

Renee Kirkland, speaking for Flagler Technical College, publicly thanked the Florida Blue Foundation for a grant to integrate health and nutrition literacy into adult-education curriculum, saying the program helps adult learners “acquire the knowledge, literacy skills, and resources that'll help them navigate the medical system and make informed health decisions.” She cited statewide participation figures and referenced research showing health-literacy gaps among adults.

Why it matters: The spotlights show district and partner efforts to address out-of-school needs that affect student well-being and family stability, and to improve adult learners’ ability to manage health — practical supports that can affect attendance, performance and family readiness.

The presentations were informational and placed on the meeting record; the board proceeded to consent and action items later in the evening.