FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
S
TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
JULIA L. JOHNSON
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
LINDA K. TAYLOR
John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
CONTACT
NAME
Patrick Wright
PHONE
(850) 245-0423
SUNCOM
205-0423
EMAIL:
PatrickW.Wright@fldoe.org
K-12:
2005-134
MEMORANDUM
TO:
District School Superintendents
FROM:
Jeanine Blomberg
DATE:
September 23, 2005
SUBJECT:
The Sunshine State Scholars Recognition Program in Mathematics and Science
Again this year, a group of higher education and public school educators will conduct the
Sunshine State Scholars Recognition Program. This program was initiated in 1997 to recognize
excellence in mathematics and science among high school seniors in Florida. Attached is a list of
the program’s steering committee members for 2005-2006.
During the fall of 2005, each school district is invited to select the single District Scholar in
mathematics/science who will represent them in this recognition program. This scholar must be a
graduating senior who is distinguished in both mathematics and science. The procedure for
selecting the scholar is left to the discretion of the district. Districts should notify the program
coordinator of the District Scholar, Renee Henry, by November 18, 2005. Each District Scholar
must be available to participate in the regional competition on Thursday, January 19, 2006, and,
if selected as a Regional Scholar, to compete in the statewide competition in Tallahassee on
March 12-14, 2006.
JEANINE BLOMBERG
CHIEF OF STAFF
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-9663 • www.fldoe.org
Superintendents
September 23, 2005
Page 2
On Thursday, January 19, 2006, the District Scholars in each region of the state will participate
in a common mathematics/science assessment to identify the six regional Sunshine State
Scholars. These regions are identified on the attached map. A team of mathematics and science
professors from universities throughout Florida will develop the assessment. The activities will
become available through the Sunshine State Scholars website located at
www.unf.edu/dept/sunshine and will be shared with educators throughout the state.
On March 12-14, 2006, the six regional scholars will meet in Tallahassee to participate in a
challenging, multi-faceted assessment focusing on mathematics and science, for the purpose of
identifying the statewide Sunshine State Scholar in Mathematics and Science. All Regional
Scholars and the Statewide Scholar will receive prizes and recognition at this event. Further
information on the Scholars Program and on previous years’ assessments is available on the
website.
Attached is the Sunshine State Scholars Program District Reporting Form to be used to identify
the scholar from your district. The completed form should be sent by November 18, 2005, to:
Ms. Renee Henry
2981 Blairstone Court
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Tel: 850-878-2563
Fax: 850-878-4707
Ms. Henry may be contacted for further information.
NOTE: Please make sure that persons who are sent a courtesy copy of this memo are signed-up
to receive correspondence from the Department paperless communication site since hard copies
are not being sent out. This site address is http://www.firn.edu/doe/menu/communications.htm. If
they are not currently signed-up, please provide them with a copy of this memorandum.
JB/pwm
Attachments
cc: Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
District Mathematics Contacts
District Science Contacts
