Page 100 - Superintendent Annual Report 24-25

Reviewed & Approved

Youth Mental Health First Aid
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

Reviewed & Approved
Under Florida State Legislation House Bill 1421, which focuses on school safety, all school districts must
Under Florida House Bill 1421, which focuses on school safety, all school districts must annually certify that
annually certify that at least 80% of school personnel have received youth mental health awareness and
at least 80% of school personnel have received youth mental health awareness and assistance training. The
assistance training. The Florida Department of Education has designated Youth Mental Health First Aid
Education Supports
Florida Department of Education has designated Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA), provided by the
(YMHFA), provided by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, as the mandated training program. The
National Council for Mental Wellbeing, as the mandated training program. The District exceeded this mandate
District exceeded this mandate with 90% of our employees receiving YMHFA certifications.
with 90% of our employees receiving YMHFA certifications. (Figure 5)
Academic Support
Figure 1
Figure 5
YMHFA Participation Tracking Dashboard FY25
YMHFA Participation Tracking Dashboard FY25
The Department of Support Services continued to provide curriculum access for students in alternative
education, including Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) facilities and Youth Services programs. The goal
was to improve student achievement by enhancing explicit, standards-based instruction, co-teaching, small
group instruction, data analysis, progress monitoring, and the effective alignment and use of instructional

resources. This was accomplished through professional learning for administrators and teachers,

professional learning communities, and instructional coaching. The Department of Support Services offered
comprehensive academic support through an academic team that included a manager for academics, a

reading coach, and a mathematics coach.

Gradual Release of Responsibility Framework

A key focus was the Gradual Release of Responsibility

EDUCATION SUPPORTS
Framework for instruction. This framework, utilized

throughout the District, involved teachers initially
Academic Support
modeling and guiding instruction before gradually
The Department of Support Services continued to
provide curriculum access for students in alterna-
shifting responsibility to students for their learning and
tive education, including Department of Juvenile
practice, ultimately leading to independent application
Justice (DJJ) facilities and Youth Services programs.
The goal was to improve student achievement by
of skills and knowledge. Teachers at alternative
enhancing explicit, standards-based instruction,
education sites received support from the academic
co-teaching, small group instruction, data analysis,
progress monitoring, and the effective alignment
team of the Department of Support Services in
and use of instructional resources. This was
implementing this framework.
accomplished through professional learning for
administrators and teachers, professional learning
Advanced International Certificate of Education
communities, and instructional coaching. The Department of Support Services offered comprehensive
academic support through an academic team that included a manager for academics, a reading coach, and a
mathematics coach.
In FY25, the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program was implemented at
A key focus was the Gradual Release of Responsibility Framework for instruction. This framework, utilized
one alternative education site and one DJJ facility. The District supported this implementation by providing
throughout the District, involved teachers initially modeling and guiding instruction before gradually shifting
1:1 instructional coaching to AICE-certified teachers. This coaching focused on teaching the AICE curriculum
responsibility to students for their learning and practice, ultimately leading to independent application of
while addressing the Florida Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards.
skills and knowledge. Teachers at alternative education sites received support from the academic team of the
Department of Support Services in implementing this framework.

100 SUPERINTENDENT ANNUAL REPORT