A DEDICATION TO CHILDREN

Reading and hearing all the news about lowering test scores and the overall demise of public education, you would think that our schools are going to hell in a handbasket. There are still some teachers and administrators out there who have a sincere dedication to their kids, and it's sad when one of them has to leave.

Sue Buckner is the principal of Inwood Elementary, a school in the heart of one of Winter Haven's more depressed areas. Nearly eighty percent of the students there receive free or reduced lunches. While that is a general indicator to many that academic excellence would not be found there, Inwood Elementary has bucked the trends. It is the ONLY high poverty A+ school in Florida.

For all but one of the past six years, the school has earned "A" grades from the state. For nine years running, Inwood has received "Five Star School" recognition due to it's strong family and community involvement. And only TWO percent of it's third grade students failed the FCAT reading test, compared with an average of 22 percent countywide.

Mrs. Buckner has been principal at Inwood Elementary since 1991, and has to retire this year. It marks the end of a 37 year career in education, and it ends where it began. She started as a teaching assistant at Inwood in 1968 for six years, and returned there as an assistant principal in 1985 for five more.

The community recognized her Thursday at the school, as Mayor Mike Easterling --- whose children attended Inwood in the 1970s --- announced that it was "Sue Buckner Day" and gave the administrator the key to the city.

She will enjoy retirement with her husband working on their Tennessee chalet, and possibly teaching some college courses. She has degrees from the University of South Florida.

Congratulations to Mrs. Buckner and her staff on everything they have accomplished, best wishes on her "retirement" (sounds like she'll be keeping busy regardless!), and the best to the Inwood family on it's new beginnings and continued successes.