Teachers and staff are “getting pumped and ready” at Destin Elementary School for the upcoming school year, which begins Aug. 11.
“Teachers haven’t left,” Principal Amy Meyer said. “They have been in training, getting the rooms ready and helping each other.”
Meyer, who has been an educator in Okaloosa County for more than two decades, stepped into the principal role at Destin Elementary in 2022, after serving as assistant principal for a couple of years under Principal Joe Jannazo.
And getting the rooms ready for the first day is not like it used to be.
Meyer said it has gone from just putting up posters to teachers now putting up contact paper and covering every surface in their room, making sure things match.
“It’s not like it used to be … and it has a homey feel to it,” she said.
“It’s gone away from kids sitting in rows to a collaborative learning space,” Meyer said, like grouped seating or floor seating.
“We want kids busting in our doors, not wanting to bust out. We want them to come,” she said. “The goal is to make a safe fun place to come, and then they learn.”
Destin Elementary, the largest elementary school in Okaloosa County with 950-plus students in grades K-4, has been an “A” school the past three years.
“We are super proud of the teachers and the kids. The standards keep getting raised but they keep raising the bar,” Meyer said.
New at Destin Elementary this year
There are a few new faces at Destin Elementary for 2025-26.
Lori Scott will be working at the front desk in the office, after the retirement of Cindy Hinterthan.
Kim Levins is the new guidance counselor.
As for teachers, Destin has four new teachers on staff, three from out of state, and one from within the county.
Sara Call of Mary Esther will be teaching first grade.
Other new teachers include Grace Urbanus in fourth grade; Taylor Corona, third grade; and Michael Wells, physical education.
Campus updates
With the construction of the new third- to fifth-grade building under construction, Destin Elementary has been working this summer to keep the main facility up to date.
The two hallways have been revamped with new flooring.
The first-grade playground was covered in turf over the summer.
“It looks gorgeous … the sand is completely gone,” Meyer said.
“We’re trying to get the building updated as much as possible, so that when we move into the new building, this building with have some updates too,” she said.
Staff has been pressure washing, painting and landscaping.
“Our custodians have really worked hard this year. They have done a lot and gone above what is typical,” Meyer said, noting they have even been washing blinds.
Meyer said different people have come by the school during the summer and donated various school supplies.
“We’re in good shape. We have the most supportive community,” she said.
Meyer explained the reason Destin Elementary can upgrade the playground and floors is because of fundraisers during the year and the support of local businesses and community members.
“We’re blessed,” Meyer said.
Just how big is Destin Elementary?
Destin Elementary is currently a K-4 school.
“We have right about 950 students,” Meyer said, noting they are the largest in the county without fifth grade.
This year, Destin will have seven kindergarten classes, eight first- and second-grade classes, 10 third-grade classes and nine fourth-grade classes.
“Our third and fourth are still our biggest grade levels, but they have bigger numbers in their classes,” Meyer said.
Next year, Destin Elementary will be bringing the fifth grade back to facility with the addition of the building.
When the fifth grade comes back, which will be about 200 students, Destin Elementary will have more than 1,100 students.
With the increase in students, it will also mean another nine or 10 teachers on staff.
And the new front office will be in the new building, located off Beach Drive, thus the school will have a new address, Beach Drive.
New year, new theme
“It’s always exciting with a new school year, everything is shining … got that new box of crayons and brand-new notebooks,” Meyer said.
But with a new year comes a new theme as well.
Meyer said they have a building theme this year with the obvious construction next door.
The theme is “Building bigger, better, stronger.”
As for the construction next door, Meyer said it is on track.
“We’re very excited about it,” she said.
The new facility is scheduled to open for the year 2026. But in the meantime, fencing is up to keep things secure.
What to expect on the first day
Parents can walk their kids to class on the first day only.
Doors will open at 8 a.m., and classes begin at 8:25 a.m.
“We would like the parents not to cry,” Meyer said with a smile.
As for the curriculum, there are very few changes.
“The curriculum is staying the same, the standards are the same,” Meyer said.
“We will still have a lot of after-school activities,” she said, noting they will not start until after Labor Day.
Dismissal starts at 2:55 p.m.
For more information on Destin Elementary go to https://www.okaloosaschools.com/o/destines
This article originally appeared on The Destin Log: Destin Elementary pumped and ready to build bigger, better and stronger
Reporting by Tina Harbuck, The Destin Log / The Destin Log
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
