Nolina - Florence ISD: We Are Family

The ambiance at Florence ISD schools can be summed up with a single word: “family.”

These schools are a “everyone-knows-everyone” kind of place, where the principal knows your name, your family and what might be going on in your life. Senior Luke Nichols, a national merit scholar finalist, appreciates the small-town atmosphere that has allowed him to make long-lasting friendships as he and his classmates have moved up through the years. Except he doesn’t call them “classmates;” he calls them “friends.”

Luke also appreciates the many opportunities available at Florence ISD, which for him included AP classes, dual credit courses and FFA.

Luke isn’t the only one who understands the benefits of attending Florence ISD schools. Landon Orwald and Jessie Threet both work in the Meat Market Lab at Florence High School, an innovative program that gives students practical skills in running a business. The students handle all aspects of bringing a product to market, in this case, meat. The students process the meat, package it, handle marketing, sell it in a retail storefront at the school and through a wholesale channel to community retailers. Landon says the program has taught him hands-on experience and important life skills. Jessie agrees, saying that working at the meat market has taught her personal skills and communication skills as she interacts with customers.

Misty Overfelt, Health Science Teacher at Florence High School, is impressed with how the district prepares students for success after high school.

“We give our kids the chance to get out in the community and be something after high school,” she said. “We are giving our students so many certifications in so many areas through CTE (Career Technology Education) that our students can go to work and do things.”

Another Florence ISD department that is deeply connected to the community is the nutrition department. Lillian Barnett, the Florence ISD Child Nutrition Director, has been in the department for 16 years — long enough, she says, that sometimes she’s feeding her second generation of children. She works hard to bring in locally sourced food and brings in a local farmer who teaches students in the after-school program exactly where their food comes from.

Superintendent Rick Kirkpatrick recognizes the district is growing but the goal is to retain that hometown ambiance.

“We want to welcome in the variety of people moving into our area and make them part of our community.”

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