Glades County school board honors longtime educator Doreen at retirement

Glades County School Board members used a routine meeting to honor Doreen, the district's director of student services, for more than two decades of service to local schools and communities.

The chair outlined public-comment procedures and announced Item 2.1 — approval of minutes for the March 12, 2026, regular meeting — before the board offered a series of personal tributes to the retiree. A motion to approve the minutes was mentioned but the transcript does not specify who moved or seconded the motion or the vote outcome.

Board members recounted Doreen’s career in the district. A committee member said, “She was part of that wonderful startup team that began Westlake School,” and noted Doreen was the first teacher of the year at West Plains (West Glades) School. A colleague recalled that Doreen moved from classroom teacher to reading resource teacher, dean of students, assistant principal and later principal, and served as director of student services from 2022 to 2026.

Speakers highlighted Doreen’s community work during the unusually stormy 2004 season: “We had 4 hurricanes in 2004… we were open as a shelter that first year 4 times,” one board member said, crediting the honoree with outreach and community coordination during those responses.

In accepting the tribute and gifts, the honoree, identified in the meeting as Doreen and described in the transcript as retiring, thanked colleagues and said she intends to stay involved locally. “It’s been an honor. I appreciate it. Thank you,” she said.

The board presented a clock and other small gifts and exchanged final thanks and travel remarks before moving on to other agenda items not captured in the provided record.

The meeting combined ceremonial appreciation for a long-serving educator with routine board business; the transcript does not record a formal vote result for the announced minutes approval.