NEFEC

05/27/2026

Grateful for incredible partners like FCRR, PAEC, HEC, and Just Read, Florida! as we work together to build strong systems of support for educators and brighter futures for Florida students. The best is yet to come! ✨

The Florida Center for Reading Research
Panhandle Area Educational Consortium
Heartland Educational Consortium

📚 Exciting things are happening for literacy in Florida!

FCRR is proud to support Rural Connect Florida, a $9.9 million, five-year initiative led by North East Florida Educational Consortium (NEFEC) in partnership with Panhandle Area Educational Consortium (PAEC) and Heartland Educational Consortium (HEC) to bring evidence-based, Science of Reading professional learning to rural and high-need schools across the state.

Recently, NEFEC kicked things off by bringing together the Tri-Consortia, FCRR, and Just Read, Florida! to train literacy leaders for the Rural Connect Florida Summer Academy, a 4-day professional learning experience for teachers from small and rural schools, made possible through an EIR grant.

Over five years, this initiative will reach more than 1,500 teachers and 31,000 students across 36 local education agencies.

As FCRR's Sarah Herrera put it: "Teachers don't operate in silos, they operate within a system. The goal is to build a system in which everyone feels supported and can then work together to improve outcomes for students."

We're proud to be part of this important work. 💙

🔗 Learn more: https://news.fsu.edu/news/university-news/2026/03/30/florida-center-for-reading-research-to-expand-evidence-based-literacy-instruction-through-9-9m-partnership/

05/21/2026

As the 2025-2026 school year comes to a close, NEFEC wishes all students, teachers, and staff a great summer. We also send a huge 'Congratulations!' to the Class of 2026! Enjoy this season of celebration of all your hard work and well-deserved success. 🎓

05/11/2026

McKinney-Vento District Liaisons, along with Florida DOE, district, and school-based personnel, participated in the Community Action Poverty Simulation. This powerful experience was a reminder that empathy matters.

By stepping into real-life scenarios faced by families living in poverty, participants gained a deeper understanding of the challenges many students and families navigate every day. 💙

05/08/2026

Celebrating 50 Years of NEFEC: A Legacy of Literacy 📚

Walk with us down memory lane as we proudly reflect on the milestones that have shaped our work in literacy. From “ The Lucky 13” to statewide recognition to national expansion - our commitment to literacy continues to grow.

Here’s to 50 years of impact…and the next chapter still being written. ✨

05/07/2026

Congratulations to Sarah Twardy from the Nassau County School District on being named a 2027 Florida Teacher of the Year Finalist! Your NEFEC Family is so proud of you!

Sarah Twardy, a social studies teacher at Fernandina Beach High School in Nassau County, was selected as a 2027 Florida Teacher of the Year Finalist.

Congratulations, Ms. Twardy!

05/05/2026

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week from your neighbors at NEFEC! 🍎

To the amazing educators across our member districts - thank you for the care and commitment you pour into your classrooms each day. We hope you feel appreciated, celebrated, and reminded of the difference you make!

05/04/2026

In collaboration, the Tri-Consortia, Florida Center for Reading Research, and Just Read, Florida! joined forces to train literacy leaders in preparation for the Rural Connect Florida Summer Academy. This exciting initiative is made possible through an Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant, which provides teachers from small and rural schools the opportunity to participate in a 4-day summer professional learning experience, along with three additional learning days throughout the school year.

We’re thrilled to partner with PAEC and HEC, who will co-train with NEFEC this summer and launch their own academies in 2027. Together, these partnerships are strengthening literacy leadership and creating brighter futures for students across the state of Florida! 🤝

05/01/2026

Communications teams from Flagler, Putnam, Nassau, and Suwannee counties are in Naples this week attending the SUNSPRA 2026 Conference to learn, share, and connect with communicators from across the state.

These teams are a tremendous asset to their districts and to the NEFEC Communications Network - we can’t wait to hear the ideas, strategies, and inspiration they bring back to strengthen communications across our region! 👏

04/30/2026

District and school leaders came together in Suwannee County this week to reflect on the critical role they play in setting the tone and shaping the culture in schools for students, staff, and families. Through meaningful conversation, reflection, and shared inspiration, these leaders strengthened their superpowers and left equipped with ideas to take back to their schools.

Thanks to these Suwannee County superheroes for having us! 💫
Suwannee County Schools: Official SCSB Site

04/27/2026

NEFEC is proud to have partnered with Putnam County School District to support educators in earning the FCRR Literacy Coach Endorsement. These educators dedicated significant time and effort to see the year-long process through—balancing their everyday roles and responsibilities with the multiple projects required for the endorsement.

We were excited to present their certificates of completion so they can officially add the endorsement to their educator's certificates. This project reflects the collaboration and support shared with our districts. Congratulations to these incredible educators on earning their Florida Literacy Coach Endorsement! 👏