Pictured (L-R): Kristy Castellanos, Linda Cuthbert, Leigh Prokop, Lena Ellis, Pat Drago, LaShawn Russ-Porterfield
On December 2, 2025, members of the Education Action Team spent the morning at Beachside Elementary in Daytona Beach, where they received an in-depth look at the school’s programs, expectations and learning environment.
Principal Leigh Prokop welcomed the group, joined by district leaders Kristy Castellanos, Executive Director of Elementary Education, and LaShawn Russ-Porterfield, Director of Strategic Academic Operations. Together, they shared an overview of Beachside’s student demographics, academic metrics and the instructional practices observers could expect to see during classroom visits.
Team members Linda Cuthbert, Lena Ellis, and Pat Drago then toured the school, observing classes in session. Beachside Elementary was intentionally selected for this visit as it is a newly combined school and currently serves the highest homeless student population of any elementary school in the district.
What We Observed
- A beautiful, welcoming campus that reflects the coastal character of its surroundings.
- Focused classrooms, where students were engaged in their lessons and learning environments were orderly and productive.
- Highly skilled, engaging teachers presenting challenging material and supporting students across a broad range of abilities.
Our Takeaway
We left deeply impressed by the quality of instruction and the dedication of the educators working with such diverse student needs. This visit affirmed how vital community involvement is to the success of our schools.
We encourage community members to visit local schools and volunteer. Our children and educators thrive when supported—while they accomplish incredible work every day, they should not have to do it alone.
