The Okaloosa County School District proudly congratulates Southside Primary School and Mrs. Ruby Keppel for earning an "Excellent Performance" designation from the Florida Department of Education for their 2024-2025 Summer Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Program. This designation is the highest possible under Florida's newly launched VPK accountability system, which for the first time measures program quality using clear performance metrics designed to ensure kindergarten readiness across the state. Of the 145 providers evaluated, only 28% received the "Excellent" designation, making Southside's achievement both rare and commendable. Under the leadership of Principal Amy Bowles, Southside's VPK program, taught by Mrs. Ruby Keppel, achieved an 88% proficiency rate among its students. Even more impressively, every child in the program was a PreK-D student transitioning to kindergarten, including one who is deaf and hard of hearing. Mrs. Keppel earned a score of 6.72, the highest score achieved statewide, a distinction shared by only one other educator in the state of Florida.
"This outstanding accomplishment is a testament to the dedication of our educators, the strength of our curriculum, and our unwavering commitment to early childhood education," said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. "It also highlights the critical role of our continued partnership with the Early Learning Coalition of the Emerald Coast, whose collaboration ensures that every child, regardless of background or ability, has the support they need to thrive from the very beginning." The new VPK accountability system, established under Section 1002.68, Florida Statutes, and Rule 6M-8.622, Florida Administrative Code, evaluates providers based on student performance and program quality. According to the Florida Department of Education, 76% of providers met or exceeded expectations, while only 28% achieved the "Excellent" designation.
The Okaloosa County School District remains committed to expanding access to high-quality early learning experiences and celebrating educators who help lay the foundation for lifelong learning.
