Constitution Day: Teaching the Next Generation About Freedom

There are some things we teach in school because they are required, and then there are things we teach because they are important. Understanding the Constitution of the United States falls firmly into the second category.

Today, September 17, is Constitution Day, marking the day in 1787 when our nation’s founders signed the United States Constitution. For me, the Constitution is not simply a document sitting behind glass in Washington, D.C., or something students just memorize for a civics test. It is the foundation of our government and one of the reasons we enjoy the freedoms and rights that we sometimes take for granted.

That is why I am especially proud of the way Citrus County Schools approach Constitution Day. Here, it is not simply one day on the calendar. It is part of a larger effort that includes Freedom Week and Founders Month, giving our students additional opportunities to learn about the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the principles upon which our nation was founded.

I think that matters more than ever. Our children need to know what these documents say, but they also need to understand why they were written and what they mean. What does freedom really mean? Why did our founders create three branches of government? Why did they place limits on government power? Why are certain individual rights specifically protected? And perhaps most importantly, what responsibilities come with those rights?

Those are important conversations for young people to have, and they should be approached with curiosity, respect, and an appreciation for the fact that our nation has never stopped debating what those founding principles mean in practice. Our responsibility in our schools is not to tell students what to think. It is to make sure they have the knowledge, historical context, and critical-thinking skills necessary to think for themselves and become informed citizens.

One of my favorite traditions associated with Constitution Day in Citrus County is something very simple: a small, pocket-sized copy of the United States Constitution.

Thanks to the continued generosity and support of Citrus County Supervisor of Elections Maureen “Mo” Baird, every Citrus County student taking Civics and Government will once again receive a copy. Think about that for a moment. A student can put the Constitution in a backpack, a desk drawer, or even a pocket and carry it around. It is a small book representing a very big idea and a tangible reminder that the freedoms we enjoy did not simply happen. They are rooted in principles established nearly 240 years ago and preserved through generations of Americans who have believed those principles were worth defending.

I want to thank Supervisor Baird for continuing this tradition, along with Superintendent Dr. Scott Hebert, Coordinator of Academic Programs and Instructional Materials Dr. Al Balk, our teachers, administrators, and everyone who works to make civic education meaningful for our students. Our students also have access to the Constitution and other founding documents on their school-issued devices, putting these important resources literally at their fingertips.

There is still something meaningful about holding that little Constitution in your hand. Maybe that is because citizenship is ultimately personal. It is about understanding the rights we have, but also recognizing the responsibilities we carry. It is about understanding that living in a constitutional republic means we have both the freedom to express our views and the responsibility to respect the rights of others.

That brings me to another reason Constitution Day means so much in Citrus County. Our schools have a long tradition of honoring the men and women who have served our country. Citrus County Schools are proud to be the first Purple Heart School District in the nation, and every one of our schools has been designated a Florida Purple Star School.

Those designations are more than signs on a wall. They remind us that the freedoms protected by our Constitution have often come with tremendous sacrifice. Generations of Americans have worn a uniform, left their families, served far from home, and in some cases given their lives so that the rest of us could continue to enjoy the freedoms represented by that great document.

That is an important lesson for our children. We should teach them about the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights, but we should also teach them to appreciate the people who have defended the freedoms those documents represent. Education and gratitude belong together.

That is why Constitution Day and Freedom Week matter. They give us an opportunity to stop for a moment and remember that the freedoms we enjoy are not just words in a history book. They are part of the foundation of our country and part of the responsibility we pass from one generation to the next.

Nearly 240 years after the Constitution was signed, its pages are still being studied by students in Citrus County classrooms. This week, some of those students will put a copy of that Constitution into their pockets and carry it home.

I hope they do.

Because sometimes a small book can carry a very big reminder: freedom is something worth understanding, something worth appreciating, and something worth teaching the next generation to value and protect.

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Twenty-Five Years Later, We Still Remember

There are moments in history that divide time into before and after.

September 11, 2001, is one of them.

Twenty-five years later, most us in America who lived through that day can still remember where they were when they heard the news. We remember the images, the uncertainty and the heartbreak. But we should also remember what came next: extraordinary courage, sacrifice, compassion and a nation that came together.

This September 11, as we mark the 25th anniversary, we have an important responsibility. We must remember, and we must teach the next generation why we remember.

In Citrus County Schools, September 11 provides that opportunity.

Across our district, students and staff pause for a moment of silence. Teachers use that time not simply to explain what happened, but to help students understand the human stories behind the history: the nearly 3,000 lives lost, the families forever changed, and the first responders who ran toward danger when others were desperately trying to escape it.

Our three high schools also continue the tradition of bringing social studies students to the 9/11 Exhibit at the Valerie Theatre. There, students can see authentic artifacts recovered from Ground Zero.

For these young people who were not alive in 2001, history can sometimes feel distant. Standing in front of an actual artifact from Ground Zero changes that. It makes history real.

We owe a special debt of gratitude to School Board Member, the Honorable Joe Faherty, whose efforts helped bring these artifacts from New York to Citrus County years ago. His work has given generations of local students an opportunity to connect personally with one of the defining events of our time.

Inside our schools, teachers have also created their own traditions of remembrance.

At Citrus High School, ESE teacher Kathy Oliver has spent 17 years building a remarkable memorial. What began as a classroom project has grown into a hallway filled with flags and tributes created by students. The D-wing has become a living reminder that, as Kathy has often said, on September 11, 2001, “the world stood still.”

Florida’s 9/11 Hero Day law reinforces the importance of teaching these lessons, particularly the bravery and sacrifice of first responders. But remembering September 11 in Citrus county school never will be viewed simply as fulfilling a statutory requirement.

It is a privilege.

Our children deserve to know the stories of the firefighters, police officers, EMTs and civilians who demonstrated extraordinary courage. They deserve to understand the sacrifices made by families who sent loved ones to work that morning and never saw them return.

And they deserve to know that, in the aftermath of tragedy, Americans came together.

Twenty-five years later, that may be one of the most important lessons of all.

God bless our heroes, our children, our schools and the United States of America.

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Florida’s Future of AI in Education: Leading With Purpose, Responsibility and Collaboration

I’m incredibly proud to have been part of the founding of the Florida K-12 AI Education Task Force and to work alongside Dr. Maya Israel, the UF CS Everyone Center, Roberto Alonso, MDSD, and educators and education leaders from across Florida.

What makes this effort so meaningful is the collaboration. We are bringing together diverse perspectives to help Florida lead thoughtfully in an area that will have a profound impact on education.

This work is about much more than technology. It is about preparing our students, educators, and schools for what is ahead while ensuring AI is introduced safely, responsibly, and in ways that genuinely enhance teaching and learning, while properly preparing our students for the complex AI and automation that are impacting every industry and transforming the world of work.

I’m grateful to the University of Florida for highlighting this work and especially to every member of the Task Force who continues to contribute their time, expertise, and passion to this important effort.

Follow this link to the UF article: https://education.ufl.edu/news/2026/08/04/uf-led-florida-ai-k-12-education-task-force-receives-2026-torchbearer-award-for-collaborative-innovation/

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