Bokeelia
Bokeelia, FL · Education
gulfcoastnewsnow.com
Dunbar High School celebrates Dr. Carl Burnside's 41-year career in education
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Last Friday was a celebration at Dunbar High School. "There's a phenomenal team here, a spirit that resonates throughout this school," said Dr. Carl Burnside, principal of Dunbar High, who retired this week. Friends, family, and colleagues gathered to honor Dr. Burnside's 41-year career in...
WINKNEWS.com
Mariner High senior returns to field after nearly a year out with knee injury
CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) — A Mariner High School senior is back on the field after a knee injury kept him out for nearly a year. Marvens Saintil suffered a partial knee tear last year and spent months in rehab, but he never left his team's side. Even when...
WINKNEWS.com
Golden Eagles grind out 14-7 district win over Estero
NAPLES, Fla. (WINK) — Naples leaned on its ground game Friday night to beat Estero 14-7 in a District 4A-12 matchup at Staver Field. The win moves the Golden Eagles to 3-3 overall and 2-0 in district play. Estero falls to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the district. The...
WINKNEWS.com
Curliss shines on both sides as Charlotte High stays unbeaten
PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (WINK) — Charlotte High senior Kamran Curliss built his reputation making plays on offense. Now, he is making just as much of an impact on defense. Curliss entered the season primarily as a wide receiver, but first-year Charlotte head coach Kevin Claxton saw an opportunity to use his skill set on the other side of the ball.
WINKNEWS.com
Island Coast High beats Cypress Lake 7-6 in homecoming win
CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) — Island Coast High School defeated Cypress Lake 7-6 in a defensive battle during the Gators' homecoming game. The cheerleaders and band brought the noise, but both defenses set the tone early. Island Coast recovered an onside kick on the opening play, giving the homecoming crowd a quick chance to celebrate.
The News-Press
Ex-charter school assistant principal sentenced for improper conduct
A former charter school staffer changed his plea in a case involving a student ahead of the expected start of his trial, avoiding prison time. Jason Punyahotra , 44, former assistant principal at North Nicholas High School, faced charges of improper contact with a student and obstruction of justice. Punyahotra on Sept. 22 pleaded no contest to improper contact with a student. As part of the plea deal, state prosecutors dropped the obstruction charge. Lee Circuit Judge Robert Branning sentenced Punyahotra to five years of state probation and ordered no contact with minors. Punyahotra must surrender his teaching certificates. According to a 38-page Cape Coral Police report, authorities on Feb. 21, 2025, received a tip through FortifyFL, created and funded by the 2018 Legislature as part of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. North Nicolas High School officials had placed him on administrative leave before firing him in the spring of 2024 as the accusations came to light. Punyahotra's arrest affidavit says that a school resource officer at the Cape Coral charter school learned Punyahotra — then an assistant principal — texted a female student "explicit photographs of himself." The alert indicated that Punyahotra exposed his "private
avemariasun.com
Carolina Pereira begins a new chapter at Ave Maria Elementary
When Carolina Pereira walks into her second grade classroom every morning at the brand-new Ave Maria Elementary School, she is living out a dream she never imagined would come together so perfectly. After moving to Ave Maria in 2022 with her husband, Daniel, and their two young daughters, she feels that the opportunity to both live and work in the same community is like winning the lottery.
gulfcoastnewsnow.com
FGCU students face repair costs after vehicles keyed at campus apartments
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Florida Gulf Coast University students are facing costly repairs after 12 vehicles were keyed at the North Village Lakes on-campus apartments between Sept. 18 and Sept. 21. It happened in the parking lot near buildings A, B, and F, and the Richard C. Ackert Community...