Welcome from the Superintendent


To:  Parents and Guardians

From:   Mark McQueen, Superintendent

Date:    May 16, 2025

 

Celebrating the Season of Success – Graduation Time in Bay District Schools

As the school year winds down, there’s a special feeling in the air - one filled with pride and excitement. It’s graduation season in Bay District Schools, and across our community, students are preparing to walk across stages and into the next chapters of their lives.

This is, without a doubt, one of my favorite times of the year. Graduation season gives us the opportunity to see the incredible results of years of hard work, dedication, and growth. It’s a celebration not just of academic achievement, but of perseverance, character, and community. 

While the spotlight often shines on our high school seniors, they’re not the only ones with something to celebrate. Across our district, we’re honoring students of all ages. From Pre-K and kindergarten graduations to 8th grade promotions, our students are reaching new heights every day. 

We’re especially proud of the broad paths our students are taking after graduation. Some are earning industry credentials through our CTE programs and heading into the workforce career-ready. Others are advancing through the ranks of JROTC or graduating with college degrees. In fact, 15 of our seniors already walked across a stage earlier this month to receive their associate degrees from Gulf Coast State College, before they’ll receive their high school diplomas later this month! 

But achievements like these take a team. They’re the result of countless hours of hard work by our students, unwavering support from families, and the tireless dedication of our teachers, support staff, and school leaders. And beyond our school walls, they reflect the amazing commitment of our Bay County citizens…serving as mentors, sponsors, partners, and volunteers. Graduation is a testament to what we can accomplish when we all work together, united by a shared belief in the potential of our students and positioning them for a bright future.

These moments of celebration belong to all of us. They remind us that every lesson taught, every lunch served, every hallway cleaned, and every encouraging word spoken matters. Every role plays a part in helping students succeed.

And the impact doesn’t stop at graduation. This time of year, we often welcome back some familiar faces - our former students who are home from college for the summer, or returning as college graduates themselves, ready to take on the world. Seeing them come back home, capable and confident, is a powerful reminder of the strong foundation they built right here in Bay District Schools.

This season of success is more than a series of ceremonies, it’s a celebration of what’s possible when our “team of teams” comes together. I’m deeply honored to serve alongside each of you as we continue to shape futures and change lives.

Let’s take time to enjoy these special moments and lift up every student as they take their next steps. 
Together, we’ll keep putting the “A” back in Bay.

Previous Posts

May 16, 2025

May 9, 2025 

May 1, 2025 

April 25, 2025

April 18, 2025

April 11, 2025 

April 3, 2025

March 28, 2025 

March 14, 2025 

March 7, 2025

February 28, 2025 

February 21, 2025

February 14, 2025 

February 7, 2025

January 31, 2025

January 24, 2025

January 17, 2025 

January 10, 2025

December 19, 2024

December 13, 2024 

December 6, 2024

November 22, 2024

November 15, 2024

November 8, 2024 

November 1, 2024

October 25, 2024

October 18, 2024 

October 10, 2024 

October 3, 2024 

October 2, 2024

September 20, 2024 

September 13, 2024 

September 6, 2024 

August 30, 2024

August 23, 2024

August 15, 2024

August 8, 2024

August 1, 2024 

Archive of Previous Posts 

 

Location
1311 Balboa Avenue
Panama City, FL 32401
(850) 767-4100
Mark McQueen
Superintendent, Bay District Schools
Office of the Superintendent
Holly Buchanan
Employment and Income Verification Equity Coordinator
buchahd@bay.k12.fl.us
850-767-4100
Public Records Request
accessibility