A Century of Learning
by Laura Breen Galante
The very first elementary school in Lake Mary was built in 1885 on a single acre of gifted land, when the community was just a small settlement of less than 100 people. There were no paved roads, no bustling intersections – just horse-and-buggy trails winding through the Florida wilderness. The wooden schoolhouse stood southeast of what is now Lake Mary Boulevard and Country Club Road.
Fast-forward a bit to 1925, when Lake Mary’s population had grown to about 300. The need for a larger school became clear, and Lake Mary Elementary was rebuilt in block and concrete on an acre of land at its current location. The school included an office, a gymnasium, a lunchroom, and four classrooms. In 1934, a local family donated another five acres to the school, allowing it to expand and serve even more students.
Over the decades, buildings were added, renovated, and replaced to meet the needs of the growing community. Lake Mary Elementary has also served as more than a place of learning, hosting PTA meetings and Chamber of Commerce gatherings and serving as a voter precinct.
Back to the Future
In early September of this year, the school hosted a centennial celebration at the Lake Mary Farmers Market, which included opening a time capsule from 1987-1988. Mindy Black, a Dividends volunteer and the mom of Stella – a fourth grader at the school – says the time capsule sparked a mystery that has yet to be solved.
“There were a lot of people who remembered putting trinkets into the capsule,” she says, “but when we opened it, there were just papers.”
That begs the question – is there another Lake Mary Elementary time capsule out there? Some former students believe there might be a second capsule that was buried at a later date under a massive oak tree.
Bettye Dedman – a 97-year-old Lake Mary Elementary alum – led attendees in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the national anthem, along with the school’s house leaders and chorus. For the special occasion, Mindy helped create a slideshow of nearly 100 photos showing the school’s progression from the 1980s until present day.
Principal Charlotte Little says she is honored to be part of the school’s milestone moment.
“I am deeply proud to represent this remarkable school, both for myself and in tribute to the principals who came before me,” says Charlotte. “Lake Mary Elementary is truly a special place, and I am grateful to the Lake Mary community for coming together to commemorate 100 years of excellence.”
Also on display at the celebration were construction plans for Lake Mary Elementary, which is undergoing a complete renovation. The official groundbreaking ceremony happened in September – a day before the centennial event – and was attended by City of Lake Mary officials, Seminole County School Board members, and a few teachers, parents, and students from the Lake Mary Elementary family.
Family Traditions
Many of Lake Mary’s most notable citizens have walked the school’s halls – some as pupils, others as teachers – and all have contributed to the rich tapestry of the city’s history. Many local families have deep roots in the community, some for generations.
One of those proud families is the Dedman-Black family.
Three generations have attended Lake Mary Elementary: Bettye Dedman; her granddaughter, Stephanie Black; Stephanie’s husband, Aaron Black; and Aaron and Stephanie’s daughter Kate, who is now in seventh grade.
“I feel so fortunate to have this connection with both my grandmother and my daughter,” says Stephanie. “Few families have an opportunity like this within their community. We loved our time as students at Lake Mary Elementary and are so blessed to call Lake Mary home!”
Aaron’s brother, Jay – who is married to Mindy Black – also attended the school. Their daughter, Stella, loves following in her father’s footsteps as a student at Lake Mary Elementary.
On her first day there, Stella says, she was so excited that she walked around exclaiming, “These are the halls that Daddy walked and the seats that Daddy sat in!”
Jay also has fond memories of his days as a student there and is thrilled that the school has become a family tradition.
“What I remember most during my time at Lake Mary Elementary was watching the space shuttle launches outside as a school,” he says, “swinging higher on the swings than I should have been in fifth grade, and practicing baseball after school on the practice fields that used to be there during Little League.”
Making a Difference
Another multigenerational family at Lake Mary Elementary is the Agnew-Danesi family. Mindy Agnew, the longest tenured teacher at the school, shared her first day of teaching with daughter Lindsay’s first day of kindergarten there in 1995. Lindsay’s father, Victor Miller, also attended the school, as did her brother, Alex.
“Lake Mary Elementary has been my second home for 31 years,” says Mindy. “I’ve had the joy of teaching generations of families and being part of a wonderful community. What makes it special are the people: students, families, and colleagues. It is a wonderful place to work and raise a family.”
Her favorite traditions include high-school seniors coming back to visit before graduation and sharing their memories of her classroom.
“Just the stuff that you don’t think matters,” says Mindy, “but it really makes a difference.”
Lindsay says her treasured memories include field day and “playing under that multicolored circus tent of a parachute, and playing with the other teachers’ kids.”
Although she attended college in Jacksonville, Lindsay always knew she wanted to raise her family in Lake Mary. She and her husband John moved back so their two children, Cooper (second grade) and Kessa (VPK) could attend Lake Mary Elementary.
“I love it here,” says Lindsay. “I love the community and the schools.
Mindy (Mimi to grandkids Cooper and Kessa) feels the same way.
“Friends, family, community,” she says. “That’s what keeps me here.”