Steven Walker

can’t use the exact font bc of Nike and Mitchell&Ness

U.S. revokes visas from 15 international students at UCF, detains one The visa revocations come as the Trump administration cracks down on immigration.

BREAKING: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has revoked visas from 15 international students at UCF

This comes as the Trump Administration cracks down on immigration and alleged antisemitism on college campuses.

My latest for @orlandosentinel.com:

Florida’s proposed cuts to AP, other classes leave schools ‘deeply concerned’ Lawmakers have suggested cutting in half the extra funding schools can earn for AP, IB, AICE, dual enrollment and career-education classes.

#Florida's short-sighted lawmakers want to slash in half funding for Advanced Placement, dual enrollment and other college-level high school classes, a move that would cost Florida’s public schools millions of dollars. www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/04/01/f... via @swalker.bsky.social

LETS GO MAGIC!!!

Federal lawsuit by Florida, 16 other states raises fears about student disability protections The lawsuit asked a court to rule part of a 52-year-old law unconstitutional, a move that could end so-called 504 plans for children with learning disabilities and other impairments requiring accom…

A federal lawsuit by 17 states has alarmed disability advocates who fear it could end so-called 504 plans for students with disabilities. Texas, Fl and other GOP-led states filed the lawsuit. From @swalker.bsky.social www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/02/24/f...

Fourth grade reading scores dropped compared to two years ago.

This isn’t only a COVID slide, this is the result of thousands of K-5 classroom libraries permanently closing during the 22/23 SY.

Florida policies have made libraries and reading controversial.

Florida reading, math scores fall to lowest mark in more than 20 years on nation’s report card The state’s 8th-grade reading score was below the national average for the first time since 2015, and its 8th-grade math score was the lowest in 20 years.

BREAKING: Florida reading, math scores fall to lowest mark in more than 20 years on nation's report card.

The achievement gap and the % of 8th graders reading below a “basic” level was the lowest in the test’s history.

My latest for the Orlando Sentinel:

What happens if ICE comes to an Orange school? OCPS will follow law as Trump pushes deportations OCPS will follow a new Trump administration directive and allow immigration officers to interview students on campus, but it does not ask about students’ immigration status and will not turn …

What happens if ICE comes to an Orange school? OCPS says it will follow law as Trump pushes mass deportations

“Schools are no longer safe for immigrants,” said one Orlando immigrant rights org director.

My latest, an important story for the Orlando Sentinel: www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/01/24/w...

Florida graduation rate hits record-high, rebounds from post-pandemic dip, state says The graduation rate for the class of 2024 was the highest ever, not counting the two pandemic-impacted year when students did not have to pass state tests to earn a diploma.

NEW: Florida graduation rate hits record-high, rebounds from post-pandemic dip, state says

My latest for the Orlando Sentinel:

Carver Middle School to become fifth Orange County community partner school The “community school” model works to address educational barriers such as poverty, food insecurity and access to healthcare by integrating services directly into the school ecosystem. …

Carver Middle School to become fifth Orange County community partner school

My latest for the Orlando Sentinel:

Orange County school district, police clash over school resource officer pay The district and the police agencies plan to resume contract negotiations in January. But the ongoing conflict ramped up this week via a district memo that the Apopka Police Department said was exp…

DEVELOPING: Orange County school district, police clash over school resource officer pay

Apopka PD, negotiating for all five agencies involved, accused OCPS of “exploiting” the shooting in Wisconsin in a memo to parents.

My latest for the Orlando Sentinel:

Ocoee High School band director named finalist for Grammy award Bernie Hendricks is one of 10 finalists for national award, which comes with a $10,000 prize. Hendricks and Michael Antmann, the band director at Freedom High School, were one of 25 semifinalists f…

After learning he was a finalist for a Grammy, Bernie Hendricks started his Friday like any other: first-period freshman band class.

“We don’t sign up to be recognized... We just do it because we really love what we do”

My latest for the Orlando Sentinel:

we almost had it! 😭

so proud of this orlando magic team

let’s get our guys back soon and go on a run

UCF approves $270,000 bonus, up to $1.2 million in pay for President Cartwright The board of trustees said Cartwright had “exceeded expectations” and deserved the performance-based bonus.

UCF's president gets raise, bonus and one-year contract extension, pay could top $1.2 million. From @swalker.bsky.social www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/12/06/u...

UCF approves $270,000 bonus, up to $1.2 million in pay for President Cartwright The board of trustees said Cartwright had “exceeded expectations” and deserved the performance-based bonus.

UCF approves $270,000 bonus, up to $1.2 million in pay for President Cartwright

My latest for @orlandosentinel.com:

Orange schools mulling proposal in Hungerford case to end fight over Eatonville land The settlement offer would involve a lease-purchase plan that for a small fee would give the 100-acre property to a community trust and resolve the legal dispute between the town, community activis…

Orange schools mulling proposal in Hungerford case to end fight over Eatonville land

An important read, and my latest for @orlandosentinel.com: www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/11/26/o...

go gators!!

Thanks for joining the Orlando Sentinel on Bluesky. Here's a starter pack of some of our journalists - we'll keep adding to this list as more join Bluesky.

Florida schools removed more than 700 books after objections, report says. But many more pulled from shelves out of fear. The new state report shows books removed by school districts because parents or other residents objected to them during the 2023-24 school year. Public schools removed hundreds of other books for f…

Florida says districts removed more than 700 books after objections. But hundreds more were pulled from shelves out of fear, and not reported.

One estimate has the actual number of books removed closer to 4,600.

My latest for the Orlando Sentinel:

Thanks! still doing good work at the Orlando Sentinel, statewide stuff too

play the song!!!

super bummed TNT took away the Knicks v Magic game

not sure how the matchup they flexed into that slot is better

Orange elections chief Gilzean removes name from scholarship amid controversy, county inquiry The scholarships are to benefit Evans and Jones high school students, but some county officials say they are not an appropriate use of money meant to help run local elections.

Orange elections chief @GlenGilzean removes name from scholarship amid controversy, county investigation into elections office spending

My latest for @OrlandoSentinel:

wait so we’re back here now? 🧐 might have to post more

jalen williams playing for OKC is kinda a cheat code lol, could you imagine if paolo played for the magic’s summer league team this year? #nba

god we need the Sonics back asap

what is houston doing?? shoot at this point give me 4 years 30 mil, i’ll suit up 🫡 #NBA

#nba bluesky peeps hmu 🧐

i feel like i’m on one of the lifeboats from the titanic rn