The executive director of "Just Read! Florida" made a surprise visit to Patronis Elementary this afternoon, delivering the news that the elementary reading leadership team was named Team of the Year for the entire state. They received a one-thousand dollar check from the Department of Education.

In addition, Bay District School's Executive Director of Curriculum and Instructional Services, Lendy Willis, was named District Leader of the Year.

These awards come on top of the district recently winning eight of thirteen regional reading awards. "Just Read!" officials say the honors reflect outstanding leadership, and the teachers say they're already seeing results.

Ellie Spivey, principal at Patronis Elementary, says, "As far as our writing scores, we were tied with Bay Haven as far as the top writing scores in the district, and so it's been tremendous because reading and writing go hand in hand."

Willis says, "In spite of budget cuts and in spite of all the negative things that you hear, there's some really good things going on in reading in this district."