HONING SKILLS: Pasco teachers step up their writing instruction as the FCAT nears, a year after poor results shocked the state system. (Times photo, Douglas Clifford) 

INSPIRING: Longtime Hernando principal Joe Clifford retires after 30 years in education. 

SWEET: Pasco culinary students compete for the chance to create and provide dessert for the education foundation's annual fundraiser.

TALK LIKE AN AMERICAN: Florida Atlantic University offers an accent reduction class to non-native English speakers, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

TOO PRICEY: Many Broward school district employees look outside the district for health insurance, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

FINGERS CROSSED: Duval residents have high hopes that new superintendent Nikolai Vitti succeeds in improving their schools, Florida Times-Union columnist Mark Woods writes.

WHAT'S IN A NAME? The Broward school district changes its school naming guidelines, the Miami Herald reports.

NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE: The Miami-Dade and Broward school districts struggle to find ways to place officers at every school, the Miami Herald reports.

MODEL MALES: A group of dads and grandpas spend more time at a Collier elementary school, the Naples Daily News reports.

QUESTIONS: Manatee leaders want to know how two experienced financial experts could lead the school district down the road to major budget problems, the Bradenton Herald reports.

CUTS: After five years of trying, the Brevard School Board no longer can stave off painful budget reductions, Florida Today reports.