Keystone Heights Junior/High School is a uniquely hidden gem in beautiful Clay County.  As educators we take pride in our school and welcome the challenge to provide our students with strong instruction and engaging opportunities to instill lifelong learning skills. I believe that we are growing leaders.  Leaders who will develop a love for others, hard work ethic, and personal accountability.  I encourage all students to take part in extracurricular activities at school because their learning does not stop in the classroom.  

At Keystone, we strive to provide a positive and encouraging learning environment to support students’ social and emotional growth.  Educators, families, and communities have a vital role in students’ lives to guide them in a positive direction as they learn through life’s successes and failures. We are also tasked with being a positive example as they are watching and learning from us every moment.  We are committed to provide the best experience for all of our students.

We encourage positive and supportive parental involvement in students’ educational experience.  We believe that working and supporting students together is when we get the best results in preparing them for their future endeavors.  We truly believe that all students can be successful.

The high school years are an exciting time to make the best friendships and memories to last a lifetime.  Still to this day, I personally value the friendships and memories that I gained as a Keystone Heights Junior/High School student.  Keystone is the best place to be!  

Laurie Burke

Dear Parents and Community Members,

It is great to be back with you this year.  Over the years I have seen many great things occur at KHHS.  Every year KHHS has had numerous students earn their AA degrees through dual enrollment with Santa Fe State College.  We have many students that earn industry certifications through their CTE courses.  There have been countless students who have won Science fair awards.  In athletics KHHS has won a considerable amount of District Titles and a few State Championships. 

All of these accomplishments did not happen by chance.  Keystone Heights Jr./Sr. High school has a dedicated staff, students and parents that are willing to put in the work necessary to be successful.  I am looking forward to another outstanding year and the opportunity to work with you and your children.

Let’s make it a great year, GO Keystone!!!

Dear Parents and Stakeholders, 

I am honored to introduce myself as one of the assistant principals at KHHS. My career in education began when I started working for Clay County School Board as a paraprofessional in an ESE self-contained classroom in 2005. Working in this classroom fueled a desire and encouraged me to pursue my teaching degree.  By 2010, I graduated from Saint Leo University earning my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in Reading and ESOL, as well as, becoming certified in K-12th ESE. Over the course of my time with the county, I have worked at various schools in Keystone Heights and Clay county, as a third-grade teacher, K-4th ESE teacher, PreK teacher, 7th-12th ESE teacher, a secondary intensive reading teacher, the district secondary reading coach and most recently the dean at Green Cove Junior High School. 

After completing my Masters in Educational Leadership at American College of Education in 2022, I am beyond excited to be able to return to KHHS as the new Assistant Principal.  My goal in this position is to be a support system for all students and teachers. I am committed to working collaboratively with community stakeholders to provide the best and safest learning environment at KHHS. 

I raised my children in Keystone Heights and wholeheartedly believe the small community connection played a vital role in their development and educational achievements. As the saying goes, “it takes a village to raise a child”, I am confident it takes “a tribe to educate a child”. Being a part of the “Indian Tribe” in Keystone Heights I am committed to prioritizing my goals to focus on student success. 

Parents and Community Members, 

I am excited to join Keystone Heights High School as Assistant Principal this year! Since graduating college and moving to Clay County, I have always believed Keystone Heights to be a beautiful area. My wife and I are very excited to serve the Keystone Heights community. 

This is my tenth year serving as an educator in Clay County. Prior to becoming assistant principal, I have had many leadership experiences including, Dean of Climate and Culture and tenth grade administrator. My journey, as an educator, began at Bannerman Learning Center where I served as a paraprofessional, classroom teacher, and Dean of Climate and Culture. During my time at BLC, I served a diverse student population that supported many students on their journey to graduate high school with the skills necessary to be successful in life. After BLC, I was privileged to serve as the Strategic Interventionist and 10th grade administrator at Middleburg High School. My educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Webber International University and a Master’s of Educational Leadership from The American College of Education. I truly believe that ALL students can learn and through my experiences, I have been able to help foster a culture that aims to see ALL students have success. 

I am honored to be a part of Keystone Heights High School, the many talented teachers and students here, and the community! My goal is to help foster a climate and culture at Keystone where the faculty loves coming to work and the students love coming to school. I want each and every student to look back on their educational experiences at KHHS fondly. I am certain Keystone’s campus will be a place where teaching and learning will take place at the highest level. I look forward to developing relationships with students, faculty and staff, and the community in what will be an exciting school year!