Fletcher principal delivers 'Class of 2020' signs to graduating seniors

  • Principal Dean Ledford personally delivers a Class of 2020 sign to senior Alex Rubio of Neptune Beach.
    Principal Dean Ledford personally delivers a Class of 2020 sign to senior Alex Rubio of Neptune Beach.

It used to be that if a high school principal showed up at a student’s front door, it was not a positive visit. But Fletcher High School Principal Dean Ledford is making the best of a negative situation, personally delivering yards signs to each member of Fletcher’s graduating class of 2020.
“This came about in conjunction with our PTSA and our administrative staff and faculty just talking about some things we could do. The yard signs are very popular, a lot of schools are doing them,” he said. “It’s a way while they’re unfortunately stuck at home that they can show off that they’re graduating.”
After experiencing an abrupt end to their senior year, school staffers wanted to do something to help commemorate the graduates. “This senior class has had so much taken away from them with grad bash and prom and graduation being cancelled. They went on break for Spring Break and they didn’t get to come back. That’s tough,” said Ledford. “This is just something we can do to o above and beyond and try to help them a little bit and have a little bit of uplift during this tough time.”
For Ledford, this senior class is special. They both started Fletcher High School at the same time in 2016 and learned the ropes together. “They were freshman in my first year of being principal at Fletcher,” he said.
He has averaged between six and seven hours a day driving from house to house, delivering personalized signs with each student’s name and senior picture, posing for pictures with grateful parents and students alike. There is a mixed bag of emotions, hovering between surprise and appreciation.
“When I started delivering them, I just figured if you give me a minute, I’ll try to get to all of them. Some of them have been taken aback like ‘oh my goodness, Mr. Ledford is at my front door’,” he laughed. “But in the world that we live in, it gets around why Mr. Ledford is coming from door to door. If they come up and get them, that’s great too. I’m not trying to hold up them getting their sign waiting on me. I’m going as fast as I can.”
It is no small task with approximately 475 seniors. And he still checks in to read emails and touch base with his school staff, who are also working tirelessly to close out a challenging end to the school year.
“We’re trying to wrap up this year and prepare for next year,” said Ledford, noting that plans for the upcoming school year are focused on a normal start with students and teachers both on campus. But that could all change, depending on the spread of COVID-19 and the state and local response guidelines.
With the original graduation date postponed, commencement exercises are deferred until July – if it is safe. School board officials solicited student input to determine whether to push back graduation ceremonies until summer. FHS seniors were originally scheduled to graduate May 27 at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena.
Ledford said the response from seniors indicated an overwhelming desire to hold the ceremonies in July to give them the chance to gather in front of friends and family. “I can’t say enough how appreciative the students and parents have been through all this. They really appreciate the effort of trying to do something for them,” he said.
Tentative plans call for each school to be able to hold their ceremonies as scheduled though no date has been announced. Caps and gowns have not been distributed yet but Ledford said they will be distributed regardless of what happens. Plan B could include a smaller event on campus.
“Obviously, that has to be worked out in conjunction with our district leadership. When the nation and the state and the city opens back up, we’ll be able to kind of get a gauge about whether that is something that can happen. Our goal is to have a normal graduation in July if nothing happens. But a lot of things have to come into play and it’s something we will evaluate along the way We’re hoping,” he said.
“We want to make sure all the kids in Duval County get something. We don’t want anyone to be short changed. We’re trying to plan ahead and do the what if’s the more we learn. Obviously, I want to see them with a graduation that will make them happy and that they can be proud of, no matter what that may look like."