LOPD visits Bright Stars Academy
Officers L-R: Sergeant Faller, Ofc. Estevez, Sergeant Nicholson and Lieutenant Hohman hold the flag from the VPK class from Bright Stars Academy in Live Oak. -Photo Courtesy Bright Stars Academy
By Tami Stevenson
Earlier this month in honor of Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, VPK Teacher Tanya Jernigan along with assistant Baylee Myntti, planned a field trip with their class, ages four and five, from Bright Stars Academy in Live Oak. They planned to visit the Live Oak Police Department (LOPD) and give them a flag they painted on poster board along with some scrumptiously tasty and delicious donuts. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond their control, they could not make the field trip so Lt. Hoffman, from LOPD, arranged it so the officers came to them.
During their visit, the class learned about the role law enforcement plays in the community – to protect and serve. Children were able to climb into the police car and sit in the seats, check out officer’s uniforms first hand and talk about law enforcement and ways officers help others.
“The children learned how to call 911 and learned that the police are there to help and not to hurt us,” said Jernigan.
Although Jernigan has only been at Bright Stars Academy for the last six months, she has been teaching for 15 years.
The preschool child care facility has a maximum capacity of 62 children ages 0 to school-age, and is currently full, but they do have a waiting list. According to owner Sherry Peppers, they are building another structure on the property for afterschool care and hope to have it completed for the 2021/22 school year in the fall. They are located at 12715 CR 136 (11th Street) in Live Oak. For more information call 386-362-3600 or email
