Autism Awareness Month in Bay County: Teacher Uses Poetry and Science to Build Understanding

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Breakfast Point Academy teacher Grace Owens is helping students explore autism through nonfiction study, poetry, and character education during Autism Awareness Month.

At Breakfast Point Academy in Bay County, one teacher is using creativity and curiosity to help students better understand autism during Autism Awareness Month.

Teacher Grace Owens told WJHG that the idea started with questions from her fourth and fifth grade students. Instead of brushing those questions aside, she turned them into a class-wide learning opportunity built around nonfiction study, poetry, and discussion.

Autism Awareness Month in Bay County classrooms

Owens said she wanted to explain autism in a way her students could understand. That approach led to lessons that connect several subjects at once, including reading and writing skills, health science, and character education.

According to the report, students are creating poems about autism as part of the project. That gives them a chance to learn facts, ask thoughtful questions, and express what they are discovering in their own words.

It is the kind of classroom work that does more than cover a lesson plan. It encourages empathy, understanding, and respectful conversation around a topic that affects many families in schools and communities across Florida.

Why this story matters locally

This story stands out because it shows how local teachers can turn student curiosity into something meaningful. In a time when schools are often judged only by test scores and rankings, this kind of work highlights the human side of education.

Owens also shared that her son’s classroom is right across the hall, which creates even more opportunities for social interaction and connection between students. She said those shared experiences matter, especially when students are learning how to better understand one another.

The class is also planning a special event on April 16. Owens said students will discuss historical figures who had autism, perform a play, and feature a student singing performance.

For Panama City and the surrounding area, it is a reminder that awareness starts with everyday conversations in classrooms, homes, and neighborhoods. Stories like this help show how local schools are shaping not only academic growth, but compassion too.

Stay tuned for the 4th Annual Au-Some Fest coming April 18th at the Central Panhandle Fair in Bay County.

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