The Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson (pictured at an early age) recalls his first days of school. Wilson urges ALL to be cautious during the upcoming school year.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The first day for Brevard Public Schools will be Monday, August 10, 2026. Start times vary around the County. I remember my first days of school (many years ago!).
I remember the sadness because summer was ending, I remember the excitement about a new school year, and I remember the new clothes Mom and Dad bought for me and my brothers. If I listen close enough, I can still hear Dad singing “School Days” on the first day of school!
I remember wrapping our new schoolbooks with paper grocery bags. It was also fun to see who was in my class (friends, I hoped!).
However, those days are long gone for me.
My school days, and those of my son’s, are in the rearview mirror. But, even if you don’t have school-aged children, the start of a new school year affects us all.
Over 70,000 students will attend Brevard Public Schools in the upcoming school year. It is estimated that over 11,000 students will attend private schools. Hundreds of school buses will be on the road. A great number of schoolchildren will be walking to and from school every day. And this is where we all come into play.
It is imperative that we ALL take extra caution while school is in session.
There are more driving distractions now than ever before with cell phones. I consider myself a cautious driver. However, I will be even more so as the new school year approaches.
We wish ALL THE BEST to the students, parents, grandparents, guardians, school administrators, teachers and staff here on the Space Coast. The 2026-2027 school year promises to be outstanding!
Steve Wilson moved to Brevard County in 1984 and has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 25 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports and the space industry, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey, Florida House District 32 Constituent of the Week 4/20/25.
Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 27 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
