McKinney Court: the new name of Palmetto’s gymnasium. After 36 years as a Panther and 22 consecutive years as the athletic director for Panther sports, Yvette McKinney has been honored by the school for her hard work and dedication. As of next year, the gym will be renamed the McKinney Court. The decision, coming from Principal Howard Weiner and Student Council, was made in May in correspondence with Teacher Appreciation Month.

“When I learned of the school’s decision to name the court after me, I was overwhelmed with joy,” McKinney said. “I didn’t expect it; very surprised.”

McKinney has virtually dedicated the majority of her life to Palmetto and leaving has never crossed her mind. McKinney has received offers from other schools, including colleges such as Miami-Dade College and Florida State University, for sports positions during her continuing tenure at Palmetto, but has turned them all down, choosing to stay at “home.”

“This [Palmetto] is a home away from home,” McKinney said. “I love the people I work here with and love watching the different students come in and grow up to become successful young men and women in the world.”

McKinney has developed family ties to Palmetto and through her direction, numerous student athletes have developed their abilities and played at the collegiate and even professional levels.

“Ever since I started going to Palmetto in tenth grade, Ms. McKinney has always had the school’s sports’ best interest at heart,” Palmetto alumnus Tim Hardaway Jr. said. “With all that she has done, she deserves to have the court named after her.”

McKinney takes a lot of pride in ensuring that the gym is taken care of and can be used for her Panthers and the various opponents entering her gym. Furthermore, McKinney has to meet the demands of Palmetto coaches longing for some time in the gym. She makes sure all teams have a fair amount of time and follow the schedules she provides for them.

“The gym is like your home; it has to be presentable for guests that may be entering,” McKinney said. “I have to make sure the court is cleaned and deserving for activities to take place on it.”

Rip Tide Unlimited will place McKinney’s signature on the gym hardwood sometime before Friday. McKinney is the longest serving staff member at Miami Palmetto Senior High and is excited to see her name placed on the court.