With the 2019-2020 school year behind us, I just want to take a moment to reflect upon the tremendous challenges we have faced – and continue to confront – in public education.

As public educators, we have faced numerous crises in the past – hurricanes, recessions, and numerous social challenges. However, none of those compare to – or could have prepared us for – the challenges associated with the coronavirus pandemic.  

I can say with all honestly that in my more than 50 years in public education, I could not be prouder of Florida district school superintendents and their staff. The tremendous job each of you and your teams have done to ensure that Florida public education students continue to receive a quality education during this crisis has been nothing short of spectacular!  

Public schools are the cornerstone of every community, and this current crisis has certainly shone a light upon the critical roles that public schools play in the lives our students, their families and our communities as a whole.  

In addition to educating students, we all know that school districts across our state have played a crucial role in continuing to provide food and other basic necessities to those students that are dependent upon it.  

Why? Because taking care of students has always been the first priority of public education and educators – and it is the right thing to do.  

Throughout all the challenges and chaos, it has been gratifying to see the camaraderie and sharing of information and resources between superintendents and across school districts. We are all in this together and will continue to navigate this new crisis side-by-side and hand-in-hand.  

I know there are a lot of unanswered questions and uncertainly as we move forward toward school reopening, however we will weather this storm together and come out stronger in the end.  

Thank you again for everything you, your administrators and staff are doing for Florida’s students, their families, and your communities