CEO Message

Professional Development is Key Component of FADSS 2025 Spring Conference

FADSS 2025 Spring Leadership Conference is less than two weeks away and I am looking forward to seeing everyone February 19 – 21, 2025 in Orlando. A FADSS meeting is a unique and vital part of the ongoing high-quality professional development that FADSS provides to Florida superintendents. The connection, information sharing, and engaging camaraderie that we experience at our conferences is so critical to the success of public education. 

The 2025 Spring Conference, titled “Innovating for Student Success” could not be timelier. Not only will we have a presentation on AI and how it can aid our districts, teachers, and students; we will also hear from current superintendents on workable innovative practices utilized in their districts to produce positive results. We will have presentations from the Superintendents of Santa Rosa and Palm Beach counties, as well as a joint presentation on successful practices to address chronic absenteeism from Gulf, Bay, and Volusia counties. Our round table discussions will provide a great opportunity for superintendents to collectively discuss and address current challenges.     

Additionally, knowing that safety and security continues to be a priority for all superintendents, we will have a security update from John Hunkiar, the Executive Director of the Florida Association of School Safety Specialists. We will also have a statewide school safety and security update from Florida Department of Education Vice-Chancellor of the Office of Safe Schools Darren Norris.

FADSS will again host our Business Partner Showcase, bringing together over 47 companies sharing the latest developments in education-related products and services. Many of these companies currently provide services in your district and this is a great time to learn about new developments. Plus, we will have several new companies that offer engaging products or services that could be beneficial for your school district. You can access the 2025 Spring Conference Business Partner digital directory HERE.

I am confident that your participation in FADSS 2025 Spring Leadership Conference will prove to be a valuable and professionally rewarding experience for you and your colleagues. I look forward to seeing you on February 19^th!

Yours in education,

Bill

This week, the Legislature held its fourth week of committee meetings, and much of the focus was on education. Fortunately, both the House and Senate committees and subcommittees wanted to hear directly from superintendents and their teams, and so we had more than a dozen superintendents in the Capitol this week. 

Two different Senate committees spent time talking about the three regional education consortia, the Panhandle Area Educational Consortium (PAEC), the North East Florida Educational Consortium (NEFEC), and the Heartland Educational Consortium (HEC). There were two superintendents from each of the consortia to talk about the services they provide, and the challenges faced, by our small, rural districts. The new Senate President, Ben Albritton, has called for a “Rural Renaissance”, and all of the Senators engaged in open discussions with the superintendents on a wide range of topics related to the challenges small districts have. Purchasing/economies of scale, recruiting and retaining high quality staff members who often have to wear multiple hats, and training and collaboration when departments or teams consist of only one person were some of the areas of focus.

In addition, three superintendents spoke with the House PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee about the way private and home school scholarships affect the FEFP and district budgeting. While, in the House Education Administration Subcommittee, three more superintendents, as well as members of their teams, engaged in a panel discussion about chronic absenteeism and school safety. Just as in the Senate, the superintendents were able to engage in detailed, frank discussions in these meetings, and the Representatives were very receptive to the expertise and experiences of the superintendents.

Finally, we saw several other superintendents at the Capitol this week, even though they had not been called to testify before a particular committee. Terry Connor (Sarasota) and Van Ayres (Hillsborough) were in Tallahassee to meet with members of their legislative delegations, and Scott Hebert (Citrus) brought his Superintendent’s Council of Students to the Capitol to watch the legislative process in person. Having 50 high school students from Citrus County present in the Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee meeting made the entire discussion about rural school districts even more powerful. 

It is clear that superintendents have been working hard to build relationships with their legislative delegation members and that these efforts are bearing fruit. There is little doubt, after the in depth and candid discussions this week, that the Legislature will be looking to hear more from superintendents throughout the upcoming session.

Looking forward to FADSS Spring Conference in Orlando!

With less than two weeks to go until the Spring Conference, everyone here at FADSS is looking forward to seeing superintendents, both old and new, for a jam-packed program, full of actionable information and quality networking time. As Senator Montford highlighted in his CEO message, we have contributions from several of our current superintendents and are sure that the innovative practices and programs they will be discussing will be of interest to all.

In the January newsletter, I promised to provide more information on our closing keynote speaker. Andrew Marotta is the leader of the Surviving and Thriving movement. An author of 6 books and producer of a weekly leadership blog and podcast, Andrew has been in Education for over 20 years. Having served as a Principal & Assistant Principal in Port Jervis Schools, NY, Andrew now serves as the Director of Communications & Academic Services, as well as being an adjunct Professor of School Leadership. He is also a former men’s Division One college basketball referee having officiated in the ACC, A-10, Colonial, MAAC, Patriot, IVY, and NEC conferences, and many of his heartfelt stories, several of which we will hear, originate from his coaching days, and how lessons learnt in that arena inform his approach to educational leadership. I know that Andrew will finish off our Friday programming on an uplifting and positive note!

As always, if you have any questions, or suggestions, about the Spring Conference or future programming, please reach out to Katrina Figgett at kfiggett@fadss.org.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is mandated by Congress to assess the educational achievement of U.S. students and monitor changes in those achievements. As the oldest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America’s students know and can do in subject areas, NAEP serves as the “Nation’s Report Card.” Main NAEP includes state and national assessments of students in grades 4, 8, and 12 in various subject areas and with varying periodicity. The Trial Urban District Assessment, or TUDA, assesses students in large urban districts at grades 4 and 8 in reading, mathematics, science, and writing. The Long–Term Trend Assessment is administered to students at ages 9, 13, and 17 in reading and mathematics and only at the national level. Results go back as far as 1971. NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Results for 2024 for Florida show significant increases in 4^th and 8^th grade science, and 8^th grade writing; with no significant difference since 2022 in 4^th grade mathematics, though the score is above the national average. A breakdown by percentiles and achievement levels can be found on the State Profiles page along with complete results.

FADSS Institute for Professional Assistants to Educational Leaders (PAEL) Set for April

The FADSS team looks forward to hosting the annual PAEL Institute April 16- 18 at the Renaissance Tampa International Plaza. This training opportunity is specially designed for, and by, Administrative Assistants/Secretaries to Superintendents and/or School Boards, along with anyone who supports that administrative role.

Participants will share and discuss best practices, learn from colleagues through conversations about the most pressing challenges and issues school districts face, and network with colleagues around the state to build a support system that can serve as a resource throughout the year.

Registration will be going out later this month, and we hope every superintendent will encourage their Administrative Assistant/Secretary to attend this valuable professional development opportunity.

If you have any questions, please contact Katrina Figgett or Renae Wallace.