CEO Message

Recognizing the Service and Leadership 
of Florida Superintendents

Your willingness to go above and beyond to ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed is truly remarkable. The progress and successes we see throughout Florida’s schools are a direct reflection of your dedication, thoughtful decision-making, and unwavering focus on students.

As we enter the season of Thanksgiving, I want to extend heartfelt gratitude on behalf of myself and FADSS. We are thankful for your tireless efforts, your resilience in the face of challenges, and your continued belief in the power and promise of public education.

Thank you for all you do to support Florida’s students and for the meaningful impact you make every single day.

Yours in education,

Bill Montford

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word,

a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring;

all of which have the potential to turn a life around. ”

— Leo Buscaglia

It seems like we were all just at Fall Conference, but the holiday season is on the near horizon which means the FSBA/FADSS Joint Winter Conference is close at hand. We are very much looking forward to seeing everyone in Tampa!   

The most important celebration at Joint Conference is the recognition of the new Florida Superintendent of the Year. This year, instead of the presentation being in the opening General Session we will be conducting the presentation at lunchtime and are delighted that we will have a special guest from the Senate to help make that presentation.

The PIO Steering Committee has been meeting since Fall Conference and are now working hard to produce a variety of customizable media products for districts to use. Co-chair Jason Geary, Polk County Schools Communications Director and Jacquelyn Diaz, Miami Dade County Schools PIO will start off our programming by providing an update on their progress.

On the legislative front, we have several pressing current issues to discuss, and as usual David Sikes and Brian Moore will lead those discussions. Our first day will finish with a workshop led by John Stratton and Mark Rolewski on the adoption and implementation of a common approach to instruction, and associated protocols to address errors in planning and observation. 

On day 2, Suzanne Pridgeon will join Paul Burns for the FLDOE update to discuss educational facilities funding and we’ll have 2 rounds of concurrent sessions where we’ll hear about 4 different district innovations. We’ll also hear from a few of our educational partners and enjoy all the networking opportunities that will be available.

If you have any questions regarding conference programming, please contact Katrina Figgett at kfiggett@fadss.org or 703-576-7556.

Putnam County Schools Superintendent Shares Insight from FADSS Fall Conference

Public schools are the cornerstone of our communities — fueling our democracy, expanding economic opportunity, and opening doors for every student. From Acceleration Pathways and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs to extensive extracurricular offerings, student support services, and more, no other education provider in Florida delivers the breadth and depth of choices that prepare students for college, careers, and civic life.

With this in mind, a central focus of the FADSS 2025 Fall Conference was the critical role of strategic communications in elevating the work of Florida’s public schools. Superintendents were encouraged to bring their Public Information Officer (PIO) or the individual leading district communications and marketing, and dedicated breakout sessions were designed specifically for these professionals.

The PIO group engaged in rich discussion and meaningful collaboration as FADSS advances a statewide communications initiative aimed at strengthening the visibility, value, and relevance of public education in Florida.

During the conference, Putnam County Schools Superintendent Dr. Rick Surrency joined superintendents and PIOs to share strategies they are using to effectively communicate their districts’ unique strengths and the exceptional opportunities offered only through Florida’s public school system.

Click here to hear what they had to say.



Superintendent Spotlights

Balgobin Named Public Sector Woman of the Year

Florida Educator Health Trust is Transforming School District Health Insurance Programs

Provided by Ted Roush, FLEHT Executive Director

The Florida Educator Health Trust (FLEHT) is transforming how Florida school districts approach health insurance and related services by enabling districts to take control of their health insurance programs by shifting the balance of power from the industry back to the customer.

By harnessing the collective power of our group trust, FLEHT puts district leadership teams and school boards back in the driver’s seat of their programs. This collaborative approach is changing pricing outcomes and helping districts navigate the year-over-year shifts in health plan costs, plan designs, and employee needs.

Traditionally, health insurance costs have introduced volatility into district budgets. I experienced this first-hand during my tenure as Suwannee County School Superintendent, which is why I am so passionate about FLEHT and the tremendous benefits it provides school districts. While no solution can eliminate this entirely, FLEHT provides member districts with innovative tools to reduce volatility and control long-term cost spikes.

Our model is simple, transparent, and conflict-free. As a non-profit, all partners work exclusively for FLEHT districts and are compensated through a flat per-employee-per-month fee. This approach guarantees that every vendor’s focus is on securing the best possible rates and outcomes for member districts.

FLEHT now represents 13 school districts—the strongest buying power in the state among public school districts—with more than 34,000 employees including active and transitioning district members. This scale allows FLEHT to deliver meaningful savings in all areas of health insurance programs.



One clear example is our Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) program. Prescription drug costs are a major component of overall health insurance expenses, and districts that have moved from fully-insured or independently self-insured plans into FLEHT have realized savings of 6–14% on prescription drugs alone. Even greater savings opportunities exist across stop-loss coverage, helping districts manage financial risk from high-cost claims.

FLEHT leaders have visited more than 30 districts statewide—and we would be honored to visit yours. See how your district can benefit by scheduling an on-site visit today. Contact me today at Ted.Roush@FLEHT.org or 386.344.3842.

ICYMI

Results from TALIS 2024: The State of Teaching

The Organization for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD) Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) is the world’s largest survey of teachers and principals. In 2024, 280,000 educators from 55 education systems shared insights into their working conditions, professional development, and the realities of the modern classroom. This paper focuses on if and how teachers use artificial intelligence, why they choose teaching, and if they wish to remain in the profession. It should be noted that ageing populations and migration patterns have changed the demography of teachers in many education systems. The average age of teachers across the 55 systems surveyed is now 45 and in several it is over 50. In response, many governments are recruiting teachers from other sectors to ensure a sustainable supply of qualified educators. These education systems have also made it easier for mid-career professionals to enter teaching.

Main takeaways include:

• Teachers’ usage of artificial intelligence varies tremendously, around a third of teachers use artificial intelligence in their teaching, but seven out of 10 worry that it facilitates plagiarism and cheating.
• Novice teachers who have mentors also have greater job satisfaction and well-being.
•  Prior work experience is common for teachers. In around half of the education systems, at least one out of two teachers have prior non-teaching work experience. This is particularly high in Iceland (95%), the United States (79%), Australia and Sweden (both 77%).
• Worldwide, teaching is becoming a more co‑operative activity. In most education systems, teachers report spending more time on teamwork than in 2018 and in no system do they report spending less time.
• Collaboration not only helps improve student outcomes, but also teacher outcomes. In general, teachers who report collaborating more also have higher levels of job satisfaction and well-being.
• Despite the challenges they face, nine out of ten teachers are satisfied with their jobs and that choosing to remain in the role is more strongly influenced by employment and working conditions than salaries.