Superintendent's Newsletter
October 2022
Finishing Strong
As I watched the graduates at Matanzas High School, Flagler-Palm Coast High School, and Flagler Technical College walk across the stage to get their diploma or certificate, I was reminded of the impact we all have on the children of our Flagler County community. The Class of 2023 faced so much adversity on their path, yet there they were. They were excited to be there. Their parents, family, and friends in the audience could not contain themselves, and the teachers and staff were so proud of these accomplishments. I hate to lump everyone into a "class," because each one of these graduates has a story. A few shared theirs when they were chosen to be a speaker, but there were hundreds of stories that were untold. Maybe just that teenager and their immediate family knows what they overcame to reach this milestone. Or, maybe it's only the student who knows what it truly took to make it to graduation. But they still went to class, and, with the help of devoted teachers, got their diploma. That "never quit" attitude will serve them well in their next step in life.
As I close out my tenure as Superintendent of Flagler Schools, I want to thank our students for giving all they have. Our future is in great hands. I also want to thank the teachers, staff, and administrators across this district. You elevate excellence in all you do and we succeed only because you succeed. Finally, I thank our parents and other community members who actively participate in enhancing our student's education. Whether you're mentoring or volunteering in our schools, you are moving the needle in the right direction.
I am excited to see where LaShakia Moore will take Flagler Schools as the interim superintendent. She has been such an asset no matter what role she has held in our district. She is hands on, not afraid to ask the tough questions, and everything she does is centered around one very important question; "Is it best for the children?"
With that, let's celebrate the end of the 2022-23 school year!
Matanzas High School Graduation
390 MHS Pirates received their diplomas inside the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach. The Class of 2023 completed 12,448 hours of community service. 33 students earned their Associate's Degree from Daytona State College before they received their high school diploma! There were 34 AICE diplomas handed out while 49 students earned industry certifications. There were 150 honor graduates in this class, meaning they had a GPA of 3.75 or higher. To view a replay of the MHS graduation ceremony, head to https://www.flaglerschools.com/about-us/news/details/~board/district-news/post/class-of-2023-graduation-ceremonies
Flagler-Palm Coast High School Graduation
582 graduates of Flagler-Palm Coast High School received their diploma. 205 of them were honor graduates. 40 students earned their Associate's Degree from Daytona State College and 49 earned their IB diploma. FPCHS had one National Merit Scholar Finalist. Shawn Zhudro was awarded a National Merit University of Florida Scholarship. If you'd like to watch a replay of the FPCHS graduation, we have it posted at https://www.flaglerschools.com/about-us/news/details/~board/district-news/post/class-of-2023-graduation-ceremonies
Flagler Technical College
Flagler Technical College held their graduation ceremony May 31st inside Flagler Auditorium. 68 students from the various programs under the FTC umbrella received their diploma or certificate. Two scholarships were also handed out, which will enable students to continue their education past their current level. You can watch the replay of the ceremony at https://www.flaglerschools.com/about-us/news/details/~board/district-news/post/flagler-technical-college-2023-graduation-ceremony-1684867391246
Elevating Excellence May Winners
We want to thank the Flagler County Education Foundation, and Executive Director Teresa Rizzo for their continued support of this program, which allowed us to shine a spotlight on employees in our district who went above and beyond their job title. For the last month, we honored three people.
Evana Fretterd serves as the Activities Director and Career and Technical Education/Student Government Association instructor at Flagler-Palm Coast High School.
Rebecca Oliva is an Information System Support Specialist who supports Old Kings Elementary and Wadsworth Elementary Schools.
Clint Chinn is a supervisor in Plant Services.
Each of these people share a common thread. They go about their jobs without seeking the spotlight. They do all they can to shine the spotlight on others so it's only fitting we honor them.
Evana Fretterd
The "heart" of FPC.
Rebecca Oliva
A go-to resource who is willing to help anyone on any campus.
Clint Chinn
The word "no" is not in his vocabulary.
Summer Meal Program
Our Cafe EDU is once again spearheading the Summer BreakSpot program, which offers free meals to kids and teens 18 years of age and under during this summer break. This program is funded by the US Department of Agriculture and ensures children have access to nutritious meals when school is not in session. To find a site near you, visit our Summer Meals page, which also includes schedules and menus.
Accreditation
Flagler Schools announces the district has earned system accreditation by Cognia™, a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers.
Cognia, formerly AdvancED, nationally recognizes districts that meet rigorous standards that focus on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation that meet the needs of learners, and effective leadership. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that the system and all of its schools are accredited and that Flagler Schools is recognized across the nation as a school system that meets Cognia Standards of Quality and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement.
To earn accreditation from Cognia, a school district also must implement a continuous process of improvement and submit to internal and external review. School systems in good standing can maintain their accreditation for a five-year term.
Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia, stated, “Cognia System Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school system and its community on the primary goal of preparing lifelong learners in engaging environments where all students can flourish. Flagler Schools is to be commended for demonstrating that it has met high standards and is making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.”
Open Enrollment
This is important information for our Flagler Schools employees.
We are excited to announce that Open Enrollment for employee benefits runs through June 16, 2023. This is an active enrollment for the 2023–24 Plan Year. If you are a benefit-eligible employee, you must take action to enroll, change, or decline benefits during the enrollment period, even if you are currently enrolled in benefits. Please note that your current benefits will not automatically roll over, and if you do not take any action, your benefits will not be in effect for the upcoming plan year.
Please visit the Employee Benefits page to learn more about the Open Enrollment process.
Open 24/7
We're excited for an addition to our district website, www.FlaglerSchools.com. We've unveiled a new "chatbot" feature, designed to answer some of our more popular questions. It's open 24/7 and "learns" as more and more people use it in search of answers. We hope it will be a useful tool for our parents, employees, students, and community members. Look for it in the right-hand corner of your screen.
Upcoming Celebrations/Special Days
- Flag Day, June 14
- Father's Day, June 18
- Juneteenth, June 19
- Independence Day, July 4
About Us
Website: flaglerschools.com
Location: 1769 East Moody Boulevard, Bunnell, FL, USA
Phone: 386-437-7526
Facebook: facebook.com/flaglerschools
Twitter: @flaglerschools