Marking Excellence with Superintendent Dr. Mark Shanoff

Today’s students have more pathways than ever to challenge themselves, earn college credit, and explore real‑world career skills. But with choices like Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment, and Career & Technical Education, how do families decide which route is the right one? On this episode of Marking Excellence , we sit down with our district College and Career Counselor, Summer Zevallos, to...

On this episode of Shanoff Shadows, Dr. Shanoff gets a behind-the-scenes look at the hard work, hustle, and heart it takes to keep our schools sparkling. A huge shoutout to Elvin, the incredible Head Custodian at Deerwood Elementary, who not only showed Dr. Shanoff the ropes but does so much more every single day. From keeping our campus clean to building meaningful connections with students, Elvi...

On this episode of Shanoff Shadows , Dr. Shanoff spends the day traveling from class to class with Omar, an eighth grader at Denn John Middle School whose academic achievements and personal growth truly shine.

In this episode, Dr. Shanoff shadows Moya Campbell, a truancy officer with our Student Services team, as she works behind the scenes to remove barriers, support attendance, and help students stay connected to school—because showing up can change everything.

On this episode of Marking Excellence, Dr. Shanoff talks to our 2026 School-Related Employee of the Year, Ms. Jessica Mintz. Ms. Mintz is a paraprofessional at St. Cloud Elementary School, and she is inspiring students from Pre-K through 5th grade to chase their dreams and become the best version of themselves.

Technology is reshaping how our students learn. On this episode, Dr. Shanoff sits down with one of our Top 10 Teacher of the Year Finalists, Mr. German Ortiz, to show what that looks like in action. Mr. Ortiz shares how he empowers students to take ownership of their learning by tracking their data digitally and reflecting on their growth in real time. Together, they dive into everything from sett...

It’s FFA Week, and we’re celebrating in a big way! Dr. Shanoff sits down with Ms. Kyndall Brown and three of her powerhouse students for a lively conversation about the world of agriculture: from hands‑on learning to the impact FFA programs are having across our schools. And there’s even bigger news: Dr. Shanoff and Ms. Brown announce a new pole barn in development for Harmony Middle School, a pro...

Dr. Shanoff went back to fifth grade for a day to shadow Devonna, a student at Hickory Tree Elementary School. During his time in Ms. Weeks' class, he participated in vertical learning activities that challenged students to use context clues to craft high-level answers about the text.

In this episode, Dr. Shanoff works alongside Ashton Terry, one of our Senior Managers for Research, Evaluation, and Accountability, to highlight how data-driven practices are improving student achievement across our district. Ashton leads strategic projects such as early identification of “slip‑back” students, enabling our school teams to intervene sooner and deliver the support students need to m...

Every year, we have the privilege of sharing our progress as a school district with our business partners and community at the State of Education event. On this episode, Dr. Shanoff and School Board Chair Heather Kahoun highlight the incredible strides we’ve made and how we’re continuing on the path toward becoming an A-rated district. But here’s the best part: you’re an important part of this jou...

On this episode of Shanoff Shadows, Dr. Shanoff explores the HOPE program and Team Sports with Coach Davis at Professional and Technical High School. Coach Davis has been instrumental in helping students discover new passions, build connections, and experience the benefits of physical activity. His class has had such a positive impact that many students now choose to spend their lunch breaks engag...

Our Facilities team is managing dozens of projects across the district, from upgrading HVAC systems to constructing brand-new schools from the ground up. In this episode, we take you behind the scenes with Tim Gough as he shares what it’s like to help bring the new "AAA" High School to life on Nova Road. Discover the challenges, excitement, and pride that come with building a school that...

Our Transportation team isn’t just focused on getting students to school safely and on time—they’re also driving innovation across the state. In this episode, Orville Watson shares how our district is leveraging cutting-edge technology and strategic resources to optimize routes, improve efficiency, and elevate the transportation experience for students, families, and staff. Want to learn more abou...

We are just days away from the start of a new school year. In this episode, Dr. Shanoff and Principal of Discovery Intermediate School, Mr. Gary Dunn, discuss everything from transportation to school lunches to volunteering at your child's school to the importance of being connected and involved at school. We look forward to welcoming you back on the first day of school!

At the end of every school year, our high schools come together to celebrate the academic and athletic successes of our student-athletes. Our district Coordinator of Athletics, Ryan Adams, shares some of the highlights from this year's Athletic Awards.

Our College and Career Counselors provide specialized support to our students so they can achieve their post-secondary dreams! On this episode, Ms. Soto from Liberty High School shows Dr. Shanoff the various ways she communicates important information with her students.

As our county continues to grow in population, we are continuing to build new schools while renovating and performing regular maintenance on others. Many of these projects are funded through your taxpayer dollars.  Today, Dr. Shanoff is joined by Dave Sharma, our Chief Facilities Officer, to discuss the various projects that your taxes are paying for.

In this episode, Dr. Shanoff shadows Cynthia Franklin, one of our school psychologists. Ms. Franklin works with various schools, including Lakeview Elementary, to support the mental health and educational development of all students. 

Joe Castillo found a passion for education after helping his son during the pandemic. He currently works with the ESOL students at Lakeview Elementary School and is finishing up his master's degree so he can begin teaching full-time.

Mrs. Goerner's impact extends schoolwide as she coaches a team of 21 math teachers and supports nearly 3,000 students through small group instruction, after-school tutoring programs, and math boot camps. She discusses how these initiatives and more have helped improve math scores across all grade levels.

March is National Arts in Our Schools Month, a time to celebrate and recognize the vital role that arts education plays in our students' development. On this episode, Dr. Shanoff is joined by our district's Fine and Performing Arts Resource Specialists Dr. Chris Burns and Dr. Joseph D’Ambrosi to discuss the benefits of arts in education.

Research shows that when parents are actively involved, students experience positive outcomes such as higher levels of academic achievement, better attendance, stronger social skills, improvements in behavior, and an increase in motivation. Dr. Annette Kalloo-Molina joins Dr. Shanoff to share some advice on how to stay involved in your child's education.

On this episode, Dr. Shanoff shadows Mrs. Kodie Petrangeli at Canoe Creek K-8. As an instructional coach, Mrs. Petrangeli is responsible for supporting K-8 teachers and students in reading, writing, and social studies.

In this episode, Dr. Shanoff shadows Tohopekaliga High School's Media Center Specialist for a day full of reading, laminating, and supporting tiger students and staff.

On this episode of Shanoff Shadows, Dr. Shanoff joins Christopher Shaw from Voyager K-8. As a school tech, Mr. Shaw goes above and beyond to ensure all forms of technology are online and enhance the educational experience for all students.