HONORING HEROES' DAY – This shoutout highlights a recent Heroes’ Day ceremony at Atlantic Beach Elementary School. Atlantic Beach Police Department Chief Victor Gualillo joined the school for a student-led flag ceremony led by the safety patrol. Chief Gualillo shared inspiring words about what it means to be a hero and how everyday acts of service strengthen our community. Thank you to our students, staff, families, and ABPD for a powerful celebration of courage and character!
CELEBRATING OUR PRINCIPALS – The story of how Team Duval became an A-rated school district cannot be told without recognizing our more than 150 principals. Each day, these school leaders mentor teachers, inspire students, support families, and build lasting partnerships within their communities.
Their dedication, long hours, and unwavering commitment to excellence are a driving force behind our district’s success. To our outstanding principals — thank you for ensuring that #DuvalDelivers.
This month, and every month, we celebrate you and your tireless devotion to our students and community.
STUDENTS VISIT NAVAL STATION MAYPORT – Learning came to life for civics students at Arlington Middle School, thanks to a recent visit to Naval Station Mayport! Students spent the day learning how modern ships operate and seeing teamwork in action. They also got to meet sailors, explore ship systems, and most importantly, connect classroom civics to real-world service, leadership, and STEM careers. Thank you to our partners at Mayport for opening the door to authentic learning!
ATTENDANCE MEANS MORE SCHOOL RESOURCES -
Strong student attendance boosts learning, and also brings more resources to your child’s school? Why? Because state funding is directly tied to student enrollment. That means when more students are in school, our schools receive more support for staff, instructional materials, technology, and other essentials that benefit every student. Between now and October 10, we’ll be capturing each school’s enrollment to report to the state. Please make sure your child is in school every day during this time. Together, we can ensure our schools receive the resources they need to help students thrive!
Strong student attendance boosts learning, and also brings more resources to your child’s school? Why? Because state funding is directly tied to student enrollment. That means when more students are in school, our schools receive more support for staff, instructional materials, technology, and other essentials that benefit every student. Between now and October 10, we’ll be capturing each school’s enrollment to report to the state. Please make sure your child is in school every day during this time. Together, we can ensure our schools receive the resources they need to help students thrive!
CELEBRATING EVERYDAY HEROES – Students and staff at Chaffee Trail Elementary School recently participated in an “Everyday Heroes” celebration, honoring those who serve the community and support others in times of emergency. The school welcomed a variety of special guests, ranging from first responders to military personnel. The community heroes visited classrooms, shared their stories, and participated in a flag-raising ceremony. Thank you for your service to our community and our country!
TEAM DUVAL SCHOOLS CELEBRATE NATIONAL AVID DAY – It was a day of celebration as many of our schools, students, and staff recognized September 12 as National AVID Day! AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a college and career readiness program. From hosting special lunches to participating in relational activities and to holding Signing Day ceremonies, schools from across the district marked the day with special activities geared toward highlighting the AVID program. Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan additionally signed a proclamation honoring September 12 as AVID Day in the city. Way to go!
Today, we’re celebrating School Social Worker Dana Lee for going above and beyond to support our students. Khrystal Whitlock of Student Discipline and Support Services shared this special praise:
“Thanks to a generous donation from the Dollar Tree on Atlantic & Kernan, our clothing closet is now stocked with a wide variety of items for students in need — including backpacks, pencil pouches, pens, pencils, scissors, composition books, paper, and more. We even have some fun extras like scented markers, crayons, and squishy pens to brighten a student’s day. This wonderful partnership began with a simple summer conversation between Dana and the store manager...Thank you, Dana, for going above and beyond to serve our students!”
“Thanks to a generous donation from the Dollar Tree on Atlantic & Kernan, our clothing closet is now stocked with a wide variety of items for students in need — including backpacks, pencil pouches, pens, pencils, scissors, composition books, paper, and more. We even have some fun extras like scented markers, crayons, and squishy pens to brighten a student’s day. This wonderful partnership began with a simple summer conversation between Dana and the store manager...Thank you, Dana, for going above and beyond to serve our students!”
HISPANIC HERITAGE ESSAY CONTEST - From September 15 to October 15, we honor Hispanic Heritage Month and the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic Americans. Students in grades 4–12 are invited to enter the district's annual Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest, presented in partnership with the Jaguars Foundation. Essay submissions are due by Saturday, Sept. 20, at 12 noon; teachers should email entries to Ms. Keisha Rodriguez at rodriguezk1@duvalschools.org. Learn more at www.duvalschools.org/hispanicheritagemonth
UPCOMING CONSOLIDATION MEETING – The district will host a community meeting on Monday, Sept. 15, to share information about the proposed consolidation of Anchor Academy and Mayport Elementary at the start of the 2026–27 school year. District leaders will share an overview of the consolidation process and answer questions. The meeting will take place in the Mayport Elementary gym (2753 Shangri La Drive, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233). Families, staff, students, and community members are welcome to attend.
HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS TRAIN TO BECOME MENTORS – This Team Duval Shoutout recognizes the Ignite Nation Mentoring Program, which has trained hundreds of our middle and high school students to become mentors to their peers. This summer, Ignite held a two-day training session for 133 high school and 94 middle school students, instructing them on everything from leadership to character-building qualities. This is the second year Team Duval has partnered with the program, which equips students to become Executive Mentors in their schools.
CELEBRATING 45 SCHOOLS WITH INCREASED LETTER GRADES – District leaders recently honored the principals of 45 schools that increased their letter grades. Thirty-five schools went up by one letter grade, and 10 went up by two letter grades. Each principal was honored with a superintendent's coin of excellence. Congratulations!
TEAM DUVAL HONORED FROM CAPITOL HILL – The office of US Representative Aaron Bean recently presented the School Board with a copy of an official congressional record honoring the district's A grade. The Representative's District Director, Bryan Campbell, made the presentation at the August 5 board meeting, and also played a video in which Rep. Bean commended the district for its success before the Speaker of the House.
FIVE TEAM DUVAL SCHOOLS RECOGNIZED AS ATTENDANCE CHAMPIONS – This Team Duval Shoutout celebrates five schools that have gone above and beyond in their efforts to improve attendance at their schools. These “Attendance Champions” are Anchor Academy Elementary, Cedar Hills Elementary, Northwestern Legends Elementary, Pickett Elementary, and Alfred I. duPont Middle schools. Each school received a large banner ahead of the new school year, allowing leaders to proudly display their achievements for all parents, students, and community members to see. Great work!
PRINCIPAL TEPER NAMED EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR – Congratulations to Englewood Elementary Principal Hope Teper for being named the Junior Achievement of North Florida 2025 Educator of the Year! According to JA North Florida President Shannon Italia, Principal Teper, "...exemplifies what it means to champion students beyond the classroom. Her commitment to her students is inspiring, and her partnership with JA has opened doors for hundreds of young learners."
PRAISE FOR KINDERGARTEN TEACHER ASHLEY WOODS – This Team Duval Shoutout comes from Chaffee Trail Elementary parent Kacy Kelly-Williams, who says Kindergarten Teacher Ashley Woods made a huge difference in her daughter Brooklyn’s school year! When Brooklyn transferred mid-year, Mrs. Woods went above and beyond to ensure a smooth transition. This included a phone call during Brooklyn’s first week to share school and classroom routines, and help make her transition as smooth as possible. Great work!
MAYPORT MIDDLE ROBOTICS TEAMS SCORE BIG AT COMPETITION – Congratulations to the Stingrays of Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School for winning the top prize at the 2025 International SeaPerch Challenge! This marks the second consecutive year the Stingrays were named Overall Champions in the Open Class category, and the third consecutive year Mayport has earned an Overall Championship prize! This year’s competition took place at the University of Maryland in College Park with middle and high school competitors from around the world. The Stingrays – along with the school’s sixth-grade Flying Fish and seventh-grade Anglerfish teams – earned multiple awards in several categories, including Mission Course, Obstacle Course, Technical Report, Community Outreach, and the Real-World Innovation Poster Project. Great work!
SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS GATHER FOR SUMMER INSTITUTE – One of the reasons Team Duval has become a Florida A-Rated district is because of the great work our schools are doing to support students in their emotional and mental health. Empowering students to gain resilience to tackle life’s challenges helps them bring focus to their academic success. Recently, almost 200 of our amazing school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, and mental health therapists gathered for the Duval County Public Schools/University of Florida Collaborative Care Summer Institute. They spent time learning, planning, and strategizing in preparation for the new school year. Our school-based mental health professionals do wonderful work and offer another great reason for choosing traditional public schools. Thank you for all you do!
ESOL STUDENTS ENJOY WATER TAXI TOUR – Students participating in this year’s ESOL Summer Maintenance Program are celebrating a unique learning experience on the St. Johns River. English Language Learners with Southside Middle School’s program recently took a water taxi tour and learned about the city's history, landmarks, and the importance of the river.
PRAISE FOR TEACHER JENNIFER SHEPARD – One Team Duval parent is grateful for the impact Seabreeze Elementary School’s Jennifer Shepard had on her son! Here’s what Seabreeze parent Janee Thomas shares about the first grade teacher: “We had a wonderful year filled with growth and support. Her sweet and encouraging spirit truly made a difference—she helped Ka’Marley build confidence, especially in reading. We’re so grateful for the love and dedication she poured into him.”
BACK TO BACH PERFORMANCE – Students participating in the district’s ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Summer Maintenance Program received a special treat, thanks to a visit by a group of classical musicians! Members of the “Back to BACH Project” recently performed for English Language Learners at the Loretto Elementary site. Back to BACH sends young, classical musicians into schools to help inspire and encourage a love for the arts.
