Duval County Public Schools - Every Student. Every Day.

PARENT GRATEFUL FOR LORETTO ELEMENTARY DATA CLERK BETH HETH – This Team Duval Shoutout celebrates Beth Heth, a Data Entry Clerk at Loretto Elementary School, and the way she helped a parent in a pinch! Jennifer Hunter shares the following: “As a first-time Loretto mom of a kindergartener, I’m so grateful for the support I received from Beth Heth. When I realized I hadn’t registered my daughter properly with DCPS—a mistake that could have caused a lot of issues—Beth stepped in and helped me get everything sorted out. She was prompt, patient, and answered all my questions with ease. Thanks to her guidance, what could have been a stressful experience turned into a positive one. I truly appreciate her going above and beyond!”

BE SAFE. BE SEEN. – October is Be Safe. Be Seen. month in Duval County Public Schools! At this month’s School Board meeting, board members showed their support by signing the official Be Safe. Be Seen. banner and pledging to spread awareness. This districtwide initiative promotes pedestrian and bicycle safety — encouraging everyone to stay alert and visible on the roads. We invite all families to join in by talking with their children about how to stay safe — whether walking, biking, or driving.

ONLINE THERAPY - Team Duval students have access to online therapy services through Hazel Health. Services are 100% confidential, and completely free for families. Sign up in under 5 mins: https://getstarted.hazel.co/district/duvalschools

TEACHERS TRAINED IN FIRST LEGO LEAGUE ROBOTICS – Team Duval teachers are getting ready for a new season of FIRST LEGO League robotics, thanks to a dynamic training session at Florida State College at Jacksonville! District employee Chelsea Ross shares that coaches were able to receive valuable insight that will equip them to work with students. She says, “The session was engaging and insightful, providing both rookie and veteran coaches with the tools to thrive this season...The future of robotics in Northeast Florida is so bright!” Ross adds a special shoutout to CodeNinjas’ Ryan Clark, FSCJ’s Christopher Lee, and Team Duval’s Collier Avis, and the DCPS STEM Team for “their dedication to growing the next generation of innovators.”

FLIPPING THE SWITCH ON AN OUTAGE – This Team Duval Shoutout highlights the way one Atlantic Coast educator made the most of an internet outage with a creative, hands-on lesson. Engineering teacher Frankie Portelos says a recent internet outage across the district wasn’t enough to stop instruction in his classroom. Instead, Portelos took students on an impromptu engineering tour around campus, observing and discussing the engineering concepts all around them. This included the machines of the weight room, the school’s gutter systems, and compost bins. He says, “The unexpected shift not only kept the class engaged but also reinforced an important engineering mindset: the ability to quickly “switch gears” (pun intended) and find solutions when faced with challenges.” Great job!

CELEBRATING OUTSTANDING MENTORS AT RUTLEDGE PEARSON –

This Team Duval Shoutout highlights the incredible work of Keisha Robinson and Stacy Adams, both mentors in the district’s Jacksonville Teacher Residency graduate program. They guide UNF students pursuing education degrees and working toward certification, helping to grow the next generation of teachers. Jennifer Saoud shares that:

- Keisha Robinson is dedicated, reflective, and intentional. She engages in meaningful dialogue with her residents, provides opportunities to lead instruction and practice essential teaching skills, and offers supportive feedback that encourages growth.

- Stacy Adams is a model mentor who makes her residents feel welcomed and part of the classroom community from day one. She fosters a true co-teaching environment, collaborates on instruction and classroom management, and explains the reasoning behind her decisions, offering valuable insight into effective teaching practices.

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK - Duval County Public Schools invites students, families, staff, and community members to participate in a districtwide survey. Your input on the Data Triangle Survey will help guide improvements in instruction, school programs, safety, and communication, ensuring every student receives a high-quality education. The survey is open through October 21. Access the survey and preview survey questions at www.duvalschools.org/survey

PARENT GRATEFUL FOR THOMAS JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY – “My kids call Thomas Jefferson home.” Those are the words of one Team Duval parent who says her entire family is grateful for the leadership and staff of Thomas Jefferson Elementary School! Parent Chloe Whiddon says everyone, from Principal Lori Turner to the lunch staff, has done an incredible job of supporting three of her children, including one who is now in the 8th grade. Whiddon says, “They love everyone at Thomas Jefferson. They deserve a big spotlight for how awesome they are, and how much they mean – not only to my family, but also to a lot of families.”

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!

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!

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!”

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!