- March 5, 2026
Mainland High School senior Jayla Long, Chief Academic Officer Dr. Julio Nazario-Valle and Superintendent Dr. Carmen Balgobin share a moment onstage during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The University High School Jazz combo performs at the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Pine Ridge High School Senior Douglas Jett was one of the emcees at the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Mainland High School senior Jayla Long was one of the emcees at the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The University High School Jazz Band performs during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Richard Barbari, with event sponsor Addition Financial, speaks during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
School Board Chair Ruben Colon speaks during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
School Board Chair Ruben Colon speaks during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5, with fellow board members Jessie Thompson, Krista Goodrich and Jamie Haynes onstage. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
School Board Chair Ruben Colon speaks during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The Pine Ridge High School JROTC presents the colors during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The Silver Sands Middle School Choir performs the national anthem during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The Silver Sands Middle School Choir performs the national anthem during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The Silver Sands Middle School Choir performs the national anthem during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
School Board attorney Gilbert Evans delivers the invocation and people bow their heads during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Superintendent Carmen Balgobin takes a moment onstage as people give her a standing ovation during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Superintendent Carmen Balgobin speaks during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Superintendent Carmen Balgobin speaks during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Teacher of the Year Erika Kazma, PE teacher at R.J. Longstreet Elementary, is brought on stage during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Chief of Staff Patty Corr speaks during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Mike Micallef, executive director for Graduation Assurance and Student Services, speaks during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Capt. Todd Smith speaks during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Chief Operating Officer John Cash speaks during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Chief Technology Officer Dr. Matt Kuhn speaks during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Mike Micallef, executive director for Graduation Assurance and Student Services, alongside CTE Coordinator Kristin Pierce, speaks during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
CTE Coordinator Kristin Pierce speaks during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The Edgewater Public STOMP performs during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The Edgewater Public STOMP performs during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The Edgewater Public STOMP performs during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The Edgewater Public STOMP performs during the State of our Schools event on Thursday, March 5. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Becoming an "A" school district after 16 years. A decrease in chronic absenteeism. New magnet programs at elementary schools. The introduction of AICE for sixth and seventh graders.
Volusia County Schools celebrated achievements, successes and milestones during its State of Our Schools event on Thursday, March 5, held on the west side of the county at The Center at Deltona. The event, which included student performances, was attended by city officials from throughout the county, community partners and the Volusia County School Board; District 4 representative Donna Brosemer was absent.
Volusia County Schools Superintendent Dr. Carmen Balgobin's address centered on one theme: Students are the future.
"If you look at our strategic plan, it says: 'All students will engage in high levels of learning every day,'" Balgobin said. "... There's no confusion as to why we exist as an organization. It's to fulfill that mission."
In three years, the district has increased its Career and Technical Education programs and career academies by 70%, said Chief Academic Officer Dr. Julio Nazario-Valle. The number of programs went from 164 to 279.
The number of industry certifications offered is also up, going from 70 in 2022-2023 to 126 in 2025-2026.
"As our world continues to evolve, we have to evolve as well in terms of offering students what they need," Nazario-Valle said.
He announced six middle schools that will be offering the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education courses, known as AICE, for sixth and seventh grade students. The schools are: Ormond Beach Middle School, Silver Springs Middle School, Campbell Middle School, Taylor Middle School, Galaxy Middle School and Creekside Middle School.
In the 2026-2027 school year, all middle schools in the county will offer AICE for sixth through eighth graders.
Nine elementary schools are also going to offer magnet programs. They are:
The event also highlighted the four guardrails of the district's strategic plan and how the district is putting them into practice.
One of the guardrails involves recruiting, supporting and retaining staff. As the county's largest employer, with 8,113 people, VCS has increased the number of programs for people to become educators. In 2023, there were three; now there are seven pathways, including an exchange teacher program.
A total of 75 previous classroom vacancies are staffed today through one of these pathways.
"We are doing what's best for kids and making decisions every day on what's best for kids," Chief of Staff Patty Corr said. "But what I've noticed in my tenure here — and especially in my time on the cabinet with Dr. Balgobin — is that message is now ingrained throughout our district."
In 2022-2023, the district reported 149 classroom vacancies. In 2024-2025, that number decreased to 47.
The district's chronic absenteeism rate (number of students who miss 18 or more school days) is also down, though it's not yet at the pre-pandemic level. In the 2018-2019 school year, the district's chronic absenteeism rate was at 14.2%. It rose to 31.3% in 2020-2021, with a peak of 33.9% in 2023-2024, but has since decreased to 22.1%.
Last school year, the district implemented an education program to address the issue, said Mike Micallef, executive director for Graduation Assurance and Student Services. But, this isn't an issue specific to Volusia County, he said.
"This is a national issue that we have here," Micallef said. "... If kids aren't in our classes, they're not learning."
At the conclusion of the event, Balgobin shared her thoughts after listening to staff speak about achievements and watching students perform onstage.
"It reminded me that the work we do is purposeful and that we're making an impact together," she said.
School Board Chair Ruben Colon said the work didn't happen overnight. He spoke about helping Balgobin pack up her office in 2022 in Broward County, where she was working before she was appointed as superintendent for VCS.
Last year, Balgobin was named the 2025 National Superintendent of the Year by the National Association of School Superintendents.
"God had a plan," Colon said. "Not for me or us, but for our 64,000 students here in Volusia County."
