As part of Positively Osceola’s 2026 — A New Year, A New Hope series, Osceola School Board Chairwoman Heather Kahoun, also Owner and Creative Director of Heyyy Heather, a strategic marketing and consultation firm, reflects on a year of student-centered progress while looking ahead to continued growth, investment in educators, and strong public schools for the future.

As I reflect on 2025, I’m filled with gratitude for the progress we’ve achieved together in Osceola County’s public schools. This year, we celebrated a graduation rate of 89%—a 4-percentage point increase that represents real students walking across the stage prepared for their futures. We opened Cross Prairie K-8 in District 4, welcomed over 1,100 students into a state-of-the-art learning environment, and continued construction on our 12th high school set to open in 2026.

Behind these milestones are the dedicated educators, staff, and families who show up every day committed to student success. We navigated challenges—from transportation adjustments at the start of the school year to ensuring our ESE students receive the individualized support they deserve. Through collaboration and open communication, we worked through, and continue to work through,  these obstacles while keeping our focus squarely on what matters most: our students.

Looking ahead to 2026, my hope is rooted in momentum. We must continue investing in our educators with competitive compensation and supportive working conditions. We must complete our facilities projects on time and on budget, honoring the trust taxpayers have placed in us. And we must maintain the collaborative, student-focused leadership that has driven our progress.

As I seek re-election to serve my final term, I’m committed to finishing what we started together. Our schools are the heart of our community, and when we invest in education, we invest in Osceola County’s future. Here’s to a 2026 filled with continued growth, achievement, and unwavering support for every student who walks through our doors.

-Heather Kahoun, District 4
Osceola County School Board Chair