By Positively Osceola News Staff
Published Novermber 3, 2025
The Osceola County School District’s 2025 State of Education event, held Wednesday morning at Osceola Heritage Park, celebrated what district leaders called the most successful academic year in Osceola County’s history.
The event filled the Heritage Park Events Center with community leaders, educators, local officials, and business partners — all united in support of public education as the cornerstone of a thriving community.
The morning began with School Board Chairwoman Heather Kahoun, who opened the program as a JROTC Honor Guard presented the colors and a student quartet led the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem.
In a video message recorded at Cross Prairie K-8, Chairwoman Kahoun proudly announced that the district had achieved its highest-ever assessment rating — a solid “B” on Florida’s 2025 educational assessments.
“The 2025 assessment results are the best in the history of our district,” said Kahoun. “Osceola County students made gains in 20 out of 21 academic categories. This is a moment for every student, teacher, staff member, parent, and our community to stand tall. This is what progress looks like when a community comes together to make student achievement its number one priority.”
Kahoun’s message not only celebrated historic academic progress but also emphasized the growing scale and reach of the district’s work.
By the Numbers
Osceola County School District
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🎓 80,000 students served
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💻 80,000 student devices distributed
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🍎 8 million meals served annually
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🚌 6 million miles traveled by buses
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💰 $2.2 billion operating budget and $921 million capital budget
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👩🏫 8,200 employees supporting students
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🧭 3,600 school choice applications
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⏱️ 250,000 volunteer hours logged
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🙌 18,000 volunteers engaged
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🧩 2,000+ industry certifications earned
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🎓 5,000+ graduates in 2025
These figures underscore the district’s theme of “Serving with Excellence,” reflecting growth not only in academic achievement but also in service, scale, and community engagement.
Mission, Vision, and Focus
The State of Education event also reaffirmed the district’s dedication to its guiding principles — a clear mission, vision, and areas of focus that drive every initiative.
District Mission: To inspire all learners to reach their highest potential as responsible, productive citizens.
The mission emphasizes preparing students for success after high school — whether that path leads to college, military service, or the workforce — while ensuring every learner develops the skills to strengthen their community.
District Vision: To work in partnership with families and the community to ensure all learners develop the essential knowledge and skills to strengthen their thriving community.
Areas of Focus:
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Cultivating innovation and creativity in every classroom
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Providing a safe and respectful learning environment
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Facilitating transformational learning experiences that empower students to thrive in a changing world
Together, these principles — supported by data-driven strategy and deep community involvement — have positioned Osceola County as one of Florida’s most forward-thinking and rapidly improving districts.
Academic Gains Across Core Subjects
Chairwoman Kahoun highlighted measurable improvement across all subjects, underscoring the district’s consistent rise on the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) and end-of-course exams:
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English Language Arts (ELA): Grades 3–5 improved by two points, grades 6–8 gained five, and grades 9–10 rose six points.
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Mathematics: Overall proficiency increased by five points; grade 3 jumped 49 points, and grade 8 improved 40 points during the year.
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Science: Grade 5 improved by four points, grade 8 by six, and Biology 1 by five — matching the state average.
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Social Studies: Civics scores climbed by four points, and U.S. History by six.
“We are more confident than ever that Osceola will become an A district in the very near future,” Kahoun added. “These wins belong to our families, educators, and students — and the best is yet to come.”
Following her remarks, Kahoun introduced Superintendent Dr. Mark Shanoff, thanking him for his steady leadership and the progress, vision, and commitment he has brought to Osceola County’s schools.
Superintendent Shanoff and the Power of Collaboration
Superintendent Dr. Mark Shanoff addressed the audience, celebrating the district’s collective success and the teamwork behind its progress. He proudly shared that every high school in the district is now rated either an “A” or “B” school, with Poinciana High showing the most significant improvement — rising from a “C” to an “A.” He praised teachers, administrators, and staff for their relentless dedication, then introduced the five School Board Members — each sharing presentations on the district’s four pillars: Alignment, Engagement, Community, and Culture.
“Alignment Starts with People” — Vice Chair Terry Castillo
Vice Chair Terry Castillo, speaking from Osceola County School for the Arts, emphasized that the heart of a successful district lies in its people.
“In Osceola, we’ve made a choice to build a culture that feels like family,” Castillo said.
She described the district’s self-managed employee health plan, which has saved nearly $70 million since 2019 while expanding access to care, from primary services to mental health counseling and on-site wellness programs.
“Engagement is the Engine of Achievement” — Board Member Anthony Cook
Anthony Cook, presenting from Horizon Middle School, highlighted the Let’s Talk platform, which connects families directly to district leaders, and partnerships with agencies such as the Florida Department of Health and the Children’s Cabinet of Osceola County to reduce absenteeism and strengthen engagement.
“Engagement isn’t something we check off a list — it’s a culture,” Cook said.
“Community Built Brick by Brick” — Board Member Paula Bronson
From St. Cloud High School’s masonry classroom, Paula Bronson discussed Superintendent Shanoff’s listening sessions and collaborative approach with local organizations, including Addition Financial, the Education Foundation, and Park Place Behavioral Health.
“At the heart of every strong school district is connection,” she said.
Bronson also spotlighted the launch of ParentSquare, a new communications platform that links parents, teachers, and students in one unified system.
“Culture of Care and Belonging” — Board Member Bethzaida García
Bethzaida García closed the series by focusing on the district’s culture of care and inclusion.
“Every day is a fresh start — a new chance to connect, support, and grow,” García said. “In Osceola, we are more than a district. We are family.”
She noted that district surveys show 82% of staff are satisfied or highly satisfied with their work, while students and parents rated their experiences 3.6 and 3.8 out of 5, respectively — evidence of a district that listens and evolves.
The 2025 State of Education ended with widespread applause as Superintendent Shanoff reaffirmed the district’s shared goal: becoming an A-rated district through innovation, teamwork, and community collaboration.
Local leaders praised the district’s results, recognizing that Osceola County’s success is built on unity and a deep commitment to its students.
“Without a strong public education system, a community cannot grow, evolve, and continue to excel,” one attendee shared. “Osceola County is proving that together, we can do all three.”
In his closing remarks, Dr. Shanoff left the audience with a message that captured the heart of Osceola’s mission and purpose:
“Every day is Day One in the Osceola School District. We are a proud school district that leads with purpose, makes decisions that are in the best interest of children, and our teachers, staff, administrators, and School Board serve with heart — relentlessly focused on a high-quality education and student success. We believe the future of education is built today, and every student deserves our best, every single day.”
Front Photo Source: Osceola County School District
