A Letter from Tim Forson, SJCPS Supertintendent

On behalf of the St. Johns County School District, it is an honor to serve your children and families. Our mission as a school district is to inspire good character and a passion for lifelong learning in all students, creating educated and caring contributors to the world.  Through the dedication and caring nature of teachers, administrators, and support staff, our students are able to achieve high standards in academics, sports and extracurricular activities. Having remarkable students and parents has also helped us remain a high performing school district. Statewide, our students score exceptionally well, earning the top scores in many reporting categories.  Students in grade 3-10 earned the top scores in the state in reading.  In math, students in grade 3-6 earned the highest scores.  Additionally, our students tied for first in the state on the Algebra End-of-Course Exam.  Students in grades 5 and 8 earned the top scores in science.  Moreover, in 2018, our district graduation rate was 93.3 percent, which is above the state average of 86.1 percent.  School grades released by the Florida Department of Education last month show that we continue to be a top preforming district in the state and one of two that has consistently remained an “A” rated district.
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    Throughout the summer, our administrative teams have been preparing for an incredible school year for your children.  We continue to hire highly qualified personnel to provide students with an exceptional educational experience.  It is our goal to ensure that all students graduate, prepared with 21st century skills to compete in the constantly changing world of digital and social environments.

​This school year we will continue to expand our safety initiatives to ensure that we provide a safe, secure, and dynamic learning environment for our children.  If you have not already, I encourage you to download the FortifyFL App.  This app allows the user to notify school personnel and law enforcement to provide a description of any threat, share pics and videos and optionally submit contact information.  We will have local law enforcement and/or armed security personnel at each school site offering increased security coverage.  In addition, we will provide ongoing mental health support for our students through specialized training, programs and resources.    
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    This year, we will be piloting an evidence-based program, Sources of Strength (SOS), at our high schools. SOS is a best practice youth suicide prevention project designed to harness the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms and culture, ultimately preventing suicide, bullying, and substance abuse.  As a district, we are committed to making resources available to students and families who need assistance.   

    I am so grateful to have the opportunity to serve as superintendent of St. Johns County Schools.  I want to thank every parent and family in our district for your continued support. Without you, we could not accomplish all that we do throughout the school year.   I encourage you to stay engaged and connected in your child’s education.  To stay up-to-date on the latest communication from St. Johns County Schools, please go to:  https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/schoolmessenger/, and set up your account preferences.  I hope you and your children have an outstanding 2019/2020 school year!


Sincerely,
Tim Forson
Superintendent of Schools