August 2026 – Dr. Denise Carlin
Dear School District Family,
Welcome back! Another school year is here, and after the year we just had, I have never been more excited to get started.
I hope this summer was good to you, that you got real rest, slow mornings, and time with the people who matter most to you. You earned every minute of it.
Before we look ahead, let’s sit for a moment in what we just pulled off, because last year was something special. Across the School District of Lee County, not a single school earned a D. Not a single F. Twenty-nine of our schools raised their letter grade, and together we earned more points than we have in over a decade. Our buses ran on time 98 percent of the time, meaning more of our students were in their seats and ready when that first bell rang. And every classroom was led by a certified teacher, prepared to teach from day one.
None of that was luck. That was you. That was educators who refused to give up on a single student, and a staff that held this whole district together with heart. You also protected something no spreadsheet can measure: the joy of learning. That matters just as much as any grade, and I never want us to forget it.
So here is what I know about us: when we set our minds to something in this district, we get it done. That is exactly why we are aiming even higher this year.
This year, our goal is no C schools. We want to raise our graduation rate higher than it has ever been. We want a certified teacher in every single classroom. We want our buses running on time and getting sharper still. And we want to keep climbing toward becoming an A-rated district- all while having fun doing it.
I know these goals are big. I know they will ask a lot of you. But hear me clearly: last year was hard too, and we met it together. We reached things we once thought were out of reach, and I have no doubt we will do it again.
Thank you for how you show up, day after day, for kids who will remember you for the rest of their lives. I am so proud of what we have built together, and I promise you, the best is still ahead.
Welcome back. Let’s make this a year to remember!
Sincerely,
Dr. Denise Carlin
Superintendent of Schools