{"id":356299,"date":"2026-07-29T15:04:35","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T15:04:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/356299\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T15:04:35","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T15:04:35","slug":"ocps-superintendent-to-retire-after-2026-27-school-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/356299\/","title":{"rendered":"OCPS superintendent to retire after 2026-27 school year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Superintendent Maria Vazquez, who has led Orange County Public Schools since 2022<\/a>, will retire after the 2026-27 school year, the district announced Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Vazquez has worked in public education for about 35 years, serving as an OCPS teacher, principal and district administrator before she was tapped for the top role.<\/p>\n

Under her leadership, OCPS raised its state grade from a B to an A, based on student performance on state tests<\/a>, and she helped navigate the district through the first years of declining enrollment in decades.<\/p>\n

The daughter of Cuban immigrants, she was OCPS\u2019s first Hispanic superintendent, running a district where about 44% of the district\u2019s almost 200,000 students are Hispanic.<\/p>\n

Details on a timeline for selecting a new superintendent for the nation\u2019s eighth-largest school district will be announced later, OCPS said in its statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cServing this community has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Throughout my career, I have believed that education is ultimately about people, relationships, and creating opportunities for students to thrive. I am deeply grateful for the privilege of working alongside extraordinary employees, supportive families, dedicated community partners, and inspiring students,\u201d Vazquez said in a statement.<\/p>\n

While the announcement of her departure comes before the start of a new school year, she said she remains focused on the work ahead.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis school year is filled with opportunities to strengthen student achievement, support our employees, deepen our partnerships with families, and continue building a district that prepares every student for a bright future,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

OCPS likely faces more declining enrollment<\/a> as it lost 5,600 students this past school year and expects to lose about another 3,000 students thus upcoming school year. The district also faces an impasse with its teachers union over rising insurance costs, which could cause most teachers to make less money next year.<\/p>\n

Teresa Jacobs, the board chair who is also retiring, said Vazquez had been \u201cphenomenal\u201d as the district\u2019s leader.<\/p>\n

Vazquez has OCPS on \u201cthe right path\u201d for the next leader to hit the ground running, as the superintendent helped put \u201cthe right people in the right seats,\u201d Jacobs said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so excited for her to be able to take to take this time and to spend it and pour it into her family because she\u2019s poured so much into Orange County Public Schools, and especially over these last four years,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Clinton McCracken, the president of the district\u2019s teachers union, said in a statement that Vazquez\u2019s retirement presented \u201can opportunity to chart a new course for the future\u201d with a new superintendent.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need someone who is accountable, collaborative, and committed to addressing our biggest challenges, including declining enrollment, employee recruitment and retention, and restoring trust in decisions that affect the people working in our schools every day. Teachers will be looking for a superintendent who respects them as professionals, not someone who continues a culture of massive micromanagement, driving educators away,\u201d McCracken said.<\/p>\n

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