Opinion: We build on our successes and move into the future

As Election Day approaches, I want to share with you, the members of our incredible community, how we can continue to work together to make Leon County Schools a leading school district.

I’m proud of our achievements and excited about what lies ahead. My vision for the future of Leon County schools is simple: create a school system that ensures our students are better prepared for life and that safe, inclusive schools are set up for success. I want to explain how we will get there.

Financial stability is a must. The goal is to make LCS completely debt-free by 2028, which will allow us to devote more resources to classrooms. We have already made significant investments in schools while reducing our capital debt, and I plan to continue these achievements. A debt-free school district means the next superintendent will be free to invest in the needs of students and employees without financial constraints. This is a privilege I was not given when I took office, and I look forward to leaving this legacy to the future leaders of the LCS.

Every child deserves a high-quality learning environment. In 2016, I promised that I wanted schools in the South to be indistinguishable from schools in the North. I wanted students at Rickards High School and Griffin Middle School to have the same quality of amenities as students at Chiles High School and Swift Creek Middle School.

Since taking office, I have focused on upgrading our facilities, especially in underserved areas, and I will continue to push forward. Equally important is the continuous improvement of our exceptional educational services for students. By 2028, I want every student to have access to safe, modern and inspiring spaces where they can learn and develop.

Our teachers and staff are the beating heart of our district and deserve our respect and fair compensation. While we have made great progress in increasing wages, it is not enough. We will continue to ensure that all employees, from teachers to bus drivers, receive pay that reflects their hard work and dedication. I want LCS to be known as a district where all employees feel valued, supported and compensated fairly.

One of my top priorities is to continue to reduce the achievement gap among our students while returning graduation rates to pre-pandemic levels. We are on the right track as we see historic improvements in ratings at several of our Title 1 schools.

To achieve this, we need a comprehensive approach to education that enables students to explore their potential interests. We will constantly expand artistic, sports and specialist programs so that each student can pursue their passions and develop their skills. Additionally, we will continue to invest in mental health services and hire more school counselors, school psychologists and paraprofessionals so that we can increase students’ resilience. Finally, we will continue to expand our trade and technical education offerings, ensuring every student – ​​regardless of track – has the support they need to graduate and succeed.

I’m not going to make big promises that can’t be kept. I can promise you a practical plan that builds on our achievements and lays the foundations for future success. Together we can make Leon County Schools a model of excellence for the entire state. That’s why I’m asking you, the voters of Leon County, to allow me to continue to grow our district.

Rocky Hanna, who was first elected as Leon County schools superintendent in 2016 and re-elected in 2020, is seeking a third term in the position. (Friday, November 1, is the last day of publication of columns written by candidates participating in the November 5 vote. Columns must be submitted in advance.)

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This article originally appeared on the Tallahassee Democrat: Opinion: We build on our successes and move into the future