VCS Professional Learning Department

☀️ Wellness Wednesday ☀️

Summer is the perfect time to recharge! Remember to stay hydrated, get outside, make time to rest, and do something that brings you joy. 🌻

Taking care of yourself isn't a luxury—it's a necessity. 💛

A huge thank you to all of the Volusia County Schools teachers and clerical staff who chose to invest part of their summer break in professional learning sessions at Volusia LEARNS 2026!

While many are enjoying a well-deserved vacation, team members chose to continue growing their skills, expanding their knowledge, and preparing for an even stronger school year ahead. Their commitment to lifelong learning and excellence is a reflection of the incredible people who serve our students, families, and schools every day!

We are grateful to all the sponsors for helping make this valuable professional learning experience possible and to Mainland High School for hosting us!

Dr. Carmen Balgobin, Superintendent Volusia County Schools
Dr. Julio Valle Jr., Chief Academic Officer, Volusia County Schools

At Volusia County Schools, learning and growth extend beyond the classroom. This week, school and district leaders gathered together at Mainland High School for the Administrative Institute to collaborate, share best practices, reflect on their experiences, and strengthen the work that supports student success across our district.

A special thank you to Larissa Mavronas at Steve’s Famous Diner for starting our mornings with a delicious breakfast. We are truly grateful to all the sponsors for helping make this valuable professional learning experience possible!

Volusia County Schools
Dr. Carmen Balgobin, Superintendent Volusia County Schools
Dr. Julio Valle Jr., Chief Academic Officer, Volusia County Schools
Mike Micallef, Volusia County Schools
Kristy Castellanos, Volusia County Schools
Dr. Tamara Baker-Drayton, Volusia County Schools
Division of Teaching, Leading, and Learning

We’re live at the 2026 Learning Forward Florida Virtual Spring Forum! 🌱

Today’s focus: Future-Ready Learning: Designing PL for What’s Next.

Looking forward to a day of collaboration, innovation, and impactful conversations with educators across Florida.

Follow along throughout the day for key takeaways and highlights!

📣Target Audience: Volusia County Schools Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Clerical Staff, and School/District Administrators

🌟 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! 🌟

Please take a few minutes to fill out the VCS 2026-2027 Professional Learning Needs Assessment Survey by scanning the QR Code on the flyer or clicking on the hyperlink below: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PLNeeds26

The survey will be available from Wednesday, April 1st through Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026.

Thank you in advance for your time!

Dr. Carmen Balgobin, Superintendent Volusia County Schools
Dr. Julio Nazario-Valle, Chief Academic Officer, Volusia County Schools Division of Teaching, Leading, and Learning Volusia County Schools Kristy Castellanos, Volusia County Schools Dr. Tamara Baker-Drayton, Volusia County Schools VCS Multilingual Learners Jacquese Copeland, Volusia County Schools Mike Micallef, Volusia County Schools Volusia County Schools Recruitment & Retention Volusia County Schools VPK VCS Elementary C&I VCS School Psychological Services VCS Student Transportation Services

🌅Spring break is almost here!

Important Dates to remember:
🌞Student Holiday/Teacher Duty Day: Friday, March 13
😎Spring Break: March 16-21
🗓️Classes Resume: Monday, March 23

Spring break is also a perfect time to dive into a good book! Don't forget to log your reading minutes in Beanstack to earn points for the Superintendent's Spring Reading Challenge. 📖

Enjoy your break and happy reading!

Committed & enthusiastic educators from across the district participated in a professional learning session titled, “From Pre-Kindergarten to Cap & Gown: Engagement Strategies for Every Grade Level.” The session focused on elevating student engagement and equipping teachers with research-based, ready-to-implement strategies that bring learning to life.

During this collaborative experience, passionate educators explored:
• The 6 Phases of Learning, a powerful framework for designing lessons that deepen understanding and promote meaningful thinking.
• Practical strategies that strengthen behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement.
• The Engaging Eight, key essentials for building active, student-centered classrooms.

Participants left with practical tools and strategies they can immediately implement in their classrooms to create vibrant learning environments where every student feels supported and engaged. We are grateful for our educators’ collaboration and their continued commitment to advancing student achievement across Volusia County Schools!

Dr. Carmen Balgobin, Superintendent Volusia County Schools Dr. Julio Nazario-Valle, Chief Academic Officer, Volusia County Schools Division of Teaching, Leading, and Learning Kristy Castellanos, Volusia County Schools Dr. Tamara Baker-Drayton, Volusia County Schools

Volusia County Schools’ district support staff participated in an engaging professional learning session titled, “Empowering Educators Through the Art of Coaching Language.”

During this collaborative session, district educators explored how intentional language can strengthen instructional practice, build trust, and foster reflective conversations that support continuous growth. Participants engaged in meaningful dialogue and practical activities designed to help them use coaching language that promotes clarity, encouragement, and professional collaboration.

Through modeling, discussion, and shared experiences, educators gained strategies to ask powerful questions, provide constructive feedback, and cultivate supportive professional relationships that ultimately enhance teaching and learning across our schools.

Thank you to our dedicated educators for their commitment to professional growth and for continuing to empower one another through purposeful communication and collaboration!

Volusia County Schools Division of Teaching, Leading, and Learning Dr. Carmen Balgobin, Superintendent Volusia County SchoolsDr. Julio Nazario-Valle, Chief Academic Officer, Volusia County Schools Kristy Castellanos, Volusia County Schools Dr. Tamara Baker-Drayton, Volusia County Schools VCS Multilingual Learners Jacquese Copeland, Volusia County Schools Mike Micallef, Volusia County Schools