BREAKING: Florida School Board Association & State Superintendents Honor Dr. David Moore with 2025 Superintendent of the Year Award.
First time that an Indian River superintendent has been recognized.
Tampa, FL - At the 79th Annual Joint Conference of the Florida School Board Association (FSBA) and Florida Association of District Superintendents (FADSS), Dr. David Moore was presented the FADSS 2025 Superintendent of the Year Award. The honor was in recognition of the transformational results that have catapulted the School District of Indian River County (SDIRC) into the Top 10 districts in Florida. Reached for comment, Dr. Moore said, “This recognition reflects the collective efforts of our incredible students, educators, families, and a community that values the transformative power of education. I want to express my gratitude to our Board, amazing teachers, staff, students, families, and partners for their unwavering support and for helping make this achievement possible.”
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SDIRC has improved the most dramatically compared to any other district in the last three years. SDIRC has received an ‘A’ rating from the Florida Department of Education for two consecutive years. Most significantly, the percentage of grade “A” and “B” schools has doubled, from 47% to 95%. For the first time in ten years, the Florida Department of Education has designated SDIRC as an Academically High-Performing School District.
In his acceptance with his wife, Jennifer, by his side, Dr. Moore remarked, “Indian River County is one of the greatest communities in Florida. This award reflects a shared vision and an unrelenting commitment to our students embraced by citizens across Indian River County. Together, we have transformed our schools into some of the best in the State. Our community understands that an excellent public school system is a prerequisite for a thriving community.”
Known as an innovator, Dr. Moore has used data driven analytics to problem solve and raise academic performance. The District’s Department of Accountability and Research produces weekly dashboards that provide school leadership dynamic, real-time access to data to efficiently analyze and identify actionable strategies to personalize learning experiences for all students.
Dr. Moore has also embraced initiatives of school choice, including the development and implantation of K-8 Classical school model set to open in the 2025-2026 school year. The School Board recently recognized his work by giving him a 22% raise.
“Superintendent Dr. Moore has been a game changer for our public schools. Indian River is a proud community with strong values and generations of families who call this place home. For the first time in decades, we have a school system that mirrors the quality of all our other institutions and the quality of this community,” commented Bill Penney, board chairman of the newly formed Indian River Education Fund.
SDIRC has also led in teacher retention rate. Though there is a nationwide teacher shortage, SDIRC has a 96% retention rate with salaries being the 7th highest in the state. One of the first things Dr. Moore did was turn around the budget of SDIRC bringing the school system back into operating efficiencies while prioritizing the development of teachers. At last month’s school innovation seminar for the Taxpayers Association, Dr. Moore commented how many teachers in SDIRC come from other fields of expertise and are not traditionally trained educators. SDIRC has implemented comprehensive teacher support system and professional development to certify these new educators and to create advancement and recognition of traditionally trained instructional staff.
Ramon Echeverria, Principal of Fellsmere Elementary School, one of the 14 Title 1 District schools explains, “Dr. Moore holds himself to the highest standards and expects the same from our principals and teachers. He has cultivated a set of beliefs within leadership and our system that we can accomplish outcomes never before realized. He pairs these beliefs with strong support, and always asks, ‘What do you need from me?’”
Honoring his team and SDIRC employees, Dr. Moore framed the recognition as a collaborative achievement. He said, “It is both inspiring and gratifying to have school districts around the state recognize the leadership of SDIRC. This honor is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire community. It reinforces the power of collaboration and shared commitment to excellence in education. Knowing that our work is being acknowledged across the state only strengthens our resolve to continue building on our successes, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to reach their highest potential.”