Marking Excellence with Superintendent Dr. Mark Shanoff

Osceola County School District

We invite you to join Superintendent Shanoff as he discusses important topics happening in our schools and gets hands-on experience working multiple jobs within our school district.

  1. Jun 2

    What are Advanced Course Options and How Do You Know Which One is Right for Your Student?

    Today’s students have more pathways than ever to challenge themselves, earn college credit, and explore real‑world career skills. But with choices like Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment, and Career & Technical Education, how do families decide which route is the right one? On this episode of Marking Excellence, we sit down with one of our district's secondary counselors, Summer Zevallos, to unpack each option. Listen now to learn more about what they offer, how they differ, and how they can open doors for your student’s future.

    28 min

  2. May 7

    Shanoff Shadows: Head Custodian

    On this episode of Shanoff Shadows, Dr. Shanoff gets a behind-the-scenes look at the hard work, hustle, and heart it takes to keep our schools sparkling. A huge shoutout to Elvin, the incredible Head Custodian at Deerwood Elementary, who not only showed Dr. Shanoff the ropes but does so much more every single day. From keeping our campus clean to building meaningful connections with students, Elvin is truly the backbone of our school. Thank you for all you do to make Deerwood a place where students can thrive!

    15 min

  3. Apr 22

    Shanoff Shadows: 8th Grader

    On this episode of Shanoff Shadows, Dr. Shanoff spends the day traveling from class to class with Omar, an eighth grader at Denn John Middle School whose academic achievements and personal growth truly shine.

    10 min

  4. Apr 14

    Shanoff Shadows: Truancy Officer

    In this episode, Dr. Shanoff shadows Moya Campbell, a truancy officer with our Student Services team, as she works behind the scenes to remove barriers, support attendance, and help students stay connected to school—because showing up can change everything.

    23 min

  5. Apr 6

    School-Related Employee of the Year: Ms. Jessica Mintz

    On this episode of Marking Excellence, Dr. Shanoff talks to our 2026 School-Related Employee of the Year, Ms. Jessica Mintz. Ms. Mintz is a paraprofessional at St. Cloud Elementary School, and she is inspiring students from Pre-K through 5th grade to chase their dreams and become the best version of themselves.

    18 min

  6. Mar 4

    Utilizing Technology in the Classroom

    Technology is reshaping how our students learn. On this episode, Dr. Shanoff sits down with one of our Top 10 Teacher of the Year Finalists, Mr. German Ortiz, to show what that looks like in action. Mr. Ortiz shares how he empowers students to take ownership of their learning by tracking their data digitally and reflecting on their growth in real time. Together, they dive into everything from setting healthy tech boundaries at home to simple ways teachers can bring more digital tools into their classrooms. This conversation also looks ahead at how our district is developing thoughtful guidelines for the use of AI in education.

    35 min

  7. Feb 25

    Harmony Middle School's FFA Program

    It’s FFA Week, and we’re celebrating in a big way! Dr. Shanoff sits down with Ms. Kyndall Brown and three of her powerhouse students for a lively conversation about the world of agriculture: from hands‑on learning to the impact FFA programs are having across our schools. And there’s even bigger news: Dr. Shanoff and Ms. Brown announce a new pole barn in development for Harmony Middle School, a project that will open the door to even more real‑world learning opportunities for her students. Tune in for inspiration, student voices, and a look at how agricultural education is growing right here in our district.

    29 min

  8. Feb 17

    Shanoff Shadows: Fifth Grade Student

    Dr. Shanoff went back to fifth grade for a day to shadow Devonna, a student at Hickory Tree Elementary School. During his time in Ms. Weeks' class, he participated in vertical learning activities that challenged students to use context clues to craft high-level answers about the text.

    13 min
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We invite you to join Superintendent Shanoff as he discusses important topics happening in our schools and gets hands-on experience working multiple jobs within our school district.

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