Brevard County School Superintendent Dr. Desmond Blackburn Delivers Positive Message
By Space Coast Daily // May 31, 2016
Dr. Blackburn Praises Teachers Hard Work
ABOVE VIDEO: Brevard County Public School Superintendent Dr. Desmond Blackburn delivers his end of the year message, which is filled with praise for a job well done during the 2015-16 school year.
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – Last year at this time Dr. Desmond Blackburn received four of the five votes from the Brevard County Public School Board and became the Brevard’s new school superintendent starting with the 2015-16 school year.
He officially took office on July 20, 2015 and was front and center when 75,000 students and nearly 4,800 teachers went back to school in mid-August.
How did his first year go as Brevard County’s highest ranking school official?
Among one of Dr. Blackburn’s first year problems was an investigation into an organized theft ring operating inside the Brevard Public School Fleet Maintenance Facility. In cooperation with the Brevard County Sheriff’s office several arrests were made of those suspected in the crimes.
In his end of the year message Dr. Blackburn praised the efforts and hard work of the teachers in the county.
Morale was down across the district and considered to be an issue before Dr. Blackburn took office and after former Brevard County Public School Superintendent Dr. Brian Binggeli concluded his tenure last June 30.
According to human resources information from Brevard Public Schools data last August, 368 teachers voluntarily resigned last year. This was the largest number of resignations during a five-year span concluding in August of 2015.
Dr. Blackburn, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Florida, a Master of Science in Education Leadership from Nova-Southeastern University and a Doctorate of Philosophy from Florida Atlantic University, immediately immersed himself into Brevard County during his “listening” tour where he sought input from all stakeholders to use as the focus for his strategic planning for the up coming school years.
Prior to arriving in Brevard County, Dr. Blackburn served as the chief school accountability officer for the School Board of Broward County before stepping into his role as superintendent of Brevard County Schools last July. He just concluded his 20th year of public education and earns $210,000 per year.
Related Story:Dr. Desmond Blackburn Set To Strut His Stuff For the Needy At Dancing For the Space Coast
With the end of the school year last week, Dr. Blackburn will have little time to rest before the year starts again in August. However, it doesn’t appear as if he will be taking advantage of the students summer recess to take a break himself.
As reported first right here in Space Coast Daily, Dr. Blackburn will be taking part in the second annual Dancing For the Space Coast, a unique competition and fundraising event that benefits three worthy organizations on the Space Coast. The great event will be held at Florida Tech’s Clemente Center on Saturday, June 4.
CLICK HERE for more information on attending Dancing For the Space Coast.
