Marking Excellence with Superintendent Dr. Mark Shanoff

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 our district College and Career Counselor, 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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In this episode, Dr. Shanoff works alongside Ashton Terry, one of our Senior Managers for Research, Evaluation, and Accountability, to highlight how data-driven practices are improving student achievement across our district.

Ashton leads strategic projects such as early identification of “slip‑back” students, enabling our school teams to intervene sooner and deliver the support students need to maintain strong academic momentum.

Every year, we have the privilege of sharing our progress as a school district with our business partners and community at the State of Education event. On this episode, Dr. Shanoff and School Board Chair Heather Kahoun highlight the incredible strides we’ve made and how we’re continuing on the path toward becoming an A-rated district.

But here’s the best part: you’re an important part of this journey! Education is a partnership, and families play a vital role in helping our students succeed. If you’re looking for ways to make a difference, consider:

✅ Volunteering your time: https://bit.ly/SDOCVolunteers
✅ Becoming a business partner – https://bit.ly/SDOCPartnersinEducation

Together, we can ensure every student has the support they need to thrive. Thank you for being part of our SDOC family!