VCS Professional Learning Department

08/14/2026

What a great way to kick off the new school year with our Division of Teaching, Leading and Learning! A huge THANK YOU to every department for bringing their energy and enthusiasm on the first Friday of the year!

We are incredibly grateful for the generous support of our sponsors, whose partnership helps make moments like today possible. A special shout-out to Wawa for keeping our team fueled and ready to go with a delicious spread!

Here’s to collaboration, growth, innovation, and making a meaningful impact for our VCS educators and students!

Volusia County Schools
Dr. Carmen Balgobin, Superintendent Volusia County Schools
Dr. Julio Valle Jr., Chief Academic Officer, Volusia County Schools
Division of Teaching, Leading, and Learning

Equitable
Teachers Federal Credit Union
Addition Financial Credit Union
Wawa

08/14/2026

08/13/2026

Great professional learning happens when educators have the opportunity to learn, practice, reflect, and grow together!

Our PL session titled, “Empowering Educators Through the Art of Coaching Language,” focused on strengthening coaching conversations that accelerate teacher practice using intentional language stems, which ultimately impact student learning.

Educational leaders from different departments throughout Volusia County Schools explored the observation stage of a coaching cycle by collecting observation data, planning purposeful feedback, and turning everyday conversations into opportunities for growth.

Through collaboration, reflection, and authentic practice, our educators built the skills to make every coaching conversation count!

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

08/11/2026

📢 Are you interested in supervising student teachers during their field experience courses or internships?

If so, you will need to complete the Clinical Educator Training (15 credit hours), which is required for all school district and instructional personnel before serving as a supervising teacher. For the 2026-2027 school year, we are offering multiple opportunities for a seven-week, self-paced Canvas course, facilitated by an instructional leader on the following dates:

FALL A: September 8th-October 23rd and FALL B: October 26th-December 18th

The course will require you to plan, observe, and conference with a mentee teacher, submitting assignments in a timely manner, aligned with the four clinical components identified by the Florida Department of Education: Growth Mindset, Content Planning Conferences, Collecting Evidence during Observations, and Providing Targeted Feedback.

Prerequisites include:

1. A Professional Teaching Certificate

2. At least 3 years of successful teaching

3. 2021 Florida Statute 1004.04 (5)(e): Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, all cooperating teachers will be required to be certified or endorsed in reading, if they will support student interns that are seeking placement in elementary grades or other identified certification areas.

Please register on MyPGS.

If you have specific questions, please email Linnette Aponte [email protected].

07/28/2026

Our 2026-2027 Coaching Expedition has officially taken flight!

Today, our Instructional Coaches kicked off the new school year by boarding Curiosity Airways for a journey of learning, collaboration, and meaningful reflection.

As our coaches traveled to different lands, they navigated coaching conversations that matter, explored strategies for building trust, asking purposeful questions, and strengthening their impact as VIP Coaches dedicated to supporting teachers and student success.

Here are some photos that capture just a few of the artifacts, conversations, and collaborative moments that made today’s excursion so meaningful. Every stop along the journey reinforced that great coaching begins with curiosity, connection, and a commitment to continuous growth.

Here’s to an incredible year of inspiring, equipping, and leading through coaching!




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

Addition Financial Credit Union

07/16/2026

Your 2026-2027 school calendar is here!

The new school year is less than a month away, and we can't wait to welcome everyone back for another great year of learning in our "A" rated district.

📅🔗 https://k12.vcsedu.org/26-27-calendar

07/08/2026

Grow. Lead. Inspire.
Ready to take your passion for teaching to the next level? Join our Instructional Coaching team and help shape the future—one teacher, one student, one school at a time. Check out our current openings below!

Volusia County Schools
Dr. Carmen Balgobin, Superintendent Volusia County Schools
Dr. Julio Valle Jr., Chief Academic Officer, Volusia County Schools
Kristy Castellanos, Volusia County Schools
Dr. Tamara Baker-Drayton, Volusia County Schools

07/02/2026

Interested in working as a teacher, paraprofessional, or support staff?

We're hiring for the 2026–2027 school year!

We have three more summer job fairs, including one tomorrow:
🔹Wednesday, July 1, from 3-6 p.m., at Campbell Middle School
🔹Tuesday, July 14, from 3-6 p.m., at Deltona High School
🔹Tuesday, July 21, from 3-6 p.m., at Atlantic High School

🔗Register Here: https://tinyurl.com/SummerJF2026

📋Apply Today: https://bit.ly/VCSApplyHere

Volusia County Schools Recruitment & Retention

07/02/2026

➡️IMPORTANT A-NNOUNCEMENT

We’re thrilled to share that, for the second year in a row, VCS is an “A” rated district!

This is the result of a true team effort.

Our students, teachers, staff, and families are the heart of this success, demonstrating every day what can be accomplished through hard work, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence.

We're also grateful for the support of our School Board members, VCS Partners in Education, elected officials, community organizations, and volunteers who help strengthen our schools and support student achievement.

An accomplishment such as this takes an entire community working together, and that’s exactly what Volusia County does best.

Visit https://www.vcsedu.org/news/~board/district-news/post/volusia-county-schools-earns-back-to-back-a-district-grade for more details and a breakdown of school grades.

Dr. Carmen Balgobin, Superintendent Volusia County Schools
Dr. Julio Valle Jr., Chief Academic Officer, Volusia County Schools
Florida Department of Education
Heartland Educational Consortium
Panhandle Area Educational Consortium
NEFEC