KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Osceola County Schools Superintendent Dr. Debra Pace plans to retire on June 30, 2023, the district announced on Twitter.

Pace has served as superintendent since March 2016.

What You Need To Know

  • Dr. Debra Pace will retire as Osceola Schools superintendent in June

  • Pace attended Osceola schools and worked her way up to the position

  • She said she will work with the school board toward a smooth transition

In a letter to staff members announcing her decision, Pace wrote: “It has been a tremendous honor, privilege, and blessing to have served the School District of Osceola County as Superintendent since 2016. I am so grateful for the amazing commitment and dedication you bring to our work every day, despite the many challenges we continue to face. Visiting our schools and departments, seeing the joy and laughter on our students’ faces, and witnessing the results of our work together each year at our graduations bring me great joy!”

She graduated from Osceola schools and went on to teach at Poinciana High School. She later was named principal at Poinciana and Harmony high schools before becoming deputy superintendent and, eventually, superintendent.

Pace said she will work with the school board to ensure a smooth transition to the next superintendent, and the announcement more than six months in advance gives the board the time to search for a new leader.

Her announcement comes as some other Central Florida school districts also are changing superintendents. In Orange County, Dr. Maria Vazquez, who had been deputy superintendent, took over for Dr. Barbara Jenkins earlier this year after Jenkins, who had held the position for 10 years, announced she would officially retire this month. In Brevard County, Superintendent Dr. Mark Mullins last month agreed to step down effective Dec. 31 following the election of some new school board members. He had been superintendent since 2018.

The changes come amid a challenging period for schools in Central Florida. They have struggled to fill all their staff and teaching positions after navigating years of trying to educate students inside and outside classrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic and increased pressure by unions to boost teacher pay. Activist school board members and additional mandates imposed by state politicians on how civics is taught and on discussion of race-related topics as well as policies on books that can and cannot be used have also have boosted demands on districts.