Letter from the School Board Chair and Superintendent

Dear Community Members:

Creativity. Resilience. Endurance. These words truly epitomized the 2020-21 school year for Orange County Public Schools.

As our world, nation, state and county managed COVID-19 restrictions and closures, our OCPS teams remained focused and continued the work to provide enriching and diverse pathways to lead our students to success.

When the school year began in August, OCPS offered three options (Face to Face, LaunchED@ Home and Orange County Virtual School) for 206,000 students to safely engage in learning.

Examples of adaptations included teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators and students embracing new technologies and digital devices; custodians and temporary workers cleaning schools and facilities with new disinfectants and equipment; drivers passing out masks and cleaning buses after each school run; and Food and Nutrition Services workers distributing millions of curbside meals. Community members also stepped forward to provide their expert health and safety guidance for our district, in addition to businesses and organizations donating personal protective supplies, meals and holiday gifts to students and staff.

With safe planning, abbreviated sports seasons and extracurricular activities resumed; parents and families transported LaunchED@Home and OCVS students to campuses for after-school activities and mandatory tests; and the Class of 2021 was able to celebrate with alternative prom events and graduations ceremonies.

Together, we have endured social distancing in classrooms and at events; temperature checks; face coverings; hand sanitizer stations; separation by plastic partitions; and an abundance of virtual meetings – all of which have become commonplace. Through this all, our exceptional students and team members persevered.

As you review a few of our district’s accomplishments in this report, know that we are grateful for your constant innovative support to help us fulfill our vision to ensure each of our students has a promising and successful future.

Sincerely,

Teresa Jacobs School Board Chair Barbara M. Jenkins, Ed.D. Superintendent