CLAY COUNTY – Clay County District Schools Superintendent David Broskie was presented the Excellence in Education Leadership Award at the Association/School Superintendents annual summer conference. The conference honored several individuals who demonstrated educational excellence.

The award featured seven categories to honor outstanding educators’ work and achievements.

“I am very humbled and excited to have received the award,” Broskie said.

The superintendent has had a long and distinguished 33-year career with the districts, taking various leadership roles. He began his career as a teacher and coach at Lakeside Junior High.

“Then I was an assistant principal at Clay High. I’ve been a principal at three different schools – Orange Park Junior High School, Middleburg High School, and Oakleaf High School, and all of them were A-ranks before the time I left there,” he said. In March of 2020, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Broskie to fulfill Addison Davis’ tenure after he left to run the Hillsborough County District. by Governor Ron DeSantis to lead Clay County Schools. That was a week before the worldwide pandemic and the closure of schools nationwide.

“I became the superintendent of schools at a very interesting time,” Broskie said. However, just as with principals, teachers and district employees, Broskie became a rapid innovator as the world tried to adapt to the realities of the pandemic, skillfully navigating the unique challenges presented during these unprecedented times.

“Being a good educational leader is one that is always focused on the mission, which in our case, is the students. It’s always the students. And to make sure that we don’t let other issues distract from our primary mission,” Broskie said.

Under his leadership as Superintendent, Clay County schools maintained its “A” rating and continues to be a top-10 school district in the state, along with recording the highest graduation rate in the history of Clay County schools for our seven traditional high schools at 95% for the 2021-2022 school year.”

Although Broskie was honored to receive the award and recognition for his commitment to county schools, he credits his success to Clay County’s amazing team of administrators, teachers and support staff. “Education is the ultimate team sport. It requires three groups to work collaboratively for the success of our students in the school district,” Broskie said.

“The first group is the educators that are in the classroom every day with students, those that lead schools. Then you have parents, the primary educators of their children, who support the mission of Clay County Schools. And the third is our community at large. A robust educational system benefits all Clay County, and therefore, all of our citizens should be involved.”

Leaders mold and shape the future, from the mindset of students to the administrative policies that govern and protect the fundamental concepts of education. Leadership, Broskie said, starts with a vision.

“We continue to approach our job with a growth mindset, always aiming to improve what we do to make the educational experience of students in Clay County the best that they can be,” he said.