In this episode, host Mindy Sjoblom sits down with Dr. Rick Surrency, Superintendent of Putnam County School District in Florida, and Laura France, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction. Together, they share how a district once labeled “in decline” moved from a 54.9% graduation rate and multiple failing schools to over 92% graduation and zero schools in failing status.

Mindy, Dr. Surrency, and Laura unpack how stable leadership, stronger Tier 1 instruction, and a relentless focus on systems not quick fixes have transformed teaching, learning, and literacy across the district. From novice teacher support to near-peer tutoring, this is a masterclass in long-game, student-centered change.

Key Moments

00:04 Welcome to the OnYourMark Podcast & Today’s Guests

01:25 Rick’s 48-Year Journey in Education & Returning as Superintendent

02:18 From District in Decline to 92.5% Graduation Rate

03:53 Turning Around a Chronically Failing School & Scaling What Worked

04:56 Laura on Strengthening Core Instruction vs. “Intervening Our Way Out”

07:19 Building a Common Language for Instruction & Real-Time Professional Learning

11:15 Making Learning Relevant: CTE, STEM, and Portrait of a Graduate

13:51 STEM Pathways, K–12 STEM Accreditation & Cambridge Acceleration

33:18 Inside Putnam’s K–12 Comprehensive Evidence-Based Reading Plan

37:42 Trend Walks: Non-Evaluative Classroom Visits that Drive PD

39:52 Raising Future Teachers: Near-Peer “RAISE” Tutors & Grow-Your-Own Pipelines

44:45 Looking Ahead: Five New Schools, a $300M Bond, and What’s Next

Why You’ll Love This Episode

If you care about literacy, leadership, and long-term system improvement, this conversation will stay with you. Dr. Rick Surrency and Laura France share openly about moving a district from decline to stability, rebuilding core instruction, and creating systems that last beyond any one leader. They unpack how relevance, strong pedagogy, and community trust come together to help every student grow and how investing in teachers keeps the whole system moving forward. Their clarity, humility, and deep commitment to kids make this an energizing listen for any education leader focused on sustainable change.

Connect with Our Guests

Dr. Rick Surrency: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-surrency-221a69a5
Laura France: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-france-376602a7

Follow Us:
Mindy Sjoblom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-sjoblom
OnYourMarkWebsite: https://www.onyourmarkeducation.org/
OnYourMark LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/onyourmark-education

About OnYourMark Podcast
The OnYourMark Podcast is where host Mindy Sjoblom sits down with school system leaders shaping what’s possible for early readers. From high-impact tutoring to building trust with families, each episode dives deep into what it really takes to make early literacy work for every child.

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