Testimonials

Randy has the experience and qualifications to continue as our Superintendent! He has proven his leadership over the past four years by increasing student achievement, decreasing the dropout rate, providing more funding directly to classrooms, continually showing collaborative relationships with the Teacher's Union, and working to provide facilities district-wide that we can be proud of. When emergencies arise, he's right there to communicate with parents and staff, through the phone system and email. His daily calendar has always reflected that he is traveling the Keys to meet with community agencies, school teams, parents and students. We want a Superintendent that has the proven leadership to continue the positive direction of our district. Times are tough - so let's vote for a Superintendent that has proven his leadership in Monroe County every day for the past four years, and as a district leader for the past 15 years!  Chris Yahn
 

Thank you for all that you do each and every day, sometimes under the most unusual of circumstances......To this day I still tell the story of 3 years ago, just after Wilma, when I stood outside of the old Poinciana school building. The storm had past days ago and families were trying to pull their lives back together. You rallied the troops and we got the schools open. The idea was to help the kids have a safe, dry place to learn, and to provide families with the time they needed to regroup....At one point you turned to me, checking in to see how I was doing, and with a nod and understanding smile you said proudly, “whatever it takes.” Inspired, I stood side by side with you, other teachers and other administrators and we continued to carry the children through those waters for 2 ½ hours.
It has been the moments like this that I have experienced over recent years that make me very proud of my school community, and has been a force that drives my love of teaching. (entire letter) Seana Cameron

Randy Acevedo is one of the more popular superintendents in the state of Florida. His presence, character, and his passion for Monroe County Schools is a wonderful testimony of how much Randy cares about his job.  Superintendents all across the state, including myself, are drawn to Randy because of his positive attitude.  I appreciate Randy and am looking forward to four more years of his leadership, not only in Monroe County but across the state as well.
Tim Wilder, Gulf County School Superintendent

 

I would like to publicly support Randy, for his heartfelt dedication to improving both the school system and the individual success of the students. His consistent support of Just 4 Kids, a program that currently serves over 2200 Monroe County kids each year, was due to his keen awareness of understanding how the provision of new basic essential items helps to insure the child's successful educational experience, their attendance, confidence and overall ability and interest in learning. The overall improvements that he has made to the many school facilities, equipment, and learning tools,  help prove that he is absolutely the best person to serve as Superintendent of our great school system.? I am proud to have had the opportunity to have worked with him the past few years. Paula Ciavolino

 

I would like to offer my most sincere congratulations to you for having the highest GPA in Florida. You are to be commended for your hard work and dedication to providing a high quality education to the students in your school district. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, you truly are an example of what professionalism and commitment can convey.

Mr. Acevedo,  improving education is a top priority in Florida, and your extraordinary performance is proof that when parents, teachers, students, and administrators work together, great things happen.  (link to letter)   Senator Larcenia Bullard

 

Mr. Randy Acevedo is an innovative young man who cares about every student in the Monroe County School System.  Educating children and "Success Whatever it Takes" is the motto that he believes in and practices on a daily basis.  Jackie Williams

 

What is it that makes Randy an exceptional educational leader?  It is his dedication to the family of learners in our school district.  He is an intuitive, caring adult who truly makes decisions that put children first. He is accessible, respected, knowledgeable and hard working.  He listens to the community, parents and staff in leading our district.

His vision, his expectations, his business expertise, and his true dedication to doing what is right for students is also amazing. He has led this district from goodness to greatness.  And he knows we have not reached our destination yet.  We have more to do to provide the very best education for our future leaders of Monroe County and the world- our children.  For this reason, Randy must have the opportunity to continue the journey at the leadership helm of Monroe County Schools. Frankie St. James

I  have worked for five school superintendents in a career spanning over30 years. Randy Acevedo has successfully combined a blend of leadership skills to accomplish unparalleled milestones for the Monroe County School District. Under Randy's leadership the school district has earned the designation of an "A" rated school district for three consecutive years. Randy has also curtailed a climbing dropout rate by attaining one of the lowest dropout rates in the state. Monroe County's dropout rate for the 2005-06 school year was an amazing 1.5% that was further reduced in 2006-07 to 1.2%. Randy Acevedo's leadership was instrumental in this accomplishment by combining his personal approachability and his strong determination. In Florida's current atmosphere of budgetary limitation Randy Acevedo is the right leader for Monroe County Schools. John Welsh
 

Randy Acevedo provides our schools and their professionals with an opportunity to be heard and felt.  His connection to our children, the students in these schools, is genuine and authentic.  I have gotten to know him well over the many years I have lived in Key West and I believe we are deeply fortunate to have him as our Superintendent.  He is a deeply thoughtful, caring, intelligent and forward thinking caretaker of a vision that can be shared and reached in a collaborative manner.  Randy is available and thinks about our children's education first, always recognizing the human element in all matters across the very human environment of education.  The schools are one of the few places remaining where one to one intimate contact between an adult and a young person is the most vital ingredient in success.  Randy lives that spirit and his intelligence, his drive, even his strongly voiced opinions always speak to those ideals.  I respect and admire him for that and for his youthful, 21st century understanding of technical opportunities that are needed to redirect dwindling operating funds in our public schools.  On top of all of that, even the most unbiased observer has to admit that Superintendent Acevedo has been a fantastic student in his current term on the job.  What he has learned to do, what he has initiated, what he has implemented on his own and for the School Board and district have earned him all A's. (Pictured is the Academic Challenge team winning their County competition.  My son Noah, and daughter Olivia are among the group.)   David Kent


 

I’ve seen three superintendents since I moved here in 1996. Randy Acevedo is the best by far. He is accessible, knowledgeable, and willing to take on the tough issues. The Monroe County School District has thrived under his guidance, improving in all areas of achievement. Students, parents, and teachers need consistency and Randy provides that. His intelligence, calm demeanor and willingness to solve problems produce an excellent atmosphere in our schools and the results are obvious. The schools are improving in so many ways. Why on earth would we want to change that?

Randy is proud of our schools and does things everyday to make them the very best they can be. He doesn’t spend a lot of time talking. He gets things done. He’s highly visible in our schools because he genuinely loves being there. Why else would he have dedicated 15 years of his life to the school district? We need Randy Acevedo to continue as superintendent so we can continue our rise to being the best school district in the country. Talking about leadership and doing it are two different things. Randy Acevedo is a leader by example and the results speak for themselves.   Joshua Mothner

I just wanted to send a congratulatory note to you and your district for being declared the # 1 district in the state with school grades earning an “A”.  If we had to give up the #1 placement I know of no other district I would want to give the title.   Really,  92% is a remarkable percentage.   I know you are really proud and you should be.     Bill Avery, Okaloosa School District

Congratulations to Monroe County Schools for their recent accomplishment - twelve A schools and 1 B school. That's quite an accomplishment!! Let's keep on track with the Superintendent that has moved this school district to the highest GPA in the state.

Mike Puto
 

My 18 year old son was on the brink of dropping out of school due to a very poor fit between his style of learning and the traditional classroom style of public education. I felt helpless and desperate and he was feeling like a failure. I had heard and seen the Monroe County School District’s motto “Student Success, Whatever it Takes” over and over and was very close to dialing Randy Acevedo’s phone number to personally ask him to “prove it” in my son’s case, when we heard about the new Ombudsman Program being operated at May Sands School. The program is billed as an “Alternate Route” and is essentially a homeschool program contracted with by Monroe County Schools, and is an extension of Key West High School. With the help of assistant principal Perkins, my son transferred to the Ombudsman Program last fall.

The classroom is quiet and uncrowded, and almost all schoolwork is done on the intranet with the ready assistance of teachers or teaching assistants.  I am not one to use this expression lightly, but the Ombudsman Program was truly a miracle for us. Jess became a straight-A student for the first time in his life, and proudly received his Key West High School diploma on June 13, 2008 with the friends he has been in school with since 9^th grade.  I will be eternally grateful to Randy Acevedo, and all the counselors, teachers and staff at the High School and the Ombudsman Program who so patiently and steadfastly helped Jess to succeed in school – whatever it took!  Valerie S. Carr

As the College and Career Counselor for Coral Shores High School, I have found my working relationship with Superintendent Randy Acevedo to be invaluable at the grass roots level. Randy has written many personal letters of recommendation for students to facilitate acceptance into  competitive academic universities, and for national scholarship opportunities. With Randy's assistance, we are proud to have students now attending  prestigious  colleges  such as MIT, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Vanderbilt, the United States Naval and Air Force Academies, just to name a few! Over the past 4 yrs. we have an average of 88% of graduating seniors going on to college, receiving a total average of $3.6 million in scholarship money each year!

By the same token, Randy is very focused on our Career and Technical Education programs to ensure that EVERY student, college AND career bound are as best prepared as possible upon graduating high school. Students have many choices of vocational programs such as culinary arts, auto mechanics, accounting, TV productions, web design, building construction and state-of-the-art marine mechanics classrooms!

Randy is approachable, accessible and responsive to the needs of individual staff members, students, and parents. I am a parent also, so that's a confident feeling!

Smart.  Open minded.  Fair. Genuine..  Randy has built a foundation of trusted leadership that we ALL want to keep in our Superintendent!    Chris Harris 

The Educational Coalition for Monroe County (ECMC) is a non profit organization that works in collaboration with other agency’s, non profits and educational institutions, to provide student opportunities. As Director, I have seen Randy  open the doors for ECMC, and he continues to welcome ideas and opportunities that support the students in Monroe County. Camp and Careers 2008 has expanded to a County Wide program thanks to Randy’s desire to put students first. Tina Belotti

I first met Randy Acevedo when he was a student at Key West High School and I was employed on staff as an Occupational Specialist.  He impressed me at that time with his cordial manner and outgoing personality and I was convinced, as were others at the school, that he would go on to achieve great things.  I have nothing but praise and admiration for his leadership skills and management of the Monroe County School District System.  In 2007, I was invited to be the commencement speaker for the 100th Anniversary of Key West High School graduation exercises.  I was honored to provide that service and pleased to participate in the ceremony along with Superintendent Acevedo, who in my mind, stands as a model of a local individual who returned home to give back to his community in a meaningful and extraordinary manner.
Roosevelt C. Sands, Jr.

 

I have great respect and admiration for the way our Superintendent leads this district. Leadership is action, not position and our Superintendent is a man of action. I think the greatest test of a leader is the action he takes when times are tough. Our economy has created some very tough times. Superintendent Acevedo has demonstrated the courage to make tough decisions and the care and compassion to sit down with those affected and explain his reasoning. This past spring circumstances dictated he make $4M in budget cuts. Rather than emailing us his deduction plan, he chose to come to each and every one of our schools--meet with all staff members--and explain the rationale for each decision. He was a calming force....he was encouraging.....he was assuring. He followed that by addressing---eyeball to eyeball---all questions and concerns staff members had. That's leadership! That's the man I want as captain of the ship I'm traveling on.--Rich Russell

As a loving parent of two small girls (one of which starts school this year) I have the utmost confidence in the high level of education she will receive as well as a safe and secure teaching environment. When considering the social and academic challenges facing today's youths, as Monroe County residents/parents, we are fortunate to have such a proven school system and bright future. Under Randy's guidance I am excited to see what the future has to offer.  George Cabanas

As a member of our school system for the past 38 years, I have been impressed with the leadership qualities that Randy has demonstrated in carrying out his duties as Superintendent.  Not only has he been the driving force in bringing rigor and relevance into our school curriculum, but it is his vision that continues to drive the use of technology as a tool to prepare our students for the 21^st century.

During his tenure our school system has achieved new heights as we have been designated an “A” district by the Florida Department of Education for the past two years.  He has also made a commitment to making affordable housing for our teachers a reality and he has brought teacher salaries to the level that they rank first or second in every category in the state.

Randy is dedicated to making our school system the best in the state and he has the passion to do it. Pedro Fraga

It is so wonderful to see the administration recognizing accomplishments.  That's what keeps morale strong!  Hats off to you, Randy!  I am very excited to have our oldest child begin public school in the fall.  I look forward to meeting a new network of friends and educators.  I wholeheartedly support you and your mission. Thank you for your advocacy in education.  
Tiffany Pellicier


 

As a long time employee of Monroe County Schools and co-worker of Randy Acevedo’s,  I have experienced first-hand (in the work environment as well as in community events) his commitment to being the best he can be. Randy’s approach to student accomplishment comes from the heart and in my opinion he has been highly successful in achieving many of the goals of the school district and our commitment to “Student Success – Whatever it Takes”.  His participation and leadership in non-profit fundraising events such as the Boys and Girls Club is just one example of Randy’s support of all children and how his many community connections link student education and the entire keys community. Randy deserves the support of the entire Florida Keys for another term as YOUR school district superintendant.    Joe Clements
 

I feel Randy Acevedo should be re-elected to the position of District Superintendent - as he really cares about all the students, plus he listens to all the people and above all, he will give answers.

Hans “POPS” Stiglitz

In a recent visit to Key West I was asked, why should I support Randy Acevedo as Superintendent.  My opinion is that he deserves my support because I know first hand that he puts students first.  Not only is he concerned with students’ educational progress he cares deeply about their welfare.

How can I make such a statement?  I had the privilege of working with Randy when I served as Principal at Key West High School.  He was a volunteer, and always made certain that I was aware of any difficulty that one of the students under his care might be experiencing.  To this day, I am most grateful for his honesty and the deep concern that he showed for students.

 As I have watched him work through his first term in office it has reinforced my belief that he is the right person for the job.  Under his watch he has lead the District into the 21^st Century with national recognition.  He is one of ten Superintendent’s to be recognized for this accomplishment.  The State Auditor has confirmed that under his care the District has shown great strides in being Fiscally responsible, and he was asked to be a presenter at the 19^th Annual National Service-Learning Conference because of the excellent record that the District has shown in reducing the achievement gap. 

I see the facts. The facts tell me that Randy Acevedo deserves my support and that his leadership is needed for Monroe County Schools.  I ask that you too support Randy Acevedo as the next Superintendent for Monroe County.

Alma Olson

For more than a year, I've had the privilege to see how Randy works with his staff behind the scenes - behind the black ink that rolls off the news paper printing presses. In every case, he has been studious, fair, and looked for the best option with the least expense. He has been humble about the many accolades he deserves like dropping the state and federal fiscal audit findings from 19 to five - the best fiscal audit this school district's operations have ever gotten. But the papers don't put that on the front page. After seeing his genuine love for the students, admiration for his co-workers, and commitment to developing students who can compete in a tech-savvy world market while keeping his fist on the cost for accountability to tax payers, he is exactly who we need as Superintendent for Monroe County. His decorum in the midst of nasty politics is a testament to his character. He can always see the big picture and bring true leadership to the team around him. Every time I learn something new about the schools and school system I think, "I wish school were like this when I was at Coral Shores." I'm voting RANDY ACEVEDO for SUPERINTENDENT and ask that you do the same.

Nancy Lucas, Author/Speaker/Business Consultant
Coral Shores 1988, Florida Keys Community College 1990
Wife of a school teacher and mother of three, Tavernier

 

Stuart E. Gothold, Ed.D

I just had to share this. I am the guidance counselor at Glynn Archer Elementary.  I am in the process of completing some graduate coursework in school counseling.  One of the classes I am currently taking is on counseling exceptional students. Part of last week's assignment asked me to discuss our district's dropout rate.  Excitedly, I shared our district's recent press release regarding this topic.  Here are the responses I received. Daliana Goins
 

	Randy Acevedo sounds like a dynamic Superintendent who is moving your district ahead!
	What a wonderful  'village' in action. The leadership displayed by the Superintendent is PRICE-LESS. Congratulations!!!
	It looks as though your county is doing something correct. All of your statistics were quite impressive for the dropout rate.  Some other districts around the country need to review what you all are doing and adopt similar programs for their counties.

"I just wanted to share that from what I remember a few years ago, and what I see on your website today, your leadership has significantly impacted the attitude, belief, and enthusiasm of the district to meet the needs of all children." Bradley D. Manard, Ed.D., Solon Superintendent (entire comment) August 27, 2007