Citrus County Schools

Superintendent's Message

Setting the Tone for a Successful School Year

The beginning of a new school year is a time of energy, excitement, and opportunity across Citrus County Schools. Classrooms are buzzing, buses are running, and students are already hard at work learning, growing, and connecting. This is the perfect time to set clear expectations, establish routines, and strengthen the partnership between home and school.

One of the most valuable tools used to build the partnership is the parent-teacher conference. These meetings aren’t just about reviewing grades, they’re an opportunity to discuss your child’s strengths, learning styles, and areas for growth. They provide a chance to collaborate with teachers on setting goals, addressing challenges, and celebrating progress. I encourage every parent and guardian to prioritize attending conferences and to be prepared with questions.

Along with conferences, attending parent nights, School Advisory Council meetings, PTA or PTO sessions, and other school events play a major role in supporting your child’s success. When families walk through the halls, meet teachers, hear about school initiatives, and actively participate in these events - students notice. It makes a difference. Your presence communicates to your child and to the school community that education matters.

Another key element in building a successful year is understanding the importance of homework. Homework reinforces classroom learning, develops responsibility, and builds time-management skills. At home, it’s helpful to set aside a consistent and quiet place for your child to complete assignments. Ask your child to explain what they are learning because having your child teach it back is one of the best ways to reinforce understanding.

Florida’s Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (BEST) Standards raise expectations for what students should know and be able to do. These standards emphasize critical thinking, problem solving, and mastery of essential skills. We encourage families to review the standards for your child’s grade level, which are available on the Florida Department of Education website, so you know what your child is expected to learn this year. This allows parents, teachers, and students to work toward the same goals.

We encourage every parent to take a few minutes this week to review your school’s calendar, mark the dates for upcoming parent nights, advisory meetings, and conferences, and plan to attend. Your involvement is one of the most powerful ways to invest in your child’s education because it sends the message that school is a priority in your family. The start of the new school year is full of amazing possibilities, and we look forward to working with all our families.

Dr. Scott Hebert
Superintendent, Citrus County School District