Theresa Axford, superintendent for the Monroe County School District, joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the schools.
The new superintendent of schools reported to work yesterday.
Axford said, “I really am thrilled that things are coming together so well here at the end because you do kind of look back and say, well, exactly what have I been doing, but a 29% increase in teacher salaries over the five years, I mean, I’m really proud of that, and leaving the finances in such good order, I’ve doubled the fund balance in the district. So that’s good because you need that fund balance for a rainy day and new furniture in all of our high schools. I’m so pleased about that because they didn’t get new schools. We built new schools up and down the Keys, but the high schools have been around for about 20, 25 years, and so putting new furniture in those schools that fit with today’s teaching methods, that’s been a real thrill for me. And Key West High School is being done this summer, but we’ll have all three done when school starts this year, so it’s a really good thing for kids.”
The governor did sign the state budget and $3.5 million did survive for the restoration of Bruce Hall.
Axford said, “It was really amazing. I was up in Tallahassee on my birthday this year, and I was thinking, is this what people do on their birthday? But I was talking to legislators and working with Anna Maria Rodriguez and Jim Mooney, and I have to give hats off to them. They are such advocates for the Keys, and they do such tremendous work. So they are really the reason that that 3.5 million is coming to us, and I want to thank all the officials throughout the county that wrote letters of support for our project. I was out there asking everyone to write a letter. So what we’re doing at Bruce Hall is a building that was built in 1925 on United Street. It’s right across the street from Dairy Queen, but it will be a perfect headquarters for the district. We want to move out of the admin building there on Trumbo, and we have an interim agreement for 150 units of affordable housing there on Trumbo. So that was another dream that I had when I took over as superintendent, that we would move on that whole project. So with the help of Brian Green, who is a somebody who’s just amazing in working on affordable housing, he was my right hand person throughout the whole thing, we moved forward with 150 units, and that’s going to be just remarkable for teachers, but we’ve got to get out of there and move that admin building. So Bruce Hall is a perfect location, and with this 3.5 million we can do the architects drawings, we can do the studies that are necessary to move forward on transforming that building. So we’re just thrilled beyond belief.”
Monroe County has the highest paid starting teacher salary in the state.
Axford said, “When I started in 2020 it was a $48,000 starting salary. But this year it was $62,100. We really feel that we’re chasing our tail, because the annual median income in Monroe County is $100,000 a year. So we have got to keep pushing forward with increases for teachers so that they can live here and still even with the salary that we’re offering, in some cases, we have a revolving door in classrooms because teachers get here, and they just can’t cope with the cost of living, and so they’re leaving, and it’s a real investment when you have a new employee, because you’ve got to kind of train them up in all the standards and the way you operate in the district, so we have 1/3 of our staff that are under five years of employment. That’s still something that we’ve got to keep working on, but we will, because we understand and we want a quality teacher in every classroom for our students.”
Does anything stand out for Axford during her tenure?
She said, “I’d like to thank you for working with me every month and getting out to people what’s going on in the school district. I’m really proud of passing that half mill this past November at an 80% level, and then we passed our half cent sales tax at 72%. That just says our community is really behind the schools, and so I’m really proud to turn over this school district to Ed Tierney, because it’s really a great place to work in the Monroe County Schools. He even reflected yesterday, when he was speaking with me, how wonderful the principals were as he did his tour down the Keys, and what a wonderful climate we had in every school. Hearing that from somebody just coming into the district was really heartwarming. So I’m proud of all that.”
Michael Stapleford of KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM said, “You have fostered a culture, along with all of the administration and teachers, it’s a culture of support, a culture of nurturing, while being a culture of high academic standards, and that is to be admired, and the proof is in the pudding, seeing how our students fare, not only in our district, but beyond, once they get out into the world. It really is very heartwarming and very proud to see how our students fare in the district and beyond. So thank you for that.”
Axford said, “It’s been my pleasure, actually the thrill of my life, serving as superintendent. So I’m really looking forward to transitioning Mr. Tierney throughout the month.”
Stapleford said, “You show exemplary leadership and moral character, so thank you so very much for all you’ve done. You will be certainly missed. We will welcome Ed Tierney into the fold as well and into the community.”
Axford said, “Thanks to everyone.”