School District Superintendent of Indian River County David K. Moore has two more goals for improving local schools before he officially resigns next year.
Moore, 55, said he is focused on pushing each of the county’s 22 public school campuses to earn an “A” rating while also driving the district to become No. 1 ranked across Florida.
“We have spent close to seven years proving that dramatic improvement is possible,” said Dr. Moore, whose leadership catapulted the school district from a 38th ranking to fifth across Florida.
“This year, I want us to demonstrate just how far a mature, coherent, high-performing system can go. Our work is not finished, and I intend to approach every remaining day with the same urgency, optimism, and unwavering belief in what our students can achieve.”
On Wednesday, Aug. 19, School District of Indian River County officials announced Moore’s plan to step down from the top district position. His last day will be effective June 30, 2027 – shortly after the school term is completed.
School board members credited Moore with having exceptional leadership skills overseeing educational programs for the county’s students. There are 16,950 students total in the county’s public and non-public schools, according to the U.S. News & World Report.
Moore was chosen as the 2025 Florida Superintendent of the Year and also a finalist for the 2025 National Superintendent of the Year.
Moore, initially known for transforming low-performing campuses to high-achieving schools in the 335,500-student Miami-Dade County Public Schools, brought his expertise to Indian River County when hired in Dec. 2019.
Moore came to the local school district during the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic as teachers implemented remote classes along with other state and national directives. The then newly-appointed superintendent led the district to pivot to virtual instruction and the distribution of thousands of laptops to students.
Moore is credited with resolving the school district’s financial issues while administering a $400 million budget, reworking the African-American Achievement Plan, reorganizing the district and updating its five-year strategic plan.
Before Hurricane Milton spawned a wrath of deadly tornadoes across the state in 2024, Moore set a plan to transform five campuses into shelters for those seeking refuge.
The school district also earned four consecutive “A” ratings under Moore’s leadership. Moore achieved significant academic progress with the school district, increasing the percentage of local schools earning an “A” rating from 47 percent to 96 percent.
“These accomplishments tell an extraordinary story of improvement, but they are not the story itself. They are the evidence of the story,” Moore said. “The story is what happens when beliefs become behaviors, behaviors become habits, and habits become coherent systems of work. It is about a culture where support and responsibility coexist, accountability means ownership, and people continuously learn and improve on behalf of students.”
Moore, who is aligned with The Learning Alliance’s mission to have 90 percent of Indian River County youth reading on grade level by the end of third grade, said he was focused on making sure students did not get left behind. In a Moonshot Series video, Moore said the school district “will truly act in the best interest of children.”
“We’re not going to lower our expectations,” Moore said in the nearly seven-minute video.
The 2026-2027 school year will mark Moore’s 32nd year working in education, according to school officials. After Moore’s departure, he will retire, but will continue to work with school systems to create exceptional educational outcomes, school district officials said.
“If what we have learned can help another school system accelerate improvement for children, the impact becomes exponentially greater,” Dr. Moore said. “Exceptional outcomes should not have to be anomalies.”
The superintendent thanked school board members, teachers, school leaders, district officials and more for believing in the children of Indian River County. Now, the school district is preparing to uphold and maintain the standards set by Moore once he leaves.
“This is not an ending to the work,” Dr. Moore said. “It is an opportunity to demonstrate that the system we have built is bigger than any one person, position, or tenure. The beliefs are embedded. The capacity has been developed. The way of work is established. Exceptional educators are ready to lead this organization forward.”
