Flagler school board unanimously appoints LaShakia Moore as new superintendent

Daytona Beach News-Journal | By Mary Ellen Ritter | Updated September 6, 2023

The Flagler County School Board unanimously appointed LaShakia Moore from interim superintendent to superintendent at Tuesday’s board meeting.

“I am super excited around the vote for tonight,” Moore said at the meeting. “For me, this is about doing good work because good work needs to be done, and I look forward to doing that work in this position.” 

Moore’s salary is still being negotiated, according to Jason Wheeler, the district’s coordinator of communications.

Moore has worked in the district since October 2008, which board Chair Cheryl Massaro believes gives her a strong advantage.

“Ms. Moore lives in Flagler County, has children in Flagler County, has served well as a district elementary principal, as well as leading our Curriculum Department, and just recently serving as the assistant superintendent, and current interim superintendent,” Massaro said in a previous interview. “Throughout her years associated with Flagler Schools, Ms. Moore has developed a great deal of support from numerous district professionals and teams.”

Flagler School Board meets with Moore

Flagler Schools held a nearly two-hour special workshop Tuesday morning to discuss Moore’s candidacy in what it called a “conversational” workshop that was part of Moore’s interview process. It was originally scheduled a few weeks ago, but Moore postponed it to connect with Bunnell Elementary parents and students after the school’s assembly for Black fourth- and fifth-graders. 

Board members felt they were able to “shadow” Moore during her interim experience, which helped them articulate the enthusiasm, professionalism and authenticity they feel she will bring to the position. 

“I believe it with my whole heart: The superintendent of Flagler County is the most important job in this entire county,” board member Sally Hunt said during the workshop. 

Prior to the workshop discussion, Moore had completed extensive individual interviews with each board member. Hunt said her interview process was intense.

“I want the community to know that I did my due diligence in making my decision in the same way that I did with my vote on the renewal of our previous superintendent,” Hunt said at the board meeting, following Moore’s appointment. “And I’m thrilled that this is the outcome at least from my one vote.”

Tuesday morning’s workshop discussion focused on four categories – community engagement, communication, talent, and business and finance – to help finalize the board’s decision. 

“In the next 100 days, if I am selected as superintendent, we as a board have to identify what it is we want to be known for,” Moore said during the workshop. 

She plans to work alongside board members to identify key people and resources that can help move the district forward. 

“We need our school district to thrive,” Moore said. “And in order to do that as a school district, we need to be a part of those conversations. We have to opt-in to engage with our community and identify who are our stakeholders, who are those different organizations and groups that we need to have a conversation with?”

Moore said she hopes to provide an education system that current community members will be proud of and potential Flagler residents can be excited about.

“This is something that is very important to me and is something that I would love to spend some of my initial time, as I am already mentioning, and really engage in extending ourselves back in the community to let them know we care about their voice,” Moore said.