Tracy McCormick-Dishman
editor@floridanewsline.com
Dr. Brennan Asplen settles into his new role as St. Johns County Schools superintendent with the confidence of someone who has walked these halls before. After a distinguished 37-year career in education that has taken him from math teacher to district leadership across multiple counties, Asplen is back where he once served as principal of Bartram Trail High School.
“I’m very blessed to be the superintendent here in St. Johns,” Asplen said during a recent interview in his district office. “We have such wonderful people who work here. They do a great job and they serve our students and families very well.”
Asplen’s journey to the superintendent’s chair reads like a roadmap through Florida education. After graduating from the University of Central Florida, he spent 18 years in Seminole County as a math teacher, dean, assistant principal and principal. In 2006, he moved to St. Johns County to lead Bartram Trail High School for five years before transitioning to district-level positions, including associate superintendent for human resources and deputy superintendent for academics and student services.
A four-year stint as superintendent in Sarasota County broadened his perspective before he returned to St. Johns in 2023 as deputy superintendent for operations. Now, he’s ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Embracing Technology and Communication
One of the most significant changes students and parents will notice this school year is the rollout of new technology tools designed to improve communication and streamline daily operations.
“Parent Square,” a two-way communication platform, will replace the district’s current one-way messaging system. Director of Communications Christine Upchurch, who joined the interview, emphasized the transformative potential of this new tool.
“It’s going to open up communication like we’ve never experienced before in the district,” Upchurch said. “Rather than just being able to push things out one way, this is engaging our community and our parents.”
The web-based and app-compatible platform will allow for interactive communication between schools and families, marking a significant upgrade from the previous system.
Transportation is also getting a technological makeover. The new “Bus Planner” system allows parents to easily check routes and bus numbers by entering their address, while the “Chipmunk” app provides real-time bus tracking.
“Parents will know when the bus is gonna arrive,” Asplen explained. “So when you’re at the bus stop and something happens, you can see the bus is 15 minutes out because there was a traffic accident. Parents are gonna love that.”
Maintaining Excellence While Addressing Challenges
While embracing innovation, Asplen recognizes the importance of preserving what makes St. Johns County Schools successful. The district serves approximately 53,000 students from kindergarten through 12th grade and continues to grow.
Three new K-8 schools are in various stages of development. Hallis Cove K-8 in the Rivertown area opens this August, starting with grades K-7 and adding eighth grade next year. Two additional K-8 schools in Silverleaf and the Nocatee/Seabrook area are scheduled to open next August.
Academically, Asplen has identified key focus areas: ensuring all students read by second or third grade, accelerating students who need advanced challenges and guaranteeing every senior graduates with a documented plan for their future.
“We want to be sure that our seniors have a plan, a documented plan, when they leave us,” he said. The district will utilize “Zellow,” a state-supported platform that allows students to build portfolios of their interests and goals starting in middle school.
Collaborative Leadership for Changing Times
Perhaps most telling about Asplen’s leadership philosophy is his emphasis on collaboration. In an educational landscape increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, school choice and evolving parent expectations, he believes teamwork is essential.
“One of my main priorities as a leader is to make sure that we have a great culture and climate of collaboration,” Asplen said. “That’s where we solve all of our challenges and our issues.”
He views AI not as a threat but as a tool that must be properly understood and utilized. “When they leave us now in this environment, they are going to need to understand AI completely to get a job when they get through college or even if they don’t go to college.”
The district is providing professional development to help educators integrate AI appropriately while maintaining academic integrity.
As Asplen begins this new chapter in his career, his message to the community is one of continuity and progress. The foundation of excellence remains strong, but the tools and methods continue to evolve.
“There’s always something to work on,” he said. “Even though we are highly ranked in the state, there’s always things that we can work on. And we find those little gaps and we work on those and help those students.”
With decades of experience and a deep understanding of the St. Johns County community, Dr. Asplen appears ready to guide the district through whatever challenges and opportunities lie ahead.
