Q & A with Duval County School Board Member Lori Hershey, District 7

Q: Can you share comments on the impending retirement of Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene at the end of this school year?
A: Dr. Greene is retiring as Duval County Public Schools’ superintendent effective June 5. Under her leadership, the district began a massive plan to improve school infrastructure and student safety. She led on the expansion of Career and Technical Education (CTE), which District 7 has benefited from. Duval County is better for her leadership and she will leave a lasting legacy. 

The Duval County School Board will meet in June to determine a timeline for hiring a new superintendent.

Q: Do you have any legislative updates?
A: As the legislative session wrapped up in Tallahassee, Duval County benefited from funds for the school district to pilot Career and Technical Education (CTE) for elementary school students for the state of Florida. This pilot program was led by Rep. Wyman Duggan, who visited Loretto Elementary last summer. Loretto is the only CTE elementary school in Florida and this allocation to expand to a pilot program is a result of that visit.

Q: Do you have anything else to share with District 7?
A: Even as the school year winds down and summer is upon us, I’d like to remind parents to remind their students that any threats, whether spoken or posted, are taken seriously. Students will be held accountable for them. 

I’d also like to say a big congratulations to the Class of 2023. We are very proud of all of our graduates. I’d like to wish everyone a fun and safe summer.

Q: How can our readers contact you?

A: They can email me at HersheyL@duvalschools.org or call me at (904) 390-2375.