Community Relations

Superintendent Tim Forson has announced two principal appointments for the 2019/2020 school year. Travis Brown, assistant principal at St. Augustine High School, has been selected to be the principal of R.J. Murray Middle School (MMS). Brown will replace Paula Steele who has been serving as interim principal at MMS. She will resume her duties as the director of Leadership Development within the St. Johns County School District (SJCSD).

Kirstie Gabaldon, principal at Switzerland Point Middle School (SPMS), has been selected to be the principal of Sebastian Middle School. She will replace Wayne King who was recently appointed as associate superintendent of Accountability and Intervention Services at the SJCSD. Both of these nominations will be presented to the School Board at their June meeting.

Brown began his teaching career as a social sciences teacher at Omaha South High School in Nebraska. He joined the SJCSD in 2006 and was a social sciences teacher at Bartram Trail High School and then Creekside High School (CHS). In 2012 he became a program specialist for secondary studies and advanced programs at the district office followed by his most recent position as assistant principal at SAHS.

“Travis possesses a strong focus on students and their individual needs,” said Forson. “He will be an excellent principal who understands the importance of continuous learning and collaborative school environments. In addition, I am extremely grateful for the leadership Paula has provided to MMS as its interim principal. I look forward to having her back at the district office to develop leaders at all levels.”

Brown holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master’s degree from the American College of Education.

With more than 22 years of experience, Gabaldon has spent her entire career serving the students in St. Johns County. She started as a teacher at Nease High School and then went on to be the registrar at Bartram Trail High School before joining CHS as an assistant principal. She also served at Murray and Sebastian middle schools as an assistant principal before becoming the principal at SPMS.

“Kirstie has been an exceptional leader at SPMS,” said Forson. “I am confident she will continue to create opportunities for success and leadership at SMS whether it is for her students or the staff she serves.”

Gabaldon has a bachelor’s degree from the University of East Anglia, England and a master’s degree from UNF.

District administrators will gather input from staff and the community for the new principal of SPMS on Thursday, May 16 at 2:15 p.m. at SPMS.

The student count for the St. Johns County School District (SJCSD) on day two, August 13, was 38,995, an increase of 1,656 students or 4.43 percent over last year’s second-day number of 37,339. St. Johns County continues to be one of the fastest growing school districts in the state.

The high school student count was 12,102 with 2,616 students at Bartram Trail High School; 2,255 at Creekside High School; 1,252 at Pedro Menendez High School; 2,521 at Allen D. Nease High School; 1,767 at Ponte Vedra High School and 1,691 at St. Augustine High School. There were also 275 students in attendance at St. Johns Technical High School.

Middle school attendance totaled 7,468, with student headcounts ranging from 690 at Sebastian Middle School to 1,431 at Pacetti Bay Middle School. The other second day figures were Alice B. Landrum Middle School with 1,214; Fruit Cove Middle School with 1,234; R. J. Murray Middle School with 710; Gamble Rogers Middle School with 887 and Switzerland Point Middle School with 1,302.

The district’s K-8 schools totaled 7,282. Liberty Pines Academy had a second-day headcount of 1,514; Patriot Oaks Academy with 1,370 and Valley Ridge Academy with 1,343. Two new K-8 schools also opened today; Freedom Crossing Academy (FCA) with 949 and Palm Valley Academy (PVA) with 1,188. Mill Creek Elementary transitioned to Mill Creek Academy (MCA) over the summer and had a headcount of 918. FCA, PVA and MCA all opened this school year as K-6 schools with plans to add seventh and eighth grades in subsequent years.

The elementary school population totaled 11,449. This count only includes approximately 50 percent of all kindergarten students since schools stagger the kindergarten start date over a four-day period. Another 419 students are enrolled at the district’s alternative, charter and Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) schools.

First Coast Technical College has 362 students enrolled in its adult education programs at the St. Augustine, Palatka, Barge Port and North campuses. This number does not include those students enrolled in night programs that start today.

“The hard work and dedication from administration, teachers and support staff to make opening day and the days that follow the very best resulted in happy students eager to learn and greeting their friends,” said Superintendent Tim Forson. “I am so proud of our students and staff and it is wonderful to be out in the schools to share in welcoming our students this year.”

“Transportation, food service, custodial and maintenance staff did are doing an excellent job handling their responsibilities and taking care of students. The St. Johns Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Securities personnel, Public Service Assistants and Crossing Guards are incredible in supporting our operations and adding another layer of safety and security to our campuses and surrounding areas. Lastly, I want to say a huge thank you to our parents and families as we manage the beginning of the school year.”

SJCSD staff will continue to monitor attendance numbers, balance classrooms and refine bus routes throughout the coming weeks.

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