In this episode of Beyond the Syllabus, we head to rural Florida to hear from Dr. Richard Surrency, Superintendent of Putnam County School District. With decades of experience as a teacher, principal, and now district leader, Dr. Surrency brings a boots-on-the-ground perspective to one of the biggest questions in education today: How do we prepare students for a future that’s already changing?
We talk about transforming a traditional district into one grounded in career pathways, dual enrollment, and personalized purpose. From building a new ag-tech center to integrating soft skills into academic goals, Dr. Surrency shares how Putnam County is creating opportunities for every kind of learner — not just college-bound students.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How Dr. Surrency’s experience as a CTE student shaped his career and philosophy
- What it means to lead with a "workforce-first" mindset in a rural school district
- The role of career academies and dual enrollment in student engagement
- Why schools must prioritize soft skills alongside test scores
- How to foster a sense of purpose in students, no matter their path
- Lessons in leadership, equity, and community partnership
- How Putnam County is measuring student success beyond traditional metrics
Key Moments
05:23 "Teachers as Effective Coaches"
08:38 "Linking Teaching with Learning"
12:37 Leadership Emerges on Playground
14:45 Transforming Education in Florida
16:58 Graduation Accountability and Expectations
21:53 "Listening Sparks STEM Program Creation"
24:00 "Leadership Through Visibility"
28:52 "Pilot Training and Space Careers"
30:50 Competitive Education Environment in Florida
35:39 Embrace Change Responsibly
38:02 Human Connection in Future Education
39:36 Graduate Panel Reflects on School Impact
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What is Beyond The Syllabus?
Personalized learning, student engagement, and the K-12 curriculum decisions behind them. Beyond The Syllabus sits down
with the superintendents, curriculum leaders, and district innovators reimagining education from the inside out.
Every episode goes inside a real district: what they changed, what it cost them, and what it did for students. Conversations
range across personalized learning pathways, whole child education, career pathways, metacognition, AI in the classroom, and
building schools where students actually belong.
Hosted by Aidan McDowell.
New episodes monthly.