Vazquez Steps Down as Enrollment Plummets | Orlando News

After 35 years in education, Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez is stepping down, set to retire at the end of the 2026-2027 school year. Her tenure, which began as a teacher and rose to lead one of the nation’s largest districts serving over 200,000 students, now faces mounting pressure from a steep enrollment drop—over 6,600 students lost last fall—threatening state funding and forcing tough budget and staffing choices. While some blame immigrant families for the decline, others point to students leaving for private schools via state scholarships, siphoning millions in state revenue. Vazquez remains proud of her team and plans to focus her final year on student success, staff support, and family engagement, while working with the school board to ensure a seamless leadership transition before her departure in June 2027. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/bd6fb16a100852b5