Jennifer Kashdin, Principal, Harbordale Elementary School

May 2026 — In an interview with Invest:, Jennifer Kashdin, principal of Harbordale Elementary School, discussed how the school is navigating enrollment and financial pressures while staying focused on student success. “You have to have successful schools to have a successful community,” Kashdin said.

What changes over the past year have had the biggest impact on your school and students, and how have those changes shaped your priorities?

As part of Broward County Public Schools, we are navigating enrollment declines and financial shortfalls, and those realities have created a lot of conversation across the district. At Harbordale, however, we have stayed anchored in our mission. Our focus continues to be maintaining high-quality instruction while also making sure students develop the life and wellness skills they need to succeed.

That has required us to be very intentional about keeping confidence high among families and community stakeholders. No matter what is happening in the broader landscape, parents need to know we are here to do a tremendous job with their children. That consistency and trust have been among our biggest priorities this year.

I am also fortunate to work in a school with an exceptional staff and a deeply engaged parent community. Our teachers bring tremendous skill sets into the classroom, and our families support the school in ways that make a real difference. That combination allows us to educate the whole child, not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well.

How do you balance academic excellence with students’ social and emotional development?

That balance is central to who we are. We absolutely maintain high academic standards, but we also believe elementary school is where children begin developing the habits and character that will shape them for life. We want students to be successful academically, but we also want them to become good citizens and confident young people.

We put a great deal of emphasis on life and wellness skills. Our students need to learn self-reliance, perseverance and how to navigate challenges. Children today face far more complexities than previous generations did, and they need to be taught how to manage those experiences in healthy ways.

We are fortunate to have strong support systems in place, including a school counselor who helps embed these lessons into daily programming. That work is just as important as any academic subject because when students learn how to manage struggle, build confidence and keep going through difficulty, it strengthens every part of their development.

How are you preparing students for a future shaped by STEM, coding, and AI?

As we reflected on the challenges created by declining enrollment and greater competition, we asked ourselves what new opportunities we could provide that would both serve students well and strengthen the school’s offerings. This year, that led us to expand enrichment in areas such as STEM, robotics, and coding.

We introduced after-school clubs for third, fourth, and fifth graders and offered around 12 different clubs with strong participation. The response was very positive. Students were eager to explore these new areas, and it gave them a chance to pursue interests that may not always be fully developed during the school day.

These kinds of opportunities matter because they spark curiosity. Children are naturally interested in learning, and when you connect with something that excites them, they become much more open to engaging and growing. We have also seen interest from younger families already asking for similar opportunities for K-2 students, which shows how much enthusiasm there is around this work.

AI is also becoming part of the conversation. Right now, the district is supporting teachers as they begin to understand how AI can enhance curriculum and instruction. That professional development is important because eventually students will need to learn how to use these tools responsibly and effectively as learners. The conversation has to begin early, in age-appropriate ways.

What role do schools like Harbordale play in the regional economy and community growth?

You have to have successful schools to have a successful community. That connection has become increasingly clear to me over the years, especially as I have moved deeper into school leadership and become more connected to the community we serve.

Families make decisions about where they live based on schools. I see that directly. On a regular basis, I hear from families moving from out of state or even from outside the country who are researching neighborhoods through the lens of education. They want to know what kind of school experience their children will have, and that shapes where they choose to settle.

In Fort Lauderdale, that matters greatly. We are fortunate to be part of a strong public school pipeline, and that creates confidence for families who want to stay in the area long term. When a community can offer high-quality public education from elementary school through high school, it becomes more attractive to residents, employers, and investors alike.

I have also seen how strong school reputations create lasting ties. Former families come back, alumni stay connected, and parents recommend the school to others. That reputation does not just benefit one campus. It contributes to the strength and desirability of the broader community.

What makes Harbordale distinctive in a competitive education environment?

Harbordale is a relatively small school, with around 500 students, and that allows us to create a very personal environment. We want every child to walk onto campus feeling known, valued and important. At this age, students should not feel like numbers. They should feel connected to the adults around them and confident that they belong.

That culture is one of our greatest strengths. We talk constantly about our three core values: respect, kindness and responsibility. Those are not just words on a wall. They shape the experience we want students to have every day.

What has emerged over time is what many people describe as the Harbordale family. One parent recently called us a School of Excellence with Heart, and that captured our identity beautifully. We aim to be a place where strong academics and genuine care exist side by side, and where students are supported through both successes and challenges.

Ultimately, what distinguishes Harbordale is the intentional balance we strike between academic excellence and human connection. We build lasting relationships, cultivate strong values, and create a school culture where students are known, supported, and challenged to grow. That combination — rigor with heart — is why families return, alumni stay connected, and Harbordale continues to thrive in a competitive education environment.

How important are parents and community partners to that model?

They are essential. Our Harbordale School Association is one of our greatest partners. They support us financially, but they also serve as advocates, recruiters and volunteers. The fundraising they do helps us provide programs, resources and opportunities that directly benefit students and teachers.

Their involvement goes far beyond funding. We have volunteers in the building on a daily basis. They support special programs, help in classrooms and strengthen the school-community connection in very practical ways. That partnership allows us to offer richer experiences than we could provide alone.

We leverage partnerships with community and business organizations to expand learning opportunities and strengthen community ties. A signature example is our collaboration with the Fort Lauderdale Garden Club, which delivers a hands-on gardening program for fifth graders that brings scientific concepts to life while fostering critical thinking and environmental stewardship. We also engage partners such as Barnes & Noble and Mathnasium to reinforce literacy and mathematical reasoning beyond the school day. Additionally, our dine-out partnerships with local restaurants exemplify a mutually beneficial model supporting small businesses while reinvesting resources directly into our students and school programs. These collaborations reflect our investment and impact in the community.

How does the school’s diversity shape the student experience?

Our diversity is one of the things that makes Harbordale so special. We welcome many international families, and that creates incredible opportunities for students and parents to learn from one another. Over the past few years, that diversity has continued to grow, and we have tried to be more intentional about creating spaces where families feel seen and connected.

One example is our International Night, which has quickly become an important event for the school community. We have over 18 countries represented by our families. Families come together to celebrate their cultures, share food and traditions, and connect with one another in a welcoming environment. It created tremendous pride, not just for students, but for parents as well.

Events like that help new families feel part of the school community, especially when language or cultural barriers might otherwise make that more difficult. They also remind everyone that diversity is not just something to acknowledge, but something that actively enriches the school experience for all of us.