Van Ayres, Superintendent, Hillsborough County Public Schools

June 2026 — Invest: sat down with Van Ayres, superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools, to discuss how the nation’s seventh-largest school district is strengthening student outcomes, supporting educators, and reinforcing its role as one of Tampa Bay’s most important economic engines. “The most important thing to a great community is having high-quality public schools,” Ayres said.

What changes over the past year have had the biggest impact on Hillsborough County Public Schools?

Hillsborough County Public Schools is the seventh-largest school district in the country, and we are also the largest employer in Hillsborough County, with nearly 24,000 employees. That alone gives us a major responsibility as an economic driver for the Tampa Bay region. Everything we do has ripple effects, not just for students and families, but for the broader business community as well.

When I think about changes over the past year, it really comes back to how we spend our dollars and how intentional we are with them. For us, every spending decision comes back to three priorities: safety, student achievement, and increasing salaries and benefits for our employees. If we are efficient and responsible in those areas, we can better support our workforce and, in turn, strengthen the local economy.

One of the most significant shifts has been our sustained focus on early childhood education, particularly reading proficiency from pre-K through third grade. All of our data shows that third-grade reading proficiency is one of the most important predictors of long-term student success. If students are proficient readers by the end of third grade, they are far more likely to graduate, pursue postsecondary education, and enter the workforce prepared.

Which recent program or policy change has had the greatest impact so far?

Without question, it has been how we approach reading instruction in the early grades. Over the past few years, we have fundamentally changed how reading is taught from pre-K through third grade, with a strong emphasis on phonics-based instruction. That shift has produced tremendous results.

Our goal is very clear: students in pre-K through third grade are learning how to read. Once they move into fourth grade, the expectation changes. At that point, they need to read in order to learn. If they do not have that foundation, every subject becomes more difficult. That is why third-grade reading proficiency is such a critical metric for us.

We are currently around 56% proficiency, and our goal is to reach 75%. That is an ambitious target, but it is achievable with the right focus and collaboration. We work closely with early learning providers across Tampa Bay so that students enter kindergarten ready to learn. This is not just a school district effort. It is a community effort, and we are seeing growing alignment around that goal.

Just as important, our teachers have embraced this shift. When teachers are confident in how they are teaching and believe in the instructional approach, that enthusiasm carries over to students. We are seeing that excitement in classrooms across the district.

You operate in a very competitive labor market. How are you approaching educator recruitment and retention today?

We have about 15,000 teachers across more than 230 schools, so recruitment and retention are constant priorities. Our approach starts from day one. When a teacher joins Hillsborough County Public Schools, we want them to see a clear career path and feel supported throughout their professional journey.

Mentoring and professional development are critical. Every profession has a steep learning curve in the first year, and teaching is no different. We invest heavily in mentoring new teachers and providing ongoing professional development so they can continue to grow and advance within the district.

Culture also matters. Teachers need to know they are valued, that their success matters, and that the district is invested in them as professionals. At the same time, compensation cannot be ignored. While money is not the only factor, salaries must be competitive.

In 2024, our community passed a one-mill referendum that allowed us to significantly increase salaries and benefits. We added a $6,000 supplement for teachers, which raised starting salaries from about $48,000 to over $54,000 in a single year. That change made a tremendous difference. Two years ago, we were facing close to 600 teacher vacancies. Today, we are below 200, which is less than 1% of our teaching workforce.

The most important thing to a great community is having high-quality public schools, and that is why we have rallied our community around supporting educators and strengthening outcomes. When families believe their local public schools are the best option, it strengthens neighborhoods, attracts businesses, and creates opportunity for everyone.

How do your academic programs support that vision?

We offer an extraordinary range of academic opportunities across the district. All 29 of our high schools provide access to accelerated coursework, including International Baccalaureate, Cambridge AICE, Advanced Placement, and dual enrollment. In fact, outside of Miami-Dade, we have the second-largest dual enrollment program in Florida.

Students can earn college credits, and in some cases an associate degree, while still in high school. These opportunities ensure that no matter where a student lives in Hillsborough County, they have access to rigorous academic pathways.

One metric I am especially proud of is our AP performance. Last year, our students took more than 27,000 AP exams and achieved a record-high 70% pass rate, the highest in district history. Just a few years ago, that rate was closer to 66%. The improvement reflects targeted professional development for AP teachers, including summer institutes that focus on both content and instructional strategies.

What is the biggest challenge public schools face today, and where do you see opportunity?

Funding remains the biggest challenge. Ensuring that public education is funded in a way that reflects its importance is an ongoing conversation, particularly at the state level. We work closely with our local legislative delegation and invite lawmakers into our schools so they can see firsthand what is happening in classrooms.

Florida is now the No. 1 state in the nation for educational choice. Families can choose traditional public schools, magnet programs, charter schools, private schools, or homeschooling. Public dollars can follow students in ways that did not exist a decade ago.

We embrace that environment. Choice creates accountability, and we are confident in the quality of what we offer. Our focus is on making sure our public schools remain the best option for families. That means strong academics, supportive environments, and clear outcomes.

Even with expanded choice, about 80% of students in Hillsborough County continue to attend their local public schools. That speaks volumes about the trust our community places in us.

Looking ahead, what are your key goals and priorities for the next few years?

One of our biggest milestones was just achieved. This past year, Hillsborough County Public Schools reached a 91% district-wide graduation rate, and a 93% at our traditional high schools, the highest in our history!  When Jeff Eakins became superintendent in 2015, that number was around 76%. Reaching 90% was a goal set years ago, and it represents tremendous progress.

Graduation rate is not the end goal, but it is a critical milestone. It gives students options. It allows them to choose college, career training, military service, or the workforce with confidence.

Looking ahead, our priorities are clear. We want to continue improving third-grade reading proficiency and push our graduation rate even higher, with a long-term goal of reaching 95 percent. Those outcomes are not just education metrics. They are indicators of community health, workforce readiness, and economic vitality.

At the end of the day, when business leaders consider moving to Tampa Bay, one of the first questions they ask is about public schools. High-quality public education is foundational, and we are committed to ensuring Hillsborough County Public Schools continues to be a source of pride and opportunity for this region.