🎙️ Back to School with Dr. Brennan Asplen: A Look at the 2026–2027 School Year
A new school year brings new opportunities, new challenges, and plenty to talk about; and who better to give us an inside look than St. Johns County School District Superintendent Dr. Brennan Asplen?
In Episode 24 of The INK! Podcast: Back to School with Dr. Brennan Asplen, hosts Ian MacDonald and Jim Wheeler sit down with Dr. Asplen for a timely conversation about the start of the 2026–2027 school year and what lies ahead for students, educators, families, and public education in St. Johns County.
Growing Alongside Our Community
St. Johns County continues to grow—and so does its school district.
The St. Johns County School District welcomed 48,093 students on the first day of the 2026–2027 school year, an increase of 441 students over the previous year’s opening-day enrollment.
That growth is visible throughout the county, including the opening of two new K–8 schools this year: Magnolia Oaks Academy, serving the growing Silverleaf community, and Sabal Crest Academy in Nocatee.
With growth comes both opportunity and responsibility. In this episode, Dr. Asplen talks about how the district is responding to an expanding community while continuing to focus on academic excellence, innovative programs, strong character, and preparing students for success beyond the classroom.
Continuing a Tradition of Excellence
St. Johns County students continue to demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, with SJCSD once again earning an “A” district grade and ranking #1 in Florida.
That success reflects much more than test scores. Behind those achievements are thousands of students, educators, administrators, support staff, families, and community partners working together every day to help students learn, grow, and reach their potential.
During the conversation, Dr. Asplen shares his perspective on student achievement trends and the importance of maintaining that high standard while meeting the needs of a growing and changing student population.
🎧 In This Episode
Listeners will hear Dr. Asplen share his perspective on:
- Growth and New Schools – How St. Johns County continues to respond to a growing community and the opening of new schools.
- Student Achievement – A look at student performance and the continued focus on providing high-quality educational opportunities for every student.
- School Choice and Vouchers – How changes in Florida’s education landscape are affecting public schools and how the district is responding to families’ evolving educational choices.
- Priorities for 2026–2027 – What the district is focused on this year and how those priorities support students, teachers, and schools.
- The Power of Community Partnerships – Why relationships between our schools, families, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community members continue to be an important part of student success.
Community Makes a Difference
At INK!, that last point is especially important to us.
Our role as the St. Johns County Education Foundation is to connect our community to our classrooms and provide resources and opportunities that complement the exceptional work happening throughout our public schools.
Whether it is helping a young student build critical early literacy skills, providing free classroom supplies to teachers, connecting students with mentors, supporting innovative STEM and STEAM learning, investing in educator well-being, or helping graduating seniors pursue their dreams after high school, INK! works alongside the St. Johns County School District and our community partners to help students and teachers thrive.
As Dr. Asplen shares in this conversation, maintaining strong public schools is a community effort. The continued success of St. Johns County schools is something we can all celebrate, and something we all have a role in supporting.
Listen to Episode 24
Whether you are a parent, educator, business leader, community partner, or simply someone who cares about the future of St. Johns County, we invite you to listen and learn more about the opportunities, priorities, and changes shaping our schools this year.
Listen to Episode 24: Back to School with Dr. Brennan Asplen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7dOAyyX13NBDLwDkrx6FEZ
And be sure to follow The INK! Podcast for more conversations highlighting the students, educators, programs, partners, and people helping public education thrive in St. Johns County.
Together, we’re investing in kids, empowering teachers, and uniting our community to help make the 2026–2027 school year another year of opportunity and success for St. Johns County students. 💙
