Superintendent

Dr. Carmen J. Balgobin

Dr. Carmen J. Balgobin was appointed the Volusia County Schools (VCS) Superintendent in July 2022. She is a passionate, student-centered educator with over 27 years of experience in public schools, mainly in the Central Florida area. In 2025, she was recognized by the National Association of School Superintendents (NASS) as the 2025 National Superintendent of the Year, named the 2026 National Woman of the Year by the District Administration Leadership Institute, and she was recognized by the Daytona Beach News-Journal as their 2025 Public Sector Woman of the Year.  

Leading a school district with 60,000 students and laser-focused on academic excellence, Dr. Balgobin has an extensive background in both instructional and organizational leadership. She began her career as a high school foreign language teacher and served in leadership positions throughout Florida districts, including as a K-12 trainer and coach, assistant principal, principal, master principal, executive director for transformation, executive director of school choice, and deputy superintendent for both Volusia and Broward Counties. In these positions, she was responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of student support delivery systems, curricula in all subject areas and new organizational staffing models. She led 18 transformation schools in Orange County and 32 charter schools in Osceola County. Becoming VCS’s deputy superintendent in 2020, Dr. Balgobin led all instructional services, assessment, accountability, early learning, and STEM, among other areas.  

Serving as VCS superintendent since July 2022, Dr. Balgobin has moved the district upward to new and impressive levels of excellence. In 2025, under her leadership, Volusia County Schools earned its first “A” rating from the Florida Department of Education since 2008-09, as well as its highest total points ever from the state, 100% proficiency of all schools, and the district’s highest ever graduation rate at 98.6% (95.6% including non-traditional schools). From 2022 to 2025, the number of “A” ranked schools more than quadrupled from seven to 29.  

Dr. Balgobin has also expanded Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings throughout the district, beginning with pathways at the middle school level. These courses provide quality educational experiences focused on college and career readiness. With 58 CTE programs, 46 career academies, 108 CTE honors courses, and 6 middle school career pathways across 22 secondary schools and expanding every year, Dr. Balgobin has established strong community partnerships that support students’ programs of study. Thanks to her work, 100% of CTE programs and academies offer at least one industry certification, compared to 86% in 2023. Dr. Balgobin also opened the district’s first Dual Language program, which includes Spanish and English instruction at six elementary sites, and the district’s first French Immersion Program, which is offered at three elementary schools. Additionally, she fostered the initiative to create two STEM Buses – mobile classrooms that engage students’ scientific curiosity at an early age.  

Under Dr. Balgobin’s leadership, and thanks to a strong partnership with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office (VSO), Volusia County schools are safer than ever: School resources are now integrated with police departments, cameras function with artificial intelligence to detect threats before they happen, metal detectors and K9 Maverick detect firearms, and processes are more thorough, centralized, and secure. Safety is Dr. Balgobin’s — and Volusia County Schools’ — number one priority. 

Dr. Balgobin holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational Management with a specialization in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. She has also received numerous leadership awards at the county, state, and national level. Born in Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela, and committed to every child’s success, Dr. Balgobin believes that quality education is the great equalizer: the vehicle that transforms mindsets, builds inclusive communities and advances growth and opportunity for all.