May 23, 2024 – Congratulations to Dr. Christopher Bernier who was selected on Thursday by the School Board as the next Duval County Public Schools superintendent.
This selection was made during a special Board meeting this morning following a nearly year-long search process that included community meetings and opportunities for stakeholders to provide input.
Dr. Bernier was one of two finalists vying for the superintendent role. The other finalist, Dr. Daniel Smith, and Bernier were selected as finalists by the Board on May 7 out of five semifinalists and out of 20 candidates total.
Dr. Bernier was most recently superintendent of Lee County Schools, a district of more than 100,000 students. He also served as chief of staff for Clark County Schools in Las Vegas and as an associate superintendent for Orange County Public Schools in Florida. Previous roles include assistant principal, dean of students, athletic director, and history teacher.
“I’m excited and humbled to be the Board’s selection to lead Duval County Public Schools,” Bernier said. “It became crystal clear in the search process just how much the community supports its schools. I look forward to engaging with all stakeholders, not only to identify solutions to current issues, but also to continue growing and maximizing student achievement. The success of our students has to be the lens through which we see everything as we collaborate with the community in determining the best path forward for our schools.”
What’s next? The School Board and Dr. Bernier will begin the contracting phase. Additional updates on this process will be shared on www.duvalschools.org/search.
