Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez plans to retire after the 2026-27 school year, closing out a 35-year career in education that took her from classroom teacher to the district’s top job.
In a retirement notice reported by WESH 2, Vazquez called her time in Orange County “one of the greatest honors of my life.” OCPS said the school board and district will share more details on the transition at a later date.
From Classroom To Corner Office
According to Orange County Public Schools, Vazquez has worked her way through nearly every rung of the system, serving as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, area superintendent, chief academic officer and deputy superintendent before being tapped as superintendent.
The same district profile notes that Orange County Public Schools is the nation’s eighth-largest school district and has earned an A grade from the Florida Department of Education for the past three school years. Still, even with those bragging rights, Hoodline reported in June that district leaders were already talking about enrollment losses and funding pressure.
