Dr. Rick Surrency

Dr. Surrency is in his 47th year of education serving as the elected superintendent of the Putnam County School District in his 3rd term. After serving as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal for 38 years, was elected to the office of superintendent in 2016. Putnam County has an enrollment of 10,000 students with 13 schools. Dr. Surrency has made significant improvements in his district by improving the district graduation rates from 54.9% in 2015 to 92.5% in 2021, the largest increase in the State of Florida during the same time. In 2024, Putnam County earned the first K-12 STEM District Accreditation in the State of Florida. Under the leadership of Dr. Surrency, construction has begun to build 9 new schools over the next 10 years as part of the district’s revitalization program. He led a campaign to raise $300 Million in a referendum to build 6 of the schools. The other 3 will be paid with state appropriations. In December 2022 Dr. Surrency was named the 2023 State Superintendent of the Year for Florida. Dr. Surrency and his wife Penny have 6 children and 10 grandchildren.