Walton County Superintendent Hughes Named President of State Association
Walton County School District Superintendent A. Russell Hughes has been installed as president of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS) for the 2026-27 term, placing the leader of Freeport’s school district at the helm of the statewide organization representing all 67 Florida superintendents.
The FADSS board of directors announced the installation at its summer retreat, with Hughes taking over from Miami Dade County Schools Superintendent Jose Dotres. The association is the sole statewide organization that serves and represents Florida’s district school superintendents, making the presidency a position of significant influence over education policy and advocacy across the state.
FADSS CEO Senator Bill Montford praised the appointment in a press release, calling Hughes “the embodiment of a true education servant leader” and “one of the most passionate, yet fierce, advocates for public education and student achievement that I have known during my 50+ years in public education.” Montford, a former Florida state senator, noted that Hughes is widely respected not only by superintendents throughout Florida but by educators across the country.
Hughes, who has served as superintendent of the Walton County School District since November 2016, brings more than 35 years of public education experience to the role. Under his leadership, Walton County has risen 32 ranks in Florida’s school performance metrics, earned designation as one of only 10 academically high-performing districts in the state, and achieved a No. 2 ranking among Florida’s 67 counties for high school graduation rates. In 2023, Hughes was named Florida’s 2024 Superintendent of the Year by FADSS — the 37th superintendent to receive the honor since the awards program began in 1988.
“FADSS is more than the state association of public-school superintendents — it is the champion of public education and good public policy to ensure that every student receives the best possible opportunities for academic success,” Hughes said in the release. “I am humbled and honored to serve as FADSS president, and I consider it a privilege to work alongside such a stellar group of statewide education leaders on the 2026-27 FADSS board.”
For Freeport families, the appointment means their district’s leader will help shape education policy decisions that affect schools across the state — including Freeport Elementary School, Freeport Learning Center, and the secondary schools that serve the community. Walton County School District has been a consistent performer under Hughes, ranking in the top 10 across 20 of 21 assessed areas in standardized testing.
Originally reported by NW Florida Daily News via The Rookie Wire.
Image: Walton County School District — Superintendent A. Russell Hughes. Originally used in Walton County Schools Top State Ranking coverage.
