From Crisis to Clarity: Dr. David Moore on Reengineering a School District for Success

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged, host Addison Davis sits down with Dr. David K. Moore, Superintendent of the School District of Indian River County, for a masterclass in transformative educational leadership. As a former counselor turned nationally recognized superintendent, Dr. Moore brings a compelling blend of heart, strategy, and unrelenting drive to his work—qualities that have propelled his district from the bottom third in Florida to the state’s top ten.

Dr. Moore candidly shares the playbook behind Indian River’s extraordinary rise: a relentless focus on data—not just academic outcomes, but also adult behavior and operational efficiency—paired with a districtwide redesign that flattens hierarchy and accelerates decision-making. The results are staggering: a 96% graduation rate, a 95% rate of schools earning “A” or “B” grades, and a leap from 38th to 9th in state rankings since 2018-2019.

More than numbers, Moore’s story is rooted in a deep commitment to equity and innovation. From rebuilding financial stability to launching strategic plans like ACHIEVE 2025 and the African American Achievement Plan, Moore has crafted a model of leadership that balances urgency with empowerment. His passion for systems thinking, staff ownership, and student success is evident in every initiative—and every word of this interview.

If you’re looking to understand what it truly means to lead with impact in public education, this episode delivers an unfiltered, inspirational look at how one superintendent is rewriting the future for an entire community.

Key Moments

02:12 From Miami-Dade to Indian River

03:45 Taking SDIRC from 38th to 9th in Florida

05:18 The secret sauce: using data on adult behavior and meeting efficiency to drive outcomes.

07:06 "Think fast, act faster"

08:31 Breaking down silos with dual reporting lines

10:02 Pandemic as a leadership accelerator

11:37 From school counselor to superintendent

13:05 Designing for impact

14:48 Clarifying who makes which decisions

16:00 Building a culture of ownership, not just accountability

Connect with Dr. David K. Moore

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-david-k-moore-0445a1342/

Website: https://www.indianriverschools.org/