About The Author

Ron Matus

Ron Matus is director of Research & Special Projects at Step Up for Students and a former editor of redefinED. He joined Step Up in February 2012 after 20 years in journalism, including eight years as an education reporter with the Tampa Bay Times (formerly the St. Petersburg Times).
11/04/25
Ron Matus
TAVERNIER, Fla. – Every year, millions of students across America learn the foundational concept of place value in math. But...
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10/09/25
Ron Matus
ARCHER, Fla. –  Archer is a crossroads community of 1,100 people 15 minutes from the college town of Gainesville, but...
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07/15/25
Ron Matus
By Ron Matus and Dava Cherry Florida’s choice-driven education system is the most dynamic and diverse in America, but it’s...
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06/03/25
Ron Matus
The most encouraging trend lines for Catholic schools in America continue to be in Florida, where enrollment grew another 2.3%...
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05/27/25
Ron Matus
CLEARWATER, Fla. – More than 20 years ago, Julie Rutenberg and Colette Derks harnessed some of the first private school...
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05/01/25
Ron Matus
  SARASOTA, Fla. – Alison Rini thought her destiny was to be the principal at a traditional public school. She...
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03/17/25
Ron Matus
Andrea Leib has long been ahead of the curve. Twenty years ago, the former public school teacher, guidance counselor, and...
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03/10/25
Ron Matus
FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – Millions of students in American public schools are lucky if they get 30 minutes of recess...
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03/05/25
Ron Matus
Three decades ago, dozens of Black families in the Liberty City neighborhood of Miami enrolled their children in Florida’s first...
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02/28/25
Ron Matus
SARASOTA, Fla. – When Briana Santoro and her family moved to Florida in 2021, she set out to find the...
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